Storm winds cause more than half of all reported damage after a storm, according to the NOAA. Damage sustained to a home can be costly and devastating. Protect your home by preparing it for potential high winds and storms before they hit.
Check for Necessary Repairs
Routine maintenance around your home can help prevent unnecessary damage in windy weather or during a bad storm. Once or twice a year, walk around your home and look for loose or damaged parts of your home including:
- Siding
- Shingles
- Roofing material
- Brickwork
In a bad storm or high winds, not only could these parts of your home sustain even more damage, but the loose material could become dangerous debris that causes damage in other areas, too. Imagine a loose brick flying off your home and hitting a neighbor’s window or your car.
Protect Your Windows and Doors
In extremely windy conditions, your windows and doors are some of the most vulnerable parts of your home. Depending on your budget, you have multiple options to keep the wind from doing damage.
- The best option, and the most expensive, is to install permanent storm shutters for your windows and doors. You can lower them in advance of bad weather and know your home is protected.
- The next best option is to replace your windows with “impact resistant” windows so if the wind blows anything your way, your windows are less likely to break.
- The final option is the most affordable but can be just as effective, as well. Place plywood over your windows and doors as temporary coverings prior to a bad storm. However, this only works if you know a storm is on the way and have time to prepare.
Have Your Roof Checked Out
Roofs are particularly vulnerable in bad wind storms. Many roofs have been destroyed by high winds, causing more expensive damage on the inside of a home, too. It’s a good idea to have your roof and chimney inspected yearly. During this time, you can find and repair problems and get a good idea on how much longer until you need to have your roof replaced. If that’s not on your usual home maintenance list, go ahead and do it now as part of your windy weather plan.
Older roofs may need to be replaced. The roofer can also let you know if your plywood sheathing is secure and repair it if necessary which will help protect your roof in windy weather. You can also brace the roof side walls with 2x4s and have hurricane straps installed. Both will help secure your roof.
Take Care of What’s in Your Yard
Two big safety concerns in high winds are your trees and any outbuildings like garden sheds, carports, and other free-standing buildings. Both can be knocked over by the wind, and in extreme cases, picked up and cause even more damage.
- Trim tree branches away from your home. Have dead limbs thinned out from older trees.
- Remove dead and dying trees that could topple over in the wind.
- Use anchors and tie-downs on outbuildings that do not sit on a permanent foundation. Pick the kind used on manufactured homes as they’re made for this kind of job.
While you’re preparing for windy weather and eventual storms, make sure your homeowners insurance is current and is high enough to cover any potential damage from high winds. If you haven’t thought about your insurance policy in a few years, there’s a good chance it may need to be updated. Contact Charlotte Insurance for a free quote or to update your existing policy.