Hurricane Security – Prepping Your House from Potential Disaster
Damages generated from hurricanes can be destructive for your house. The extreme weather conditions can harm any house, such as smash windows, tear apart roofs and uproot trees and shrubs. Your house is also exposed to water damage from the heavy rains. Still, there are preventative measures you can take to secure your home from heavy storms. Follow the guidelines below to make sure you, your family and your house is protected from a hurricane and to avoid extreme storm damage repairs.Hurricane Planning Checklist - Best Approaches to Avoid Storm Damage
- Garage Door – If you have a garage, this may be one of the first things to prep. Strong winds can penetrate the standard residential garage door because they're not installed with the extra support. What can take place is the wind will create a positive push inside your garage, and the wind outside of it causes a negative pull. When this occurs, your garage and roof will sustain a lot of stress because of this push-pull instance. To avoid an excessive storm damage repair, you can purchase braces that will help your garage door combat hurricane conditions. This is the most reliable step, but if you don't have the time to install a kit, then you can use your car to help brace your garage door.
- Windows and Doors – Broken windows don't only allow the rain to get into your residence, but the wind that comes through can increase the pressure under your roof, which can lead to excessive damage to your structure. Storm shutters are a great approach to secure your house during a storm. When a storm is imminent, make sure the latches are working correctly and you may want to think about installing additional locks for added defense. You can also board up your windows if you don't have shutters, but it's important to know that placing masking tape on your windows won't do anything in a heavy storm. When your windows are secure, move to your doors next. Verify that they're reliable and that the deadbolts are functioning right.
- Roof – Inspecting your roof is crucial before a hurricane passes through your area, and it can prevent property damage and give you a sense of well-being. The main thing you'll want to check for is damaged shingles and apply some roofing cement to fix them. Next, check to see if there are unprotected gaps where any wiring is coming into your home and seal them off. This can bar any water from entering your house. You might want to think about getting hurricane straps to verify your roof is fastened as well. Also, you'll want to unclog your gutters so there's appropriate irrigation for the heavy rains.
- Your Property – Walking around your outdoor property is another critical step you should take. Your shrubs and trees need attention and might require some pruning. Any loose or dead branches can be hazardous in extreme winds and could cause some damage to your home. This goes for items in your yard like patio furniture too. Relocate any loose items to a safe place before the wind takes them away.
- Car – When you're concerned about securing your house from a hurricane, it's understandable that you forget about your car. Make sure that your car is filled with gas, that your tires aren't worn down, the windows are sealed and that your windshield wipers are working. If you have to park on the street, you'll want to verify that you're not parked under any trees or in an area that is susceptible to floods.
