A Homeowners Guide to Defending a Home from a Hurricane
Damages produced by hurricanes can be devastating for your residence. The strong winds can shatter windows, separate roofs and uproot trees. Your residence is also vulnerable to water damage from downpours. Yet, there are approaches you can take to safeguard your home from heavy storms. Follow the practices listed below to ensure you, your family and your home is secure from a hurricane and to avoid extreme storm damage restoration.Essential Methods in Hurricane Preparation
- Garage Door – Start with your garage if your property has one, because this is one of the more vulnerable sections for storm damage. Typically, garage doors don't have the support to combat 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 occurs, your roof and garage will sustain a lot of stress because of this push-pull situation. To defend from an excessive storm damage restoration, you can purchase braces that will help your garage door fight hurricane conditions. This is the most trustworthy step, 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 comes in can increase the pressure under your roof, which can lead to excessive structural damage. Storm shutters are an effective way to secure your home during a hurricane. When a storm is on its way, make sure the latches on your shutters are working correctly and you may want to consider installing additional locks for added defense. You can also board up your windows if you don't have shutters, but it's important to note 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 durable and that the deadbolts are functioning right.
- Roof – Make sure to inspect your roof for any damaged shingles and other susceptible areas. Get some roof cement to fix any loose shingles, and you should consider hurricane straps to make sure your roof is secure to your home. Also, it's a good idea to seal any areas where wires enter into your house to avoid any water damage from occurring. During your roof inspection, this is a good time to see if your gutters are clogged. You want to make sure you have good irrigation for the pouring rain that happen during a hurricane.
- Your Property – The outside of your property can be a number one risk when a hurricane comes through. Items that aren't weighed down or fastened to the ground could be lifted from the high wind and be hurled into your residence and your neighbor's too. Walk around your lawn and move 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 dangling or dead limbs from your trees and shrubs.
- Car – When you're caught up in protecting your property from a hurricane, it's easy to forget about your automobile. Ensure that your car is filled with 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 any trees or in a location that is susceptible to floods.
