The weather in the US has reached a point where it’s completely unpredictable, and you never know when your area will get hit by heavy storms. Even if you have a home insurance cover, you must still prepare for the worst because who wants to start afresh after a storm?
Storm-proofing homes are essential whether you live in storm-prone areas or you have comprehensive homeowners insurance. When you buy a new home, you should never get comfortable before you can ensure it’s completely ready to handle all kinds of storms, including hurricanes and high winds.
Here are some tips you need to storm-proof your home and protect your loved ones from the deadly weather.
Start With the Garage
Federal Alliance for Safe Homes estimates that 80% of damages in homes from hurricanes and winds come through the garage doors. When the garage door fails, the hurricane will enter your house with full fury, rip the internal doors open, blow off your roof, and destroy the entire property.
This means your home will not shelter you from the storm anymore if the garage door is down. The garage door is like a hole in your home that when open, anything can come in. You can’t wait for this to happen before you act; hence you must reinforce the system in the house or replace the existing one with a modern one.
Work with an expert to help you choose the highest quality and durable garage door which will manage to resist the high wind that may enter your home. Get the strongest possible garage door to minimize the risks and provide maximum protection.
Storm Proof Your Doors and Windows
Many doors and windows installation companies record having several calls from homeowners to do replacements or repairs after a hurricane. This simply means that the storm destroyed their homes.
You don’t have to wait till this happens before you can think about installing hurricane windows and doors in your new home. Your doors are a reliable closure system of your home, but when they fail during a storm; your house will be severely damaged.
You must ensure that the windows and doors are strong enough before you move into your new home. Ask an expert to do the inspection and ascertain whether they can withstand a storm.
Get a handyman to do some replacements, repair the locks and all the hinges for your doors and windows. Always ensure they’re strong enough and in good condition to offer maximum protection.
Clean and Secure the Gutters
Most leaks in homes happen through the gutters, and you can’t risk living in a new home without knowing their condition. Gutters are what are going to protect your home against leaks, but they won’t do this when they’re clogged with debris and dirt.
Regular checking and maintenance are paramount even without a storm. Even when they’re in good condition, you must ensure they’re ready to handle the high winds.
You do this by cleaning and clearing all the obstacles and debris that can prevent water from flowing freely. While doing this, you should also inspect loose gutters, secure properly, and protect them from being blown off by the high winds.
Storm Proof Your Roof
You don’t want your home to be counted among those that had their roofs blown off during a hurricane. You don’t even want to imagine the kind of harm that can befall your family in case the biggest shelter of your home is no longer there.
Therefore, a roof is an essential part of your home that you cannot neglect when storm-proofing your home. Inspecting your roof is a must for any home.
Ensure your roofing system is made up of strong metal because this is the strongest material that offers protection against winds of up to 140 miles per hour. Roofs made of aluminum, steel, zinc, copper, and tin are the most expensive but last up to 50 years protecting you from the highest winds.
You can also consider investing in architectural shingles proven to last up to 30 years. They provide maximum protection from winds of up to 130 miles per hour. You can also add reinforcements such as steel hurricane clips that improve the strength of the house and provide additional support for the roof.
Don’t Forget to Secure Your HVAC System
The HVAC system is very expensive, and the least you want is to get it destroyed by the storm. It’s no doubt that hurricanes can cost you thousands of dollars on your HVAC system. But you can reduce the damage and still ensure you receive the best quality indoor air.
One of the ways to ensure the safety of your system is to use protective cages and straps on the base and over the unit. This will ensure the system is not surrounded by debris or loose objects that can destroy it. Ensure you also get rid of brushes, foliage, and any loose items that can surround the object.
You can also seek the services of a professional to help secure the system and carry out any maintenance the system may need. You must also know that outages often occur during a storm, and you must prepare for those by ensuring maximum cooling. Consider having a backup generator on stand-by for the same.
Source: Realty Biz News