Hurricane Protection – Bracing Your Home from Potential Damage

Natural disasters can happen without a moment’s notice, but hurricanes can at least be observed prior to hitting your location. When it’s hurricane season, it’s important to do some planning. Because your home is one of your biggest investments, it’s a good 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 check up on when safeguarding your home for a hurricane. To safeguard your home from a hurricane, follow the approaches listed below.

Fundamental Methods in Hurricane Precautions

  • Garage Door – If your home has a garage, this may be one of the first things to take care of. Most garage doors don’t have the support to fight high winds. What can happen is the wind will create a positive push inside your garage, and the wind outside of it creates a negative pull. When this happens, your roof and garage will endure a lot of pressure because of this tug-of-war situation. To avoid a major storm damage repair, you can buy a kit that will help your garage door resist hurricane conditions. This is the most trustworthy approach, but if time isn’t on your side, then you can use your car to help brace your garage door.
  • Windows and Doors – Damaged windows don’t only allow the rain to get into your home, but the wind that blows through can increase the pressure under your roof, which can lead to significant structural damage. Storm shutters are an efficient way to protect your home during a storm. When a storm is at hand, ensure the latches are functioning correctly and you may want to consider adding additional locks for added security. You can also cover your windows with OSB if you don’t have storm shutters, but it’s vital to know that putting masking tape on your windows won’t do anything to defend your property from a hurricane. When your windows are secure, check your doors next. Verify that they’re sturdy and that the deadbolts are functioning right.
  • Roof – Inspecting your roof is important before a hurricane passes through your location, and it can help you avoid property damage and provide you a sense of well-being. One of the main things you’ll want to look for is loose shingles and use some roofing cement to fix them. Next, check to see if there are unprotected gaps where any wiring is entering in your home and seal them. This can prevent water from coming into your home. You might want to consider getting hurricane straps to confirm your roof is secure as well. Another thing to do is clear out your gutters so there’s proper irrigation for the strong rains.
  • Your Property – Have a walk around your yard before the storm hits. Your trees and shrubs need some treatment and might require some pruning. Any loose or dead limbs can be threatening in windy conditions and could cause excessive damage to your property. This pertains to items on your lawn like patio furniture too. Transport any loose items to a secure place before the wind can take them.
  • Car – When you’re caught up in protecting your home from a hurricane, it’s understandable that you forget about your automobile. Make sure that you have a full tank of gas, that your tires have good tread, the windows are up and that your windshield wipers are working. If you park your car on the street, you’ll want to check that you’re not parked under trees or in a location that is vulnerable to flooding.

Contact a Local Paul Davis Franchise Today

In spite of all the necessary steps you take in securing your home, there is only so much you can do against storm damages. If your house succumbs to damage caused by a hurricane, contact the experts at Paul Davis. Our storm and hurricane damage restoration and remediation services will get your house back to a healthy condition. Additionally, we work with a variety of home insurers and we can offer guidance and help you verify if your damage is covered. Contact Paul Davis today at (586) 983-8008 to locate a franchise near you.