Roofing Glossary

Wind Rating

A wind rating is the certified wind speed a shingle or roofing system has been laboratory-tested to withstand — commonly 110, 130, or higher miles per hour for architectural shingles. It is the headline number for storm resistance.

Here is the critical fine print: the rating certifies a tested assembly — specific shingle, specific nailing pattern, starter strips, and hip and ridge components installed exactly per the manufacturer's instructions. A 130-mph shingle installed with four nails instead of six, or without starter strips, is not a 130-mph roof.

Ratings are achieved in controlled lab conditions, not on your specific roof with its unique geometry and exposure. They are a valid comparison tool between products, not a guarantee against any particular storm.

Why It Matters

When a contractor advertises a wind rating, ask what installation details the rating requires — nail count, starter, ridge components — and confirm all of them are in your quote. The rating is only as real as the installation.

A Maryland Note

Maryland's coastal and open-country homes face genuine wind exposure. Specifying high-wind nailing (six nails per shingle) is the practical way to earn the rating on the package.

Questions about your own roof? Request a free estimate or call Nucci Brothers Roofing at (301) 458-1003.