If you live in an area where hurricanes or hard winds become a threat every once in a while, then you need to do everything you can to protect your house from damage.
Unfortunately, many homeowners seem to forget this aspect and end up dealing with the damage that results from a storm, rather than protecting their homes before wind season.
Unfortunately, nature goes its way, regardless of what we desire, so the best thing to do is reinforce the areas that seem to suffer the most from wind damage.
Experts consider you need to focus on four regions of the house: the roof, doors, windows, and yard.
If you got these four areas worked out, you will have to face far less damage after the wind passes.
Below, we will discuss 6 adjustments you need to make, to ensure your house is not left unprepared for the next big wind threat.
Install shutters on doors and windows
Doors and windows act as the protective shield of your house, so if you don’t take good care of them before wind storms come, then your house may have a lot to suffer.
First of all, make sure all the cracks around doors and windows are sealed and covered.
Even the smallest crack in the walls can affect the structure of your house and make it prone to wind disasters.
Then, the best way to protect windows and doors from getting damaged is to install shutters, especially if you have sliders or glass doors installed.
Usually, shutters are custom made to fit the size of your doors and windows, to ensure maximum protection.
This means you should probably find a local supplier that does that, to avoid having to install them yourself.
Oftentimes, shutters can be taken down and put back on during hurricane watch, if you don’t like the aspect that they give your house, so appearance should not be a problem.
Anchor backyard furniture and sheds
If you have a backyard, chances are you also have a grill, some outdoor furniture, and maybe also a storage shed built.
During a hurricane, or even some strong winds, all these appliances can be taken by the wind and cause real damage to your house or the house of your neighbors, so he best thing you can do is keep them grounded.
With furniture, you can do so by thing them down with strong cords, or packing it up and taking it inside if possible.
For the barbecue, securing a strong wind cover over it and tying it down is your best option, to ensure bricks or metal pieces are not going to be picked up and slammed into some windows.
Sheds can become really dangerous, so make sure it is properly grounded, closed, or covered if necessary, to avoid it becoming a hazard to your neighborhood.
Have your roof and gutters checked out
Before hurricane season, make sure you have your roof inspected and fix every bit of damage it might have.
Shingles need to be checked, to make sure none of them is damaged, as they can easily break free and leave you with a huge hole in your roof when you least expect it.
If you find missing shingles, make sure to replace them right away, as the hole can cause the other pieces around it to break or get completely removed by the wind.
Strong winds are often accompanied by rain, so make sure your gutters are clean and water is not flowing close to your house foundation, as it can do real damage to your walls.
Gutters that are filled with leaves and debris also become heavier and unstable, which means a strong wind can cause them to fall and create significant damage to your house and back yard.
Make sure you schedule a cleaning session as soon as possible before wind season comes.
Consider a good home insurance
If there is one thing that can get you out of trouble, if your house suffered damage from winds, that is a good some insurance.
Consider a type of insurance that protects you from natural disasters such as hurricanes, windstorms or cyclones, as well as floods, to make sure you are as covered as possible, especially if you live in a coastal state.
Florida, for example, is heavily affected by hurricanes and windstorms, with 6 of the 10 most damaging hurricanes in U.S. hurricanes having a massive impact on it.
This is why a Florinda wind insurance is mandatory or the state’s inhabitants.
Otherwise, they would have to face some real challenges after hurricane season passes.
Make landscape changes
If you have trees or shrubs around the house, make sure they are trimmed, as loose branches and strong winds make for no good combination.
In some states, there are even municipal bylaws that stare homeowners are responsible for trimming down their trees, to ensure they don’t possess any danger.
If you don’t think you can do this yourself, hire a professional to help you out, but never leave trees untended.
There were many cases where branches broke down and destroyed entire houses.
Large trees can also be dangerous for power cables as well, as they can get tangled and you risk causing a power outage in your entire neighborhood.
Take a look at the garage door
If you have a garage door, you may want to consider securing it as well.
If there is a hurricane or high wind alert, use cords to secure it and prevent the door from opening or being swept away.
Usually, garage doors are more susceptible to damage, than regular doors, because of their size.
What happens is that the wind may force the door out of its roller track, especially if some of the anchor bolts are not secured in place.
This can cause the door to open, and wind can wreak havoc in your garage.
