Getting Your Home Ready for a Hurricane - Storm Damage Prevention
Natural disasters can strike without a moment's notice, but hurricanes can at least be detected before they hit your location. Hurricane season is a time for planning. 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 restoration. There are many things to check up on when safeguarding your residence for a hurricane. To protect your residence from a hurricane, follow the methods listed below.Necessary Steps in Hurricane Precautions
- Garage Door – To avoid any major storm damage repairs, your garage door should be one of the primary things to check for. A lot of the garage doors in residential neighborhoods aren't designed to fight hurricane conditions, so it's important to buy a brace kit. Through bracing your garage door, you'll block the winds that create a positive push in your space. This is crucial because the winds outside will generate a negative pull over your garage. When this happens, you'll get a tug-of-war scenario which puts a lot of pressure on your roof and garage. Purchasing a support kit for your garage door is the most effective way to avoid major damage. However, if don't have the time to install the garage door kit, you can use your car to support your garage door.
- Windows and Doors – Damaged windows don't only allow the rain to get into your house, but the wind that comes in can increase the pressure under your roof, which can lead to excessive damage to your structure. Storm shutters are a great method to secure your residence during a storm. When a hurricane is at hand, make sure the latches are working correctly and you may want to think about installing additional locks for added security. You can also board up your windows if you don't have shutters, but it's critical to know that placing masking tape on your windows won't do anything in a heavy storm. After your windows are secure, check your doors next. Verify that they're stable and that the deadbolts are functioning right.
- Roof – Make sure to scan your roof for any loose shingles and other vulnerable areas. Get some roof cement to repair any loose shingles, and you should consider hurricane straps to make sure your roof is secure to your home. Additionally, it's a good idea to seal any spots where wires come into your home to avoid any water damage from occurring. During your roof inspection, this is a good time to see if your gutters are clear of debris. Good irrigation is important for water run-off during the heavy rains.
- Your Property – It's significant to clear your property of any loose items such as garden accessories, patio furniture and children's toys. If it can be lifted from a strong wind storm, then relocate it to a secure location so it doesn't cause damage to your home and others' around you. Additionally, inspect your trees for any dangling or dead branches and trim them if necessary.
- Car – Aside from your house, you should also take preventative measures with your car. Don't park your vehicle under any trees or in an area that is susceptible to flooding. If you rely on street parking, you should really be watchful of where you park during a hurricane. Additionally, prepare your vehicle, like: ensuring your tank is full, your windshield wipers are in good condition, your tires have good tread and that your windows are sealed correctly.
