5 Tips For Protecting Your Home From Wind Damage
As more violent storms become common, your home may be more vulnerable to damage. While you cannot control the weather, you can take certain preventive precautions to safeguard your house. Weather-related disasters have increased by 7% over the last five years. Taking action ahead of time can help you reduce destruction, which means less costly repairs. Here are some suggestions to help you protect your home from wind damage.
- Weatherproof your home
The same house improvements you undertake to prepare for winter can also help make your home safer during strong windstorms and hailstorms. Doors and windows are particularly vulnerable, so pay attention to them. Look for missing bolts, wobbly hinges or anything else that might cause them to shake loose during heavy winds. Weatherstripping should be used on windows and doors that do not close firmly. Replace any cracked or damaged windows as soon as possible. While at it, inspect your home for gaps that could allow the wind in. Ensure you seal them to keep the drafts out.
- Tree branches should be pruned
Tree branches that are too close to your window or roof can cause damage to your home during a storm. Unstable and low-hanging branches are also a danger. Trees can sustain ‘wounds’ when long branches break, leaving permanently weaker spots. Keeping branches trimmed makes your property safer and improves its visual appeal, so feel free to consider this.
- Make deliberate use of your landscape
The correct landscaping may be a barrier between you and heavy winds. A landscape designer may help you build a natural windbreak in your yard by carefully planting trees or shrubs to protect your property. It should combine shorter and taller trees to slow down winds before reaching your house. Because it takes time for the trees to reach their maximum height, you can opt for heavy duty closeboard fence panels if you need an urgent solution to strong winds.
- Patio furniture can be anchored or stored
During severe winds, any piece of outdoor furniture on your deck or beside your pool might become a lethal object. Therefore, keep outdoor furniture, flower pots, and lawn decorations enclosed in a shed, garage or pool house. If you do not have a location to store larger things, secure them using cables or chains to prevent them from being picked up by the severe winds.
- Examine and repair your roof
Checking your roof on a regular basis is a smart idea. You can hire the services of a professional roofer who will come to your home and complete the work for you. When roofs are neglected for an extended time, loose tiles, slates, or flashing can cause significant problems, which could become costly. A flat roof would require more upkeep and repairs than a standard pitched roof, so keep this in mind. A flat roof should be inspected twice a year and after storms to remove leaves, debris and dirt that may obstruct adequate drainage or cause degradation.