Getting Your Home Ready for a Hurricane - Storm Damage Prevention
Damage caused by hurricanes can be destructive for your residence. The extreme weather conditions can harm any residence like shatter windows, tear apart roofs and knock over trees. Your residence is also prone to water damage and flooding from downpours. Nevertheless, there are approaches you can take to secure your home from strong weather conditions. Follow the approaches listed below to ensure you, your family and your residence is defended from a hurricane and to prevent extreme storm damage repairs.Things to Prepare When a Hurricane Is Scheduled
- Garage Door – If you have a garage, this might be one of the first things to take care of. Typically, garage doors don't have the support to brace high winds. What can take place is the wind will bring about a positive push inside your garage, and the wind outside of the structure causes a negative pull. When this happens, your roof and garage will endure a lot of pressure because of this tug-of-war situation. To avoid a major storm damage restoration, you can buy braces that will help your garage door withstand hurricane conditions. This is the most reliable approach, but if you don't have the time to install a kit, then you can use your vehicle to help support your garage door.
- Windows and Doors – Broken windows don't only allow the rain to get into your home, but the wind that blows in can increase the pressure under your roof, which can lead to excessive damage to your structure. Storm shutters are an effective approach to secure your residence during a storm. When a storm is looming, ensure the latches are functioning properly and you may want to consider installing additional locks for added protection. You can also cover your windows with OSB if you don't have storm shutters, but it's vital to know that placing masking tape on your windows won't do anything to protect your home from a hurricane. When your windows are secure, move to your doors next. Verify that they're reliable and that the deadbolts are functioning right.
- Roof – Your roof acts as your number one protector against the elements, and that's why it's crucial to ensure it's prepared for hurricane season. Locate any damaged shingles and fix them with roofing concrete. You'll also want suitable irrigation for the strong rains, so unclog your gutters so the water doesn't concentrate on your roof. You can then locate any wires that are entering into your home and seal off any vulnerable gaps to block water damage from happening. At last, assess whether it's required to fasten your roof with hurricane straps.
- Your Property – Your lawn can be a primary hazard when a hurricane comes through. Items that aren't weighed down or fastened to the ground could be lifted from the high wind and be thrown into your home and your neighbor's too. Make sure to move any patio furniture, BBQs, garden accessories and children's toys to an area safe from the storm. One other thing you'll want to do is remove any dangling or dead branches from your shrubs and trees.
- Car – Along with your property, you should also take preventative measures with your vehicle. Don't park your vehicle under any trees or in an area that floods easily. If you rely on street parking, you should really be watchful of where you park during a hurricane. Furthermore, do some prep work too, such as: making sure your tank is full, your windshield wipers are in good condition, your tires have good tread and that your windows are sealed properly.
