Hurricane Defense – Prepping Your Property from Probable Damage
Natural disasters can take place without a moment's notice, but hurricanes can at least be discovered prior to hitting your area. Preparation and planning are very fundamental things you can do when hurricane season comes around. Because 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 house and to prevent any storm damage repair. There are a lot of things to check up on when prepping your residence for the ensuing storm. To defend your residence from a hurricane, follow the methods listed below.Ways to Prepare for a Hurricane
- Garage Door – In fact, your garage is actually one of the more vulnerable spots when it comes to extreme weather conditions like hurricanes. The explanation: most garage doors are not supported and strong winds can get into the garage. When this happens, you get a positive push inside the garage, and as the winds are whirling above your structure, this causes a negative pull. With the push-pull combination, this can put a lot of stress on your roof and ultimately tear it off. To prevent this from taking place, the best approach is to buy a kit that braces your garage door. But if time isn't on your side to put in a garage door kit, then you can use your automobile to support your garage door.
- Windows and Doors – Broken windows don't only allow the rain to get into your house, but the wind that comes in can put a lot of pressure under your roof, which can lead to significant structural damage. Storm shutters are an efficient method to protect your residence during a storm. When a storm is on its way, ensure the latches on your shutters are functioning properly and you may want to consider adding additional locks for added protection. You can also cover your windows with OSB if you don't have storm shutters, but it's important to note that placing masking tape on your windows won't do anything to protect your house from a hurricane. After your windows are protected, check your doors next. Make sure they're stable and that the deadbolts are in working order.
- Roof – Administering a quick checkup on your roof before a hurricane comes to your area can save you from excessive property damage. One of the first things you'll want to look for is loose shingles and apply some roofing cement to repair them. Afterward, check to see if there are unprotected gaps where any wiring is coming into your house and seal them off. This can block water from entering your residence. You might want to consider obtaining hurricane straps to ensure your roof is secure too. Another thing to do is unclog your gutters so there's proper irrigation for the strong rains.
- Your Property – It's important to clear your yard of any loose items like patio furniture, children's toys and other miscellaneous garden items. If the item can be lifted from a heavy gust of wind, then clear it out and put it in a secure area so it doesn't cause damage to your house and others' around you. Additionally, inspect your trees for any dangling or dead limbs and trim them if they need it.
- Car – Your vehicle can easily be forgotten when you're prepping your home for a storm. But it's a good idea to get your vehicle ready as well, so check that you have: a full tank of gas, working windshield wipers, tires with good tread and your windows sealed properly. Additionally, be cognizant of where you park your vehicle, especially if you rely on street parking. Make sure your vehicle isn't under any trees or in a location that's susceptible to floods.
