Hurricane Defense – Prepping Your House from Potential Damage
Natural disasters can develop at any time, but hurricanes can at least be discovered before they hit your location. When it's hurricane season, it's crucial to do some planning. Since your home is one of your biggest assets, it's a smart idea to do what you can to prevent the damages that hurricanes can bring to your property and to prevent any storm damage repair. There are a lot of things to keep in mind when preparing your house for a hurricane. To defend your house from a hurricane, follow the steps below.Hurricane Preparation Checklist
- Garage Door – To prevent any extreme storm damage repairs, your garage door should be one of the first things to check for. Most of the garage doors on the market aren't designed to combat hurricane conditions, so it's important to buy a support kit. By supporting your garage door, you'll fight against the winds that generate a positive push in your space. This is significant because the winds outside will cause a negative pull over your garage. When this happens, you'll get a push-pull scenario which puts a lot of stress on your garage and roof. Buying a brace kit for your garage door is the most efficient way to prevent major damage. However, if don't have the time to install the garage door kit, you can use your car to brace your garage door.
- Windows and Doors – Water damage is one of the more common perils associated with hurricanes, and when your windows and doors aren't protected this will allow the wind and rain to get into your home. When a storm is approaching, make sure your shutters are sturdy and in a working condition. The latches on your shutters need to be stable and you'll also want to put additional locks on them. You can also board up your windows if you don't have storm shutters. A common misconception with window preparation is that you can tape up the window; but this doesn't help at all. Additionally, make sure your doors are in good condition and that the deadbolts are functioning right. You can also brace your doors for added measure.
- Roof – Your roof acts as a primary defense against Mother Nature, and that's why it's crucial to make sure it's ready for hurricane season. Locate any damaged shingles and mend them with reliable roofing material like roofing cement. You'll also want irrigation for the pouring rains, so clean out your gutters so the water doesn't pool on your roof. You can then check out any wires that are entering into your property and seal off any vulnerable gaps to block water damage from happening. At last, judge whether it's necessary to attach your roof with hurricane straps.
- Your Property – It's necessary to clear your yard of any loose items such as children's toys, garden accessories and patio furniture. If the item can be lifted from a heavy gust of wind, then relocate it to a secure area so it doesn't cause damage to your property and others' around you. Additionally, inspect your trees and shrubbery for any dead or loose limbs and trim them if necessary.
- Car – Your car can easily be forgotten when you're securing your property for a hurricane. But it's just as critical to get your car ready too, so check that you have: a full tank of gas, good windshield wipers, good tires and your windows sealed properly. Additionally, be cautious of where you park your car, especially if you park on the street. Check that your vehicle isn't under any trees or in an area that's prone to floods.