Protecting Your Home From Inclement Weather

With the winding down of summer days comes the dreaded little season that keeps us all on the edge of our seats: hurricane season. During the departure of summer, right before the arrival of real fall weather, we are always greeted with a few disturbances in our gulf, some of which turn into full-on hurricanes that could easily threaten each home on our block. Hurricanes bring tons of damage to homes every year, and sometimes the damage you see after the gusts have left could have been prevented. After all, our homes are meant to protect us from harsh weather while keeping us safe and comfortable. To do this, they need to be in tip-top shape in order to deliver maximum results.

Leave No Stone Unturned

First, it’s best to inspect the status of your whole house. When seeking to prepare your house for inclement weather, it’s best to do a round-up check of the whole house. Scrutinize the house from top to bottom and take note of the areas that are in good shape, areas that need improvement, repairs and a complete replacement. This will help you budget your money and time properly before the onset of harsh weather.

The Top:

The roof should always be your first priority to check out when anticipating harsh weather of any kind. With hurricanes and other wind-heavy disasters, the last thing you would want is for your roof to blow off or to have leakage. Make sure the shingles are securely attached to avoid removal by the wind or leakage of water into the house. Also, your gutters should be completely cleaned out of all debris to avoid possible flooding.

The Middle:

 Windows and doors are another likely victim to any form of bad weather. The most important thing to remember when preparing them is to make sure everything is properly sealed. We all know that unprotected windows are like catnip to the winds of a hurricane. 

With hurricanes, tornadoes, and any other wind-heavy weather, the often most common type of damage is concerning windows. The sudden change in pressure, the heavy rain, and biting wind can do a number on any structure, and windows are usually the first thing to go. Anyone can go through the trouble of nailing wood over each and every window every time a storm is on its way; however, a more efficient suggestion is to install hurricane shutters on your home. Hurricane shutters are designed to protect against wind, debris picked up by the wind and the sudden changes in pressure that are common during a hurricane. According to the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, if a door or window gives out during a hurricane the resulting pressure shift in the house can cause the roof of your home to fail, blow out of your windows and more; this is essentially the equivalent of getting your house “totaled” in an accident. Because of the level of damage the loss of a single-window can cause, hurricane shutters aren’t just a worthwhile investment—they’re a necessary one.  

The Bottom:

The bottom of your home consists of everything from downspouts to foundation, and to outdoor attachments such as decking. Consider replacing rusty downspouts to prevent leakage of water to your home’s foundation. It’s also a good idea to extend their length making sure they direct water away from the house to prevent flooding. Decks receive all the blows when it comes to strong winds and water. They should be properly designed to stay strong, and make sure all wood is sealed with a sealing agent to repel water.

The Aftermath…

Custom homes will give you maximum benefit and protection against hurricanes and other harsh inclement weather that may have otherwise destroyed your house severely. In most cases of hurricanes and such, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Having year-round protection and getting a head start on preparing your home for the best tolerance will definitely pay off in the long run.