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With the recent destruction of Hurricane Irma, which has devastated many areas in Florida, extreme weather has been on all of our minds recently. Even if you don’t live in a place prone to hurricanes, with autumn and winter approaching, there are some simple tips you should do to protect your home and family in any storm.
What To Do Before Hurricane Season Arrives
Check The Roof
It is imperative that your roof stays in sound condition. Clayton Restoration recommends that an asphalt or composite shingle roof should be inspected about every three years and is the same for wood shingle, while a tile or metal roof can be every five years. Let’s face it the number one thing between you and a bad storm is your roof if it blows off it puts you in your family at risk. Loose tiles could come flying off in a storm and leave your roof vulnerable to leaks and damage other property. Leaks in the home aren’t always apparent until severe damage has been done, with both water damage and mold. Chimneys are another area on the roof to check, ensure nothing is loose.
Clear Your Gutters
During hurricane season, the last thing you want is your gutters to be blocked. This could cause pooling water and result in leaks- it’s something everyone should be keeping on top of. During the autumn especially, fallen leaves can find their way into gutters and block them meaning rainwater has nowhere to go. It is recommended to inspect your gutters twice a year if you have oak trees and quarterly if you have pines that shed a lot. Fall and Spring are good months to mark your calendar for checking your home’s gutters.
Cut Down Trees
If you have a tree that’s exceptionally tall, unstable or rotten your best bet is to remove it completely. If it blows over in a storm, it can cause severe damage to your home or person. There are many people injured or killed every year by falling trees. It’s not to say you need to remove all of the established trees on your property, but if you have one in close proximity to the house you need to trim it back, especially if it’s unstable, as it’s better to be safe than sorry. The roots of large trees can actually pull the moisture out of house foundations and also disturb them which is extremely hard on your home so though it may be difficult to consider you may consider removing them.
Storms can be disastrous for homeowners, but a bit of forwarding planning and making some repairs now could save you time and hassle later down the line. I also recommend reading up on the National Hurricane Center, hurricane preparedness list.
Images Courtesy of Canva.
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About the Author: Patricia Davis Brown
