A Homeowners Guide to Protecting a House from a Hurricane
Damage generated by hurricanes can be devastating for your residence. The extreme weather conditions can impair any residence like smash windows, tear apart roofs and uproot trees and shrubs. Your residence is also exposed to water damage from the heavy rains. Yet, there are preventative measures you can take to defend your property from heavy storms. Follow the practices listed below to assure you, your family and your property is protected from a hurricane and to avoid the need for storm damage repairs.Hurricane Preparation Checklist - Best Methods to Prevent Storm Damage
- Garage Door – To avoid any major storm damage repairs, your garage door should be one of the primary things to take care. Most of the garage doors on the market aren't designed to defend against hurricane conditions, so it's important to purchase a brace kit. By supporting your garage door, you'll block the winds that cause a positive push in your garage. This is significant because the winds outside will generate a negative pull above your garage. When this happens, you'll get a push-pull scenario which puts a lot of pressure on your garage and roof. Getting a brace kit for your garage door is the most efficient way to avoid major damage. But, if don't have the time to install braces, you can use your vehicle to brace your garage door.
- Windows and Doors – A typical occurrence that's correlated with hurricanes is water damage, and when your windows and doors aren't secure this will allow the wind and rain to move in your house. Before the storm reaches your location, check that your shutters are durable and in a working condition. The latches on your shutters need to be stable and it might be necessary to install locks on them. If your property doesn't have shutters for your windows, then you can board them up with some OSB. One wrong impression that's been taught for window prep is that you can place masking tape on the window; but this won't defend it at all. Additionally, make sure your doors are in strong condition and that the deadbolts are functioning right. You can also install braces on your doors for extra security.
- Roof – Conducting a quick analysis of your roof prior to a hurricane can save you from excessive property damage. 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 entering in your house and seal them. Small gaps may not seem like a problem, but sealing them off can block water from entering your property. You might want to consider obtaining hurricane straps to verify your roof is fastened as well. Additionally, you'll want to clear out your gutters so there's suitable irrigation for the heavy rains.
- Your Property – It's essential to clear your yard of any loose items such as patio furniture, children's toys and other miscellaneous garden items. If the item can be picked up from a strong wind storm, then relocate it to a secure location so it doesn't cause damage to your property and others' around you. Furthermore, examine your trees and shrubbery for any dead or loose limbs and trim them if necessary.
- Car – When you're caught up in protecting your house from a hurricane, it's easy to forget about your automobile. Make sure that your car is filled with gas, that your tires have good tread, the windows are up and that your windshield wipers are good. If you have to park on the street, you'll want to make sure that you're not parked under trees or in an area that is vulnerable to flooding.