Getting Your House Ready for a Hurricane – Storm Damage Prevention

Natural disasters can happen without a moment’s notice, but hurricanes can at least be discovered prior to hitting your location. Planning and preparing are very fundamental things you can do when hurricane season approaches. Since your house is one of your most valuable expenses, it’s a good idea to do what you can to prevent the damages that hurricanes can bring to your home and to prevent any storm damage repair. There are lots of things to check up on when safeguarding your property for a hurricane. To protect your property from a hurricane, use the steps below.

Hurricane Prevention Checklist – Best Methods to Avoid Storm Damage

  • Garage Door – To prevent any major storm damage restorations, your garage door should be one of the primary things to check for. Most of the garage doors in residential neighborhoods aren’t designed to defend against hurricane conditions, so it’s critical to buy a support kit. By bracing your garage door, you’ll prevent the winds that create a positive push in your garage. This is crucial because the winds 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. Buying a brace kit for your garage door is an effective approach to prevent excessive damage. However, if don’t have the time to install braces, you can use your car to brace your garage door.
  • Windows and Doors – Windows and doors are another entrance for a storm to create disruption. Defective windows will allow wind and rain to move through your home, and this can lead to water damage problems. When a storm is imminent, make sure you lock your windows. If you have storm shutters installed, ensure they are closed and locked, but if you don’t have storm shutters, you can board up your windows to keep potential damage out of your home. Additionally, remember that using masking tape on your windows doesn’t do anything to defend them. Concerning your doors, lock the deadbolts or any other locks to ensure they don’t fly open during heavy wind gusts.
  • Roof – Your roof is a number one defense against Mother Nature, and that’s why it’s important to ensure it’s prepared for hurricane season. Locate any loose shingles and repair them with roofing concrete. You’ll also want irrigation for the strong rains, so unclog your gutters so the water doesn’t pool on your roof. You can then locate any wires that are going into your home and seal off any threatening gaps to stop water damage from occurring. At last, evaluate whether it’s required to secure your roof with hurricane straps.
  • Your Property – Take a walk around your lawn before the storm hits. Your shrubs and trees need some consideration and might require some pruning. Any dangling or dead branches can be dangerous in windy conditions and could cause excessive damage to your home. This pertains to items in your yard like patio furniture as well. Transport any loose items to a secure area before the wind takes them away.
  • Car – When you’re caught up in safeguarding your property from a hurricane, it’s understandable that you forget about your automobile. Ensure that your vehicle is filled with gas, that your tires aren’t worn down, the windows are up and that your windshield wipers are good. If you have to park on the street, you’ll want to verify that you’re not parked under any trees or in an area that is susceptible to flooding.

Get in Touch with Paul Davis for Storm Damage Restoration

In spite of all the precautions you take in protecting your property, there is only so much you can do. If your home experiences damage produced by a hurricane, reach out to the professionals at Paul Davis. Our storm and hurricane damage restoration and remediation services will get your home back to normal again. Additionally, we work with various home insurers and we can help you determine if your damage is covered. Contact Paul Davis today at 989-894-4450 to locate a franchise near you.