A Homeowners Guide to Protecting a Home from a Hurricane
Natural disasters can occur without a moment's notice, but hurricanes can at least be discovered before they hit your area. When it's hurricane season, it's necessary to do some preparation. Since your home is one of your biggest expenses, it's a smart idea to do what you can to prevent the perils that hurricanes can bring to your home and to avoid any storm damage repair. There are a lot of things to keep in mind when safeguarding your house for the ensuing storm. To safeguard your house from a hurricane, follow the methods listed below.Things to Keep in Mind When a Hurricane Is En Route
- Garage Door – Believe it or not, your garage is really one of the more vulnerable places when it comes to extreme storms like hurricanes. The reason why: most garage doors are not reinforced and heavy winds can get into the area. When this occurs, you get a positive push inside the garage, and as the winds are swirling above it, this causes a negative pull. With the push-pull combination, this can put a lot of pressure on your roof and eventually it could tear it off your garage. To prevent this from happening, the best technique is to purchase a kit that supports your garage door. Although, if it's too late to install a kit, then you can utilize your vehicle to support your garage door.
- Windows and Doors – A typical occurrence that's associated with hurricanes is water damage, and when your windows and doors aren't safeguarded this will allow the storm to get into your home. Before the storm hits, make sure your shutters are durable and in a functional condition. The latches on your shutters should be secure and it might be necessary to put additional locks on them. If you don't have shutters for your windows, then you can board them up with some OSB. A typical misconception with window preparation is that you can tape up the window; but this doesn't protect it at all. Also, verify that your doors are durable and that the deadbolts are working properly. You can also install braces on your doors for extra defense.
- Roof – Make sure to go over your roof for any damaged shingles and other vulnerable areas. You can use roof cement to fix any loose shingles, and you should consider hurricane straps to make sure your roof is fastened to your home. Also, it's a good idea to seal any spots where wires enter into your home to prevent any water damage from happening. While you're analyzing your roof, this is a good time to see if your gutters are clear of debris. Good irrigation is vital for water run-off during the hurricane.
- Your Property – Your yard can be a number one risk when a hurricane approaches. Items that aren't weighed down or fastened to the ground could be lifted from the extreme wind and be launched into your house and your neighbor's too. Walk around your lawn and relocate any garden accessories, children's toys, patio furniture and BBQs to a location out of harm's way. Another thing you'll want to do is remove any loose or dead limbs from your trees and shrubs.
- Car – When you're worried about safeguarding your home from a hurricane, it's easy to forget about your vehicle. 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 good. 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 prone to flooding.
