Skip to main content
Stesso

Physics of Wind Uplift

0:09
1:50
695.8K views

At 0:09 in

Why your house doesn’t blow away 👍 #carpentry #framing #learn #build

Watch on YouTube

What happens here

The presenter explains the physics of wind uplift. When wind blows against a house, its speed increases as it travels over the roofline, potentially reaching two times the original wind speed or more. This rapid airflow over the roof creates a zone of low pressure above, while simultaneously creating high pressure inside the house. The pressure differential results in an upward 'lift' force on the roof, similar to how an airplane wing generates lift.

Goal: Explain how wind creates uplift forces on a roof.

Tools and materials

  • Diagram of House Cross-Section N/A — Illustrating wind flow and pressure zones
  • Pointer Stick — Indicating wind direction and pressure areas

What they say

Hide

subfloor, rim joist, mudsill, and anchor bolt. When wind blows against your house, it speeds up over your roofline. This can be two times as fast as the wind speed or even more. This wind against your house creates low pressure on the outside and [clears throat] high pressure on the inside. While it's often thought that you need wind to be pushing upward into a structure for it to lift the roof, that's not true. This low pressure creates uplift, just like an airplane wing. Let me demonstrate this principle.

Auto-generated from the video audio.