Getting Your Home Ready for a Hurricane - Storm Damage Prevention
Flooding, structural destruction and water damage are the usual incidents for a post-hurricane environment. Nevertheless, there are a few important precautions you can execute in order to prevent these incidents and any excessive storm damage restorations. It's crucial to do anything you can to defend your home from a hurricane and to keep your loved ones and your neighbors safe. Below is a list of things to keep in mind while preparing your property against Mother Nature.Things to Plan When a Hurricane Is En Route
- Garage Door – Begin with your garage if your residence has one, because this is one of the most susceptible areas for storm damage. Strong winds can get through the typical residential garage door because they're not installed with the needed support. What can happen is the wind will bring about a positive push in your garage, and the wind outside of the structure causes a negative pull. When this occurs, your roof and garage will undergo a lot of pressure because of this tug-of-war instance. To avoid a major storm damage restoration, you can buy a kit that will help your garage door combat 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 car to help support your garage door.
- Windows and Doors – Busted windows don't only allow the rain to get into your residence, 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 method to defend your property during a storm. When a storm is looming, make sure the latches on your shutters are functioning properly and you may want to consider adding additional locks for added security. You can also cover your windows with OSB if you don't have storm shutters, but it's crucial to know that putting masking tape on your windows won't do anything in a heavy storm. After your windows are protected, check your doors next. Verify that they're sturdy and that the deadbolts are in working order.
- Roof – Your roof is your primary protector against the elements, and that's why it's crucial to make sure it's ready for hurricane season. Locate any out of place shingles and repair them with roofing concrete. You'll also want irrigation for the strong rains, so clean out your gutters so the water doesn't accumulate on your roof. You can then find any wires that are entering into your house and seal off any unprotected gaps to block water damage from occurring. Lastly, evaluate whether it's imperative to protect your roof with hurricane straps.
- Your Property – It's important to clear your yard of any loose items like patio furniture, children's toys and other miscellaneous garden items. If the item can be lifted from a strong wind storm, then relocate it to a secure location so it doesn't cause damage to your house and others' around you. Furthermore, check your trees for any dead or loose branches and trim them if they need it.
- Car – When you're caught up in safeguarding your property from a hurricane, it's easy to forget about your automobile. Make sure that you have a full tank of gas, that your tires are in good condition, the windows are up and that your windshield wipers are working. If you park your car on the street, you'll want to make sure that you're not parked under any trees or in an area that is vulnerable to flooding.