Getting Your House Ready for a Hurricane - Storm Damage Prevention
Natural disasters can develop without a moment's notice, but hurricanes can at least be detected prior to hitting your area. Planning and preparing are the most important things you can do when hurricane season approaches. Because your home is one of your biggest assets, it's a smart idea to do what you can to avoid the perils that hurricanes can bring to your house and to prevent any storm damage repair. There are a lot of things to check up on when prepping your home for a hurricane. To secure your home from a hurricane, use the steps below.Things to Prepare When a Hurricane Is Scheduled
- Garage Door – To prevent any major storm damage restorations, your garage door should be one of the first things to check for. Most of the garage doors on the market aren't installed to defend against hurricane conditions, so it's essential to buy a support kit. Through bracing your garage door, you'll block the winds that cause a positive push in your space. This is important since the winds that develop outside will cause a negative pull over your garage. When this occurs, you'll get a push-pull scenario which puts a lot of stress on your garage and roof. Supporting your garage door with braces is the most efficient approach to avoid major damage. But, if it's too late to install the garage door kit, you can use your car to support your garage door.
- Windows and Doors – Water damage is one of the more common hardships associated with hurricanes, and when your doors and windows aren't secure this will allow the storm to get into your home. When a hurricane is imminent, confirm that your shutters are durable and in a functional condition. The latches on your shutters need to be secure and you'll also want to put additional locks on them. You can also board up your windows if you don't have storm shutters. A typical fallacy with window preparation is that you can use masking tape on the window; however, this doesn't help at all. Also, make sure your doors are durable and that the deadbolts are working correctly. You can also brace your doors for added measure.
- Roof – Conducting a quick checkup on your roof before a hurricane comes to your area can save you from a lot of property damage. The main thing you'll want to look for is damaged shingles and apply some roofing cement to repair them. Next, check to see if there are exposed gaps where any wiring is entering in your home and seal them off. Small gaps might not seem like an issue, but sealing them off can prevent water from entering your home. You might want to consider getting hurricane straps to verify your roof is fastened too. Also, you'll want to unclog your gutters so there's proper irrigation for the heavy rains.
- Your Property – Your yard can be a number one hazard when a hurricane comes through. Any loose items could be picked from the high wind and be propelled into your home and your neighbor's too. Walk around your yard and move any garden accessories, children's toys, patio furniture and BBQs to an area safe from the storm. One other thing you'll want to do is remove any dangling or dead limbs from your shrubs and trees.
- Car – When you're worried about safeguarding your residence from a hurricane, it's easy to forget about your car. Ensure that you have a full tank of gas, that your tires aren't worn down, the windows are sealed 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 floods.
