A Homeowners Guide to Protecting a House from a Hurricane

Water damage, flooding and ruined structures are the usual incidents for a post-hurricane environment. Yet, there are some important methods you can take in order to avoid these incidents and any excessive storm damage repairs. It’s imperative to do what you can to defend your home from a hurricane and to keep your loved ones and your neighbors secure. Below is a list of things to keep in mind while defending your residence against Mother Nature.

Necessary Approaches in Hurricane Precautions

  • Garage Door – Begin with your garage if your house has one, because this is one of the more vulnerable sections for storm damage. Most garage doors don’t have the support to fight high winds. What can take place is the wind will produce a positive push inside your garage, and the wind outside of the structure causes a negative pull. When this takes place, your garage and roof will undergo a lot of stress because of this tug-of-war situation. To avoid an excessive storm damage repair, you can buy braces that will help your garage door resist hurricane conditions. This is the most effective approach, but if you don’t have the time to install a kit, then you can use your automobile to help support your garage door.
  • Windows and Doors – Doors and windows are another entrance for a hurricane to cause havoc. Busted windows will allow wind and rain to move through your house, and this can lead to water damage problems. When a hurricane is imminent, make sure you lock your windows. If you have storm shutters installed, make sure they are functioning and locked, but if you don’t have storm shutters, you can board up your windows to keep possible damage out of your residence. Also, remember that sticking masking tape on your windows doesn’t do anything to secure them. Concerning your doors, utilize the deadbolts or any other locks to ensure they don’t pop open during heavy wind gusts.
  • Roof – Examining your roof is important before a hurricane passes through your location, and it can prevent property damage and provide you peace-of-mind. A good beginning point is to look for damaged shingles and use some roofing cement to repair them. Next, check to see if there are unprotected gaps where any wiring is entering in your home and seal them off. Small gaps might not seem like a problem, but sealing them off can bar any water from coming into your residence. You might want to consider obtaining hurricane straps to ensure your roof is secure too. Another thing to do is clean out your gutters so there’s good irrigation for the heavy rains.
  • Your Property – The land outside of your property can be a primary hazard when a hurricane approaches. Items that aren’t weighed down or fastened to the ground could be lifted from the high wind and be thrown into your residence and your neighbor’s too. Walk around your property and move any children’s toys, patio furniture, BBQs and garden accessories to a place out of harm’s way. One other thing you need to do is trim back any loose or dead branches from your shrubs and trees.
  • Car – Your car can easily be forgotten when you’re protecting your house for a hurricane. But it’s important to get your car ready too, so ensure you have: your gas tank filled, good windshield wipers, good tires and your windows sealed. Additionally, be attentive of where you park, especially if you park on the street. Make sure your car isn’t under any trees or in an area that’s susceptible to floods.

Who We Are

Paul Davis provides storm damage repair services, so if your house has been injured by a hurricane, reach out to our professional team. Unfortunately, there is only so much you can do to combat Mother Nature. We can fix and restore your house back to normal, and we work with different insurance agencies. We can help you evaluate what’s covered under your insurance. To locate a Paul Davis franchise near you, get in touch with us at 989-894-4450.