From Hurricane Sandy in 2012 to the historic hail storms of 2016, recent large-scale weather events have heightened the residential building and remodeling industry’s focus on the term “resiliency.” Long considered a word reserved for commercial buildings and code-setting organizations, resiliency is increasingly creeping into the roofing conversation.

What does the term “resiliency” mean, especially when it comes to residential roofs? To some degree, the answer depends on who you ask. The Resilient Design Institute defines ‘resilience’ as the “capacity to adapt to changing conditions and to maintain or regain functionality and vitality in the face of stress or disturbance. It is the capacity to bounce back after a disturbance or interruption.”