How to Safeguard Your House from a Hurricane – Avoid Storm Damage
Natural disasters can happen without a moment's notice, but hurricanes can at least be observed before they hit your location. Planning and preparing are very effective things you can do when a hurricane comes around. Since your house is one of your most valuable expenses, 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 property for the big storm. To secure your property from a hurricane, follow the approaches listed below.Fundamental Approaches in Hurricane Preparation
- Garage Door – To prevent any major storm damage restorations, your garage door should be one of the primary things to take care. Most of the garage doors in residential neighborhoods aren't designed to defend against hurricane conditions, so it's important to purchase a brace kit. Through bracing your garage door, you'll fight against the winds that cause a positive push in your garage. This is critical since the winds that develop outside will cause a negative pull over your garage. When this occurs, you'll get a push-pull scenario which puts a lot of pressure on your garage and roof. Supporting your garage door with braces is the most effective approach to prevent excessive damage. But, if it's too late to install braces, you can use your car to brace your garage door.
- Windows and Doors – The other susceptible areas in your property are your entrances like your windows and doors. Defective windows will allow rain and wind to move through your house, and this can cause water damage issues. When a hurricane is on the way, make sure you lock and secure your windows. If you have storm shutters installed, ensure they are functioning 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, remember that placing masking tape on your windows doesn't defend them at all. Regarding your doors, lock the deadbolts or any other locking mechanisms to confirm they don't fly open during strong wind gusts.
- Roof – Your roof is your primary defender against the elements, and that's why it's vital to ensure it's ready for a hurricane. Locate any loose shingles and fix them with reliable roofing material like roofing cement. You'll also want good irrigation for the strong rains, so clear out your gutters so the water doesn't pool on your roof. You can then check out any wires that are entering into your house and seal off any susceptible gaps to prevent water damage from occurring. At last, assess whether it's critical to fasten your roof with hurricane straps.
- Your Property – The outside of your property can be a number one risk when a hurricane comes through. Items that aren't weighed down or fastened to the ground could be picked from the extreme wind and be heaved into your house and your neighbor's too. Make sure to move any children's toys, patio furniture, BBQs and garden accessories to a place safe from the storm. One other thing you need to do is remove any dangling or dead limbs from your trees and shrubs.
- Car – Your vehicle can easily be forgotten when you're prepping your house for a hurricane. But it's important to get your vehicle ready too, so ensure you have: your gas tank filled, working windshield wipers, good tires and your windows sealed. Furthermore, be aware of where you park, especially if you rely on street parking. Check that your vehicle isn't under any trees or in a location that's prone to floods.
