Hurricane Defense – Preparing Your Home from Potential Damage
Natural disasters can take place at any time, but hurricanes can at least be discovered before they hit your area. Planning and preparing are very important things you can do when a hurricane comes around. Since your home is one of your biggest investments, it's a smart idea to do what you can to avoid the damages that hurricanes can bring to your home and to avoid any storm damage repair. There are a lot of things to check up on when prepping your property for a hurricane. To defend your property from a hurricane, use the approaches listed below.Things to Prepare When a Hurricane Approaches
- Garage Door – Indeed, your garage is actually one of the most susceptible places when it comes to heavy storms like hurricanes. The reason why: the average garage door is not reinforced and strong winds can get into the area. When this occurs, you get a positive push inside the garage, and as the winds are swirling above your structure, this creates a negative pull. With the push-pull combo, this can place a lot of stress on your roof and ultimately it could tear it off your garage. To prevent this from taking place, the best approach is to buy a kit that supports your garage door. But if it's too late to install a kit, then you can utilize your car 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 safeguarded this will allow the storm to move in your home. When a hurricane is imminent, confirm that your shutters are durable and in a functional condition. The latches should be stable and you'll also want to install locks on them. You can also cover your windows with some OSB if you don't have storm shutters. One wrong idea that's been taught for window prep is that you can tape up the window; but this doesn't secure it 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 – Conducting a quick checkup on your roof prior to a hurricane can save you from excessive property damage. One of the first things you'll want to check for is damaged shingles and use some roofing cement to fix them. Afterward, look for any exposed gaps where any wiring is entering in your home and seal them off. This can prevent water from getting into your property. You might want to consider getting hurricane straps to verify your roof is secure too. Another thing to do is unclog your gutters so there's suitable irrigation for the strong rains.
- Your Property – Have a walk around your property prior to the hurricane. Your shrubs and trees need treatment and might necessitate some pruning. Any dead or dangling branches can be hazardous in extreme winds and could cause some damage to your home. This also consists of items in your yard such as patio furniture too. Relocate any loose items to a safe place before the wind takes them away.
- Car – Your car can easily be forgotten when you're securing your property for a hurricane. But it's a great idea to get your car ready too, so check that you have: a full tank of gas, working windshield wipers, good tires and your windows sealed properly. Additionally, be cognizant of where you park your car, especially if you rely on street parking. Check that your car isn't beneath any trees or in an area that's prone to flooding.
