Hurricane-Proofing Your Home: How to Protect Against Storm Damage

Hurricanes and other natural disasters can cause tremendous destruction to homes and businesses. Because hurricanes can cause major damage to buildings, it is important to prepare your home for storms before they arrive. Following these steps will help ensure your family’s safety and protect your home from future hurricane damage.

Start by reinforcing exterior doors and windows. Storm shutters and hurricane-rated windows are important investments. Also, make sure all other openings are covered with ¼-inch marine plywood or approved boards. Trim the excess material and caulk the edges for extra protection.

Next, tie down any loose items in your yard. Lawn furniture, grills, and other outdoor items should be secured in case of strong winds. Additionally, consider installing hurricane straps that will secure your roof and walls together. The straps will help spread the force of the hurricane wind across the roof and across the house.

Increasing Roof Strength

For an extra layer of protection, purchase hurricane clips or strapping to strengthen your roof. You can also install a ridge vent—a vent on the ridge of your roof that helps increase air flow and reduce the risk of roof damage. Make sure the ridge vent is installed above the roof decking to help further protect your home.

Additionally, consider installing a roof top liftable door. This door will provide extra protection from hurricane winds and protect the roof in case of a storm surge or high wind speeds. If your roof already has a liftable door in place, make sure it is properly secured and that it is regularly checked and maintained.

Caring for Your Landscaping

When it comes to hurricane-proofing your home, don’t forget about the landscaping. Plant trees away from your house and make sure they are properly pruned. Also, remove dead or dying branches to help reduce the risk of falling debris.

You can also create a hurricane-resistant landscape by planting trees and shrubs in a way that will break the wind. Planting trees and shrubs in a staggered row will create a natural wind break that will protect home from the wind and minimize damage from flying debris.

Finally, be sure to unplug outdoor electronics and cover outdoor furniture to prevent water damage. Doing these simple steps will help maximize the safety of your home and protect it from future hurricane damage.

Preparation Checklist:

• Reinforce exterior doors and windows.
• Secure loose items in your yard.
• Install hurricane straps to secure roof and walls.
• Purchase hurricane clips to strengthen your roof.
• Plant trees away from house.
• Create a hurricane-resistant landscape.
• Unplug outdoor electronics.
• Cover outdoor furniture.

Conclusion

Following these steps will help ensure the safety of your home and your family, and reduce the risks of damage from natural disasters like hurricanes. Preparing your home for a hurricane is not a difficult task, but it can be the difference between a safe home and a home in need of major repairs.