Hurricanes can be extremely devastating to a homeowner. With hurricane season just around the corner, it is important to take the essential steps in protecting your home from potential damage.
Staying informed on any warnings issued by the government or news coverage is just the beginning of hurricane preparedness. Preparing your house and ensuring your home’s defense is up to par is a critical step. There are a variety of ways to go about this emergency planning— whether that be through short-term improvements or long-term upgrades.
Short Term Protection
- Close and Lock all Windows— Although this tip may seem obvious, windows pose a huge risk for water damage during a storm. Just a small opening into the home’s exterior could result in significant harm.
- Inspect Every Window and Door— When ensuring that all windows and doors are closed, it is imperative to verify their effectiveness as well. Over time, the seams and seals on your doors and windows deteriorate, particularly in homes located in drier climates. A handy technique in detecting air leaks is to hold a candle near windows and doors. Another sign of hazardous airflow is if you can see daylight around the door or window frame. Typically, you can fix this issue with caulking and glazing around the panes. If the corrosion is significant, you may need to invest in replacement storm windows.
- Shutter All Windows— In the instance of a severe storm occurring, shutters can provide your home with greater protection. Shutters should be installed on the wall rather than the window frame. Additionally, it is meaningful to invest in materials that can withstand high impact. Hurricane-forced winds can result in high winds and flying debris that can be dangerous to the home’s structure and those within it.
- Install Heavy Duty Bolts— A homeowner can purchase a heavy-duty bolt kit from a local hardware store. They are easy to install and provide your home that additional protection.
- Fix Damaged Shingles—Another necessary inspection is to ensure all of your home’s shingles and tiles are secure. A curling shingle indicates that it is damaged. If you notice any bald spots on the roof, you will likely need a whole or partial roof replacement. Quite often we find that roof damage is the result of storm damage and can be covered by insurance months after the storm.
- Metal Straps—Oftentimes, homeowners rely basic roof construction and gravity to hold their roof in place during a storm with high winds. However, this can be risky when it comes to hurricanes. Metal roof straps work as an extra protective covering to hold your roof during extreme winds.
- Bring Furniture Inside—A fundamental part of hurricane preparation is to ensure your yard is free of all loose items. All items, from small décor to large porch swings and potted plants, should be relocated indoors.
- Check Deck and Porch posts— While preparing for a hurricane, this essential step could save your home from extensive damage. A homeowner should confirm that parts of the deck and porch are properly anchored. Deck repairs can be very costly and can do additional damage to the structure of the home.
- Trim Tree Branches— Branches that come within 10 feet of your home pose a high risk. It is advised to remove branches that are near windows, as well as any that are dead or broken.
- Clean Your Gutters—Debris such as leaves and branches can cause water from your roof not to drain efficiently and away from your home, resulting in water damage or flooding inside your home.
- Check Your Home’s Foundation—If your home is showing any signs of distress or has noticeable cracks, it is important to patch these ahead of time.
Long-Term Upgrades
- Install Impact Resistant Windows and Doors—By upgrading your windows and doors to a stronger resistance, you are protecting some of your home’s most vulnerable areas.
- Upgrade to an Impact Resistant Roof— If your roof shingles are older or not not properly secured, they can peel right off in high winds. You can reduce the risk of this happening by upgrading to a specialized shingle. Although these shingles are sold at a greater cost than regular shingles, they are designed to withstand strong winds, as well as hail damage.
- Upgrade to an Impact Resistant Garage Door— Along with an impact-resistant roof, the garage door is another vulnerability that you may want to swap out for superior material.
- Change Your Landscaping Material— Certain landscaping items come with a greater risk of causing damage if a hurricane occurs. It is advised to stay away from landscaping with harder materials such as rock, stones, and gravel. Additionally, tiles can be easily damaged during a hurricane. Investing in a swap to wood chips or mulch could potentially save a homeowner from costly damage.
- Invest in a Generator—A power outage can interfere with daily life—depending on the length of time. If a storm is projected to last for some time, or storm outages are typically longer in your area after a storm, it may be beneficial to invest in a generator.
Your home is one of your biggest assets and investments in life. That is why it is important to maintain and protect it against any natural disasters that might occur. Ensuring that your home is secure could save you time and money down the road.
In the unfortunate event that your home does endure damage from a hurricane, contact OneRestore. Our company can provide you with the services to get your life back to normal. We are a One-Stop-Shop, handling all of your restoration needs from beginning to end. Let us provide you with a free estimate!
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