05/25/2026
BETTENCOURT CONSTRUCTION | FIELD NOTES
Monday, May 25, 2026 · Construction Tips
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Hurricane Straps: The Small Connection That Holds Everything Together
When it comes to coastal construction, the details you can't see are often the ones that matter most.
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Here on the Gulf Coast, we build with one eye on the horizon. After 30 years of constructing homes in Pinellas County, I've seen what happens when a roof separates from its walls during a major storm — and I've seen what happens when it doesn't. The difference, more often than not, comes down to a piece of galvanized metal about the size of your hand: the hurricane strap.
WHAT HURRICANE STRAPS ACTUALLY DO
Hurricane straps — also called rafter ties or roof-to-wall connectors — are metal fasteners that mechanically tie your roof framing to your wall framing. Without them, a roof is essentially just sitting on top of your walls, held down primarily by its own weight and a handful of toe-nails. In a high-wind event, that's not enough.
In a VE or AE flood zone — which describes most of the homes we build along Madeira Beach, Treasure Island, and the barrier islands — wind uplift forces are enormous. The Florida Building Code requires engineered connectors rated for the specific wind loads of your site. We don't guess at that. Every project starts with a wind speed map and ends with connectors that are specified, inspected, and documented.
NOT ALL STRAPS ARE CREATED EQUAL
This is where I see a lot of shortcuts taken, especially in older construction. There are single-wrap straps, double-wrap straps, H-clips, and full rafter ties — each rated for different uplift loads. On our elevated wood piling homes, where the entire structure is already working against wind and flood forces simultaneously, we use Simpson Strong-Tie connectors specified by our structural engineer for every single connection point, from the piling cap to the ridge beam.
A strap installed with the wrong nails, or missing even two of its required fastener holes, can lose up to 40% of its rated capacity. The connector is only as strong as its installation.
WHAT HOMEOWNERS SHOULD KNOW
If you're purchasing an existing home on the water, ask for the wind mitigation inspection report. A licensed inspector will photograph and rate your roof-to-wall connections. A home with verified hurricane straps can save you hundreds of dollars per year on wind insurance — sometimes more. That's money back in your pocket every single year you own the home.
If you're building new with us, this isn't a conversation we have to have — it's already built into our standard scope. Every connector is called out on the drawings, verified by our superintendent during framing, and confirmed by the county inspector before we close in the roof.
BUILT FOR WHAT'S COMING
We don't build to the minimum. We build to what this coastline demands. Hurricane straps are one small part of a much larger system of connections, hold-downs, impact glazing, and engineered framing that goes into every Bettencourt home — because when the storm comes, there's no going back to tighten a bolt.
Build it right the first time. Build it to last.
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Bryan Bettencourt
Owner & General Contractor · Bettencourt Construction
1202 66th St. No., St. Petersburg, FL 33710
727-329-8803 · www.bettencourtconstruction.com
CBC License CBC1251063
Bettencourt Construction is the no limits builder with over 30 years of experience. Our team is ready to help with your custom home build, home remodeling project or addition, or commercial building project in or around St. Petersburg, Florida.
