A Homeowners Approach to Securing a House from a Hurricane
Natural disasters can take place without a moment's notice, but hurricanes can at least be revealed prior to hitting your area. Preparation and planning are very essential things you can do when hurricane season approaches. Because your house is one of your most valuable assets, 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 repair. There are lots of things to keep in mind when prepping your home for the ensuing storm. To defend your home from a hurricane, use the steps below.Things to Prepare When a Hurricane Approaches
- Garage Door – To prevent any major storm damage restorations, your garage door should be one of the first things to check for. A lot of the garage doors in residential neighborhoods aren't designed to combat hurricane conditions, so it's important to buy a brace kit. By supporting your garage door, you'll have defense against the winds that generate a positive push in your space. This is significant since the winds that develop outside will generate a negative pull above your garage. When this occurs, you'll get a push-pull scenario which puts a lot of pressure on your roof and garage. Buying a brace kit for your garage door is an efficient approach to prevent excessive damage. However, if it's too late to install the garage door kit, you can use your vehicle to brace your garage door.
- Windows and Doors – The other vulnerable areas in your home are your access points such as your doors and windows. Defective windows will allow rain and wind to move through your property, and this can cause water damage issues. When a hurricane is on the way, make sure you lock your windows. If you have storm shutters, ensure they are in good condition and locked, but if you don't have storm shutters, you can board up your windows to keep possible destruction out of your house. Additionally, keep in mind that using masking tape on your windows won't secure them at all. Regarding your doors, utilize the deadbolts or any other locks to ensure they don't pop open during strong wind gusts.
- Roof – Your roof acts as a primary defense against Mother Nature, and that's why it's vital to ensure it's prepared for hurricane season. Search for any loose shingles and fix them with roofing concrete. You'll also want irrigation for the pouring rains, so unclog your gutters so the water doesn't accumulate on your roof. You can then locate any wires that are going into your property and seal off any susceptible gaps to prevent water damage from happening. Finally, evaluate whether it's required to secure your roof with hurricane straps.
- Your Property – Take a stroll through your yard before the storm hits. Your shrubs and trees need some attention and might necessitate some trimming. Any dead or loose branches can be dangerous in high winds and could cause a lot of damage to your property. This pertains to items in your yard such as patio furniture as well. Relocate any items that aren't fastened to the ground or weighed down to a safe area before the wind takes them away.
- Car – When you're worried about protecting your house from a hurricane, it's easy to forget about your automobile. Make sure 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 verify that you're not parked under trees or in a location that is vulnerable to flooding.