A Homeowners Approach to Protecting a Home from a Hurricane

Natural disasters can develop without a moment's notice, but hurricanes can at least be observed prior to hitting your location. Hurricane season is a time for preparation. Since your house is one of your most valuable investments, it's a smart idea to do what you can to prevent the perils that hurricanes can bring to your property and to prevent any storm damage restoration. There are a lot of things to keep in mind when safeguarding your house for a hurricane. To protect your house from a hurricane, follow the approaches listed below.

Necessary Approaches in Hurricane Preparation

  • Garage Door – Start with your garage if your house has one, because this is one of the more vulnerable sections for storm damage. Typically, garage doors don't have the support to brace high winds. What can happen is the wind will bring about a positive push in your garage, and the wind outside of it causes a negative pull. When this takes place, your garage and roof will endure a lot of pressure because of this tug-of-war situation. To avoid a major storm damage restoration, you can purchase a kit that will help your garage door fight hurricane conditions. This is the most reliable approach, but if time isn't on your side, then you can use your vehicle to help support your garage door.
  • Windows and Doors – Water damage is one of the more common impairments tied to hurricanes, and when your windows and doors aren't protected this will allow the wind and rain to move in your house. Before the storm reaches your location, make sure your shutters are sturdy and in a working condition. The latches should be secure and it might be necessary to put additional locks on them. If your house doesn't have storm shutters for your windows, then you can board them up. One wrong impression that's been taught for window preparation is that you can use masking tape on the window; but this doesn't help at all. Also, make sure your doors are durable and that the deadbolts are functioning correctly. You can also brace your doors for extra defense.
  • Roof – Your roof acts as a primary defense against Mother Nature, and that's why it's critical to ensure it's prepared for a hurricane. Locate any out of place shingles and mend them with roofing concrete. You'll also want good irrigation for the strong rains, so unclog your gutters so the water doesn't pool on your roof. You can then find any wires that are entering into your property and seal off any threatening gaps to block water damage from happening. Finally, judge whether it's imperative to attach your roof with hurricane straps.
  • Your Property – It's necessary to clear your lawn of any loose items like children's toys, garden accessories and patio furniture. If the item can be lifted from a heavy gust of wind, then clear it out and put it in a secure location so it doesn't cause damage to your property and others' around you. Additionally, check your trees and shrubbery for any dead or loose limbs and trim them if they need it.
  • Car – When you're worried about securing your residence from a hurricane, it's easy to forget about your vehicle. Ensure that you have a full tank of gas, that your tires have good tread, the windows are up and that your windshield wipers are good. If you park your vehicle on the street, you'll want to make sure that you're not parked under any trees or in a location that is prone to flooding.

Who We Are

Paul Davis offers storm damage restoration and remediation services, so if your residence has been harmed by a hurricane, reach out to our professional team. After all, you can only do so much preparation to combat Mother Nature. We can fix and restore your property back to its original status, and we work with various home insurers. We can help you evaluate what's covered with your policy. For a Paul Davis franchise near your location, reach out to us at (403)342-4666.