Get Your Home Ready for Summer’s Storms

6/6/2020 (Permalink)

Examine and secure your home and property now before a hurricane or other windstorm causes costly damage.

Roofing, garages, doors and windows are all vulnerable to damage from the strong winds of hurricanes and tornadoes. Replacing those components—or rebuilding your home entirely—are major expenses to be avoided if possible. And don’t forget that your car may also be damaged by wind!

This article will help you protect your home and property from wind damage before a storm or hurricane hits.

A Stronger Garage Door

Garage doors are considered the weakest part of a home in a windstorm. In fact, most residential hurricane damage starts with wind entry through these doors.

If your garage doors are made of lightweight materials, they may be quite vulnerable to high winds. Ideally, garage doors are windowless, less than 9 feet wide and rated to withstand more than 50 pounds of pressure per square foot. Check for a pressure rating sticker on the inside of your garage door. If the sticker shows a rating of 50 pounds or less—or you don’t see a sticker at all—consider purchasing new wind-resistant doors.

A Protected Roof

Don’t wait for an impending storm to make sure that your roof is protected against wind damage. Have it professionally inspected:

• Shingles should meet or exceed the local building code, be rated high in wind and impact resistance, and be fitted tightly together and properly nailed down
• Roof sheathing should be securely nailed down and seams sealed and waterproofed
• Any attached HVAC units should be securely installed

Secured Windows and Doors

If your region is prone to hurricanes and heavy storms, consider installing impact-resistant windows, which are designed to withstand forceful winds.

Strong winds can rattle any exterior door that’s not properly secured. You should inspect your home’s doors:

• Check hinges for missing screws. How many hinges are there? Three provides more strength than two
• Check the threshold to make sure it’s tightly screwed into your house, not just the door frame

Consider installing new wind-resistant doors that have a high design pressure (DP) rating, which measures the wind force a door system can withstand.

Safely Stored Vehicles

If possible, park your vehicles inside a garage or storage building before a storm arrives.

If you must park outside, stay away from objects that could cause damage, such as branches, lampposts and power lines. Never park vehicles under a tree if a storm is on the way.

If your home or business suffers damage from a windstorm or other natural disaster, call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield today at 860.649.0836

We’re Here for You

The team at SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield has specialized training and experience in natural disaster and storm damage cleanup, water damage remediation, fire restoration services and chemical cleanup. Call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield (860.649.0836) any time.

Other Helpful Blog Posts

SERVPRO publishes educational articles on how you can protect your home and business from disasters and how to deal with mold, fire, water, sewage, storm and other damage.

SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield
53 Slater Street, Unit 2, Manchester, CT 06042
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Call 860.649.0836
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If your home or business suffers damage from a windstorm or other natural disaster, call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield today at 860.649.0836