How to Protect Your House from a Hurricane – Prevent Storm Damage

Damages caused from hurricanes can be devastating for your property. The extreme weather conditions can impair any property, such as break windows, separate roofs and uproot trees and shrubs. Your property is also prone to water damage from the constant rain. However, there are preventative measures you can take to protect your house from strong weather conditions. Follow the practices listed below to assure you, your family and your house is protected from a hurricane and to prevent the need for storm damage restoration.

Ways to Plan for a Hurricane

  • Garage Door – To prevent any extreme storm damage restorations, your garage door should be one of the first things to take care. Most of the garage doors on the market aren’t installed to fight hurricane conditions, so it’s important to buy a support kit. By supporting your garage door, you’ll block the winds that cause a positive push in your space. This is important since the winds that develop outside will cause a negative pull above your garage. When this happens, you’ll get a tug-of-war scenario which puts a lot of pressure on your garage and roof. Supporting your garage door with braces is an effective approach to prevent major 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 problematic areas in your house are your entrances such as your doors and windows. Shattered windows will allow rain and wind to enter into your house, and this can cause water damage issues. When a storm is imminent, make sure you lock and secure your windows. If you have storm shutters installed, make sure they are in good condition and locked, but if you don’t have storm shutters, you can board up your windows to keep potential damage out of your house. Also, keep in mind that placing masking tape on your windows doesn’t do anything to defend them. As for your doors, utilize the deadbolts or any other locks to ensure they don’t fly open during strong winds.
  • Roof – Make sure to go over your roof for any out of place shingles and other vulnerable spots. You can use roof cement to repair any loose shingles, and you should consider hurricane straps to make sure your roof is secure to your home. Also, it’s a good idea to seal any spots where wires enter into your house to prevent any water damage from happening. In the course of your roof inspection, check to see if your gutters are clear of debris. You want to make sure you have good irrigation for the heavy rains that occur during a hurricane.
  • Your Property – Your lawn can be a number one risk when a hurricane hits your town. Any loose items could be picked from the high wind and be heaved into your house and your neighbor’s too. Make sure to relocate any BBQs, garden accessories, children’s toys and patio furniture to an area out of harm’s way. One other thing you need to do is remove any loose or dead limbs from your shrubs and trees.
  • Car – When you’re concerned about securing your property from a hurricane, it’s understandable that you forget about your automobile. Ensure that you have a full tank of gas, that your tires are in good condition, the windows are up and that your windshield wipers are working. If you have to park on the street, you’ll want to make sure that you’re not parked under trees or in a location that is vulnerable to flooding.

Who We Are

Despite all the necessary steps you take in safeguarding your house, there is only so much you can do. If your home succumbs to damage generated from a hurricane, reach out to the professionals at Paul Davis. We can bring back your house to normal with our storm damage repair and remediation services. In addition, we work with a variety of home insurers and we can help you determine if your damage is covered. Contact us today at 989-894-4450 to find a franchise near your area.