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Bracing for Impact: Tips to Minimize Storm Damage and Keep Your Home Safe

storm damage

In 2021, there were 20 separate weather and climate disasters that caused over $1 billion in storm damage.

Storms can be incredibly destructive, so you want to take precautions to protect your home as best you can. A storm can damage roofing, windows, doors, and more. Minimizing damage can keep your family safe while saving you money on storm damage repair.

In this guide, we’ll cover some key tips to help you minimize storm damage to your home. Keep reading for more.

Secure Your Roof

A new roof will generally be able to withstand bad storms, but if you have an older roof it could be far more susceptible to damage. You should have your roof inspected regularly to make sure it’s structurally sound and doesn’t have any issues like leaks. Some of the things you can do to keep your roof safe are:

  • Make sure all shingles are in place and secure
  • Replace any broken or damaged tiles
  • Install class 3 or 4 tiles that can better withstand strong winds and hail
  • Ensure there are no loose nails or sheathing
  • Check the condition of chimney flashing

Protecting your roof from storm damage should always be a priority as it may take more force from a storm than any other part of your house. Storm damage roof repair can be expensive in bad cases, so keeping the risk of damage to a minimum is always ideal.

Secure Doors and Windows

While you should be very aware of the risk of storm damage to your roof, you need to make sure you don’t forget the rest of your home. Doors and windows typically aren’t as strong as roofs or walls, so they can be damaged more easily.

Make sure all fittings (screws, hinges, etc.) are in place and secure. When you know a storm is coming you can place keyhole covers to keep rain and snow out. Caulk around the edges of windows (on the inside and outside) will also help stop moisture from getting in.

Clear films are available that you can apply to windows which will help to stop them from breaking. If you do have any cracked windows, they’ll break incredibly easily in a storm. You should get them replaced as soon as you can.

Secure the Foundation

Small cracks in your foundation can let in water, and this can cause a lot of damage. Make sure your foundation is fully waterproof and crack-free. If you notice any cracks appear, get them repaired before a storm hits.

Small cracks can often be fixed with caulk, but larger ones will need hydraulic cement. If a storm hits while your foundation is damaged, your basement could end up flooding.

Inspect the Siding

Siding will help keep water out of your home during a storm, so you should make sure it’s not damaged. You should inspect your outside walls regularly to look for holes and cracks, then make sure any you find are repaired.

You should pay close attention to any openings for things like pipes, wires, and ductwork. These should be well sealed, as any gaps could also let water in.

Sewer and Drain Backup Coverage

A bad storm with a lot of rain can cause a sewer or drain backup. This may lead to standing water in your home, resulting in flooding and water damage. It’s important to note that sewage water can present more of a health risk than other water, so this is something you definitely want to avoid.

Note that many homeowners’ insurance policies don’t cover damage from sewer backup. Check your policy to see if it’s included, and if not, you may want to purchase it separately.

Clean Up the Yard

Your yard and patio will likely be exposed to the full force of a storm, so anything there could easily be damaged. This includes things like patio furniture, BBQs, pools, and more. You want to make sure everything is secure or stored away to keep the risk of damage down.

You should also consider the fact that loose items could also pose a threat to your home or others in the area. Strong winds could pick objects up and hurl them into your house, onto your neighbors’ property, into cars, etc.

Think about natural objects too, such as tree branches. Anything that’s not fully secured in place has the potential to be damaged or cause damage. When a storm is on its way, clean up your outdoor space as best you can.

Get Proper Insurance

You can take all kinds of precautions to keep the risk of damage to a minimum. Despite your best efforts, however, a severe storm may still cause damage to your home.

Having proper insurance will help you cover the costs of any repairs that you might need after a storm. It will potentially save you from the costs of sizable repair jobs and give you better peace of mind.

Preventing Storm Damage

Houses are typically designed to withstand bad weather, but strong storms can still be a major issue. Nature can be a devastating force, so you want to take whatever precautions you can to minimize the potential for storm damage to your home.

Garlock-French Roofing is a Minnesota-based roofing company. We’ve been building quality roofs since 1932, so we’ve got plenty of experience. If you need storm damage restoration services, or you want a better roof so that you can avoid damage to your home, we can help.

Take a look at our roofing page to see more about the services we offer.