A Homeowners Approach to Defending a Home from a Hurricane
Damages caused from hurricanes can be disastrous for your property. The strong winds can break windows, tear apart roofs and knock over trees. Your property is also prone to water damage and flooding from downpours. Still, there are preventative measures you can take to secure your home from heavy storms. Follow the practices listed below to make sure you, your family and your property is protected from a hurricane and to prevent extreme storm damage repairs.Hurricane Precaution Checklist
- Garage Door – Believe it or not, your garage is really one of the most vulnerable spots when it comes to extreme storms like hurricanes. The reason why: the average garage door is not supported and heavy winds can get into the garage. When this happens, you get a positive push in the garage, and as the winds are churning above your structure, this creates a negative pull. A push-pull combination develops, and this can place a lot of pressure on your roof and ultimately it could rip it off your garage. To avoid this from taking place, the best approach is to buy a kit that braces your garage door. Although, if it's too late to put in a garage door kit, then you can use your car to brace your garage door.
- Windows and Doors – Water damage is one of the most common impairments tied to hurricanes, and when your windows and doors aren't safeguarded this will allow the storm to move in your house. Before the storm hits, make sure your shutters are durable and in a functional condition. The latches need to be strong and you'll also want to put additional locks on them. You can also board up your windows if you don't have storm shutters. One wrong impression that's passed around for window prep is that you can tape up the window; but this doesn't help at all. Also, check that your doors are durable and that the deadbolts are functioning correctly. You can also install braces on your doors for added measure.
- Roof – Your roof is your number one protector against the elements, and that's why it's critical to ensure it's ready for hurricane season. Locate any damaged shingles and fix them with roofing concrete. You'll also want appropriate irrigation for the heavy rains, so unclog your gutters so the water doesn't pool on your roof. You can then locate any wires that are going into your home and seal off any unprotected gaps to stop water damage from occurring. Finally, figure out whether it's imperative to protect your roof with hurricane straps.
- Your Property – Take a stroll through your yard before the storm hits. Your trees and shrubs need some treatment and might necessitate some pruning. Any loose or dead limbs can be threatening in windy conditions and could cause some damage to your home. This pertains to items on your property like patio furniture as well. Move any loose items to a safe location before the wind can take them.
- Car – Your car can easily be forgotten when you're prepping your house for a hurricane. But it's important to get your car ready as well, so ensure you have: your gas tank filled, good windshield wipers, tires with good tread and your windows sealed. Additionally, be attentive of where you park your car, especially if you rely on street parking. Make sure your car isn't beneath any trees or in an area that's susceptible to floods.
