Getting Your Home Ready for a Hurricane – Avoid Storm Damages

Damage induced by hurricanes can be destructive for your house. The extreme weather conditions can harm any house like shatter windows, separate roofs and uproot trees and shrubs. Your house is also vulnerable to water damage and flooding from the heavy rains. Yet, there are preventative measures you can take to protect your property from strong storms. Follow the approaches listed below to assure you, your family and your house is protected from a hurricane and to avoid the need for storm damage repairs.

Things to Prepare When a Hurricane Is En Route

  • Garage Door – If you have a garage, this should be one of the first things you need to prep. Typically, garage doors don’t have the support to fight strong winds. What can take place is the wind will generate a positive push in your garage, and the wind outside of the structure creates a negative pull. When this occurs, your roof and garage will endure a lot of pressure because of this push-pull situation. To defend from an excessive storm damage restoration, you can buy a kit that will help your garage door resist hurricane conditions. This is the most effective step, but if time isn’t on your side, then you can use your car to help brace your garage door.
  • Windows and Doors – Busted windows don’t only allow the rain to get into your house, but the wind that comes in can increase the pressure under your roof, which can lead to excessive structural damage. Storm shutters are a great method to defend your house during a storm. When a hurricane is on its way, make sure the latches on your shutters are working properly and you may want to think about installing additional locks for added defense. You can also cover your windows with OSB if you don’t have shutters, but it’s vital to know that putting masking tape on your windows won’t do anything in a heavy storm. After your windows are secure, check your doors next. Make sure they’re strong and that the deadbolts are in working order.
  • Roof – A roof checkup is important, and you should locate for any out of place shingles and other susceptible areas. Get some roof cement to repair any loose shingles, and you should consider hurricane straps to make sure your roof is fastened to your home. Also, you’ll want to seal any spots where wires enter into your house to avoid any water damage from happening. In the course of your roof inspection, this is a good time to see if your gutters are congested. You want to make sure you have appropriate irrigation for the heavy rains that happen during a hurricane.
  • Your Property – The outside of your property can be a primary threat when a hurricane comes through. Any loose items could be picked from the high wind and be launched into your house and your neighbor’s too. Make sure to move any children’s toys, patio furniture, BBQs and garden accessories to a location safe from the storm. One other thing you’ll want to do is cut back any dangling or dead branches from your shrubs and trees.
  • Car – Your vehicle can easily be forgotten when you’re protecting your house for a hurricane. But it’s a good idea to get your vehicle ready too, so make sure you have: a full tank of gas, working windshield wipers, tires with good tread and your windows sealed properly. Also, be aware of where you park your vehicle, especially if you rely on street parking. Check that your vehicle isn’t under any trees or in an area that’s susceptible to flooding.

Experienced Storm Damage Restoration Contractors for Your House

Paul Davis offers storm damage restoration and remediation services, so if your house has been damaged by a hurricane, reach out to our professional team. After all, you can only do so much preparation to combat Mother Nature. We can restore your property back to its original status, and we work with different home insurers. We can help you figure out what’s covered with your policy. To find a Paul Davis franchise near you, reach out to us at (775) 825-7856.