How to Protect Your Home from a Hurricane – Avoid Storm Damage
Damages generated from hurricanes can be destructive for your house. The huge gusts of winds can break windows, tear apart roofs and knock over trees and shrubs. Your house is also exposed to water damage and flooding from the constant rain. Still, there are approaches you can take to safeguard your property from strong storms. Follow the guidelines below to make sure you, your family and your residence is protected from a hurricane and to prevent excessive storm damage restoration.How to Plan for a Hurricane
- Garage Door – Indeed, your garage is actually one of the more vulnerable places when it comes to heavy storms like hurricanes. The reason why: the average garage door is not reinforced and strong winds can get into the garage. When this occurs, you get a positive push inside the garage, and as the winds are whirling above your structure, this causes a negative pull. A push-pull combination is created, and this can put a lot of stress on your roof and ultimately tear it off. To avoid this from taking place, the best resolution is to purchase a kit that braces your garage door. Although, if it's too late to install a kit, then you can use your car to support your garage door.
- Windows and Doors – A common occurrence that's associated with hurricanes is water damage, and when your doors and windows aren't secure this will allow the wind and rain to move in your house. When a hurricane is imminent, confirm that your shutters are sturdy and in a functional condition. The latches should be stable and it may be necessary to install locks on them. You can also shelter your windows with some OSB if you don't have storm shutters. A common fallacy with window preparation is that you can tape up the window; but this doesn't help at all. Also, confirm that your doors are in strong condition and that the deadbolts are working right. You can also brace your doors for extra support.
- Roof – Conducting a quick checkup on your roof prior to a hurricane can save you from a lot of property damage. A great starting point is to look for loose shingles and use some roofing cement to repair them. Afterward, look for any threatening gaps where any wiring is coming into your house and seal them. This can prevent water from getting into your residence. You might want to consider obtaining hurricane straps to verify your roof is secure as well. Another thing to do is clean out your gutters so there's proper irrigation for the strong rains.
- Your Property – Strolling through your outdoor property is another important step you should take. Your shrubs and trees need some treatment and might require some trimming. Any dead or dangling branches can be dangerous in high winds and could cause excessive damage to your property. This pertains to items in your yard like patio furniture too. Transport any loose items to a safe location before the wind can take them.
- Car – When you're concerned about securing your house from a hurricane, it's easy to forget about your car. Ensure that your car is filled with gas, that your tires aren't worn down, the windows are up 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 trees or in a location that is vulnerable to floods.