While quality home insurance can provide you with peace of mind during storm season, you want to avoid the heartache of seeing your home destroyed by Mother Nature. Whether a strong storm or a major natural disaster hits, in addition to having an emergency preparedness plan, there are steps you can take to give your home the best possible chance of staying intact.
If a wildfire sweeps through the area or a major hurricane hits, there’s no guarantee your roof or siding is going to get away without a scratch. However, these expert tips can help you make informed decisions about home disaster protection.
Check your roof
A vital part of your home is the roof. Your roof protects you and your home from the elements. It’s important to understand your roof insurance coverage when it comes to storm damage. Then, you’ll want to check the roof itself. If not regularly checked, you could end up with holes, leaks, and in extreme cases, structural damage. Get up there and check it out, or hire a professional to do it. If there are missing or broken shingles, replace them. If your roof is nearing the end of its life and is showing signs of deterioration, you may want to consider installing a new one before storm season. Replacing a roof costs an average of $21,000. While you’re there, also be sure to check your gutters and clean them out if necessary.
Protect the doors and windows
Your doors and windows are vulnerable to extreme weather conditions. Take a close look at both to ensure they’re well-sealed and strong enough to withstand natural disasters. Most likely, you’ll need to install temporary protection, like wood boards, to stop panes, trims, and seals from being broken. Alternatively, consider replacing your windows with reinforced materials designed to withstand such events.
Insulate your pipes
During colder months, your exposed pipes are at risk of freezing and bursting. Living in extremely cold weather areas means this is more likely to happen and therefore worthwhile getting ahead of. In addition to insulating your pipes, there are a few steps you can take to protect your home, such as purchasing a generator, keeping your furnace running, and installing temperature sensors.
Consider your siding material
More than 3,000 U.S. homes were destroyed by wildfire in 2023. If you live in an area prone to such events and are in the process of building a new home or replacing your siding, consider installing fireproof siding material. Keep in mind that wooden and vinyl siding are very flammable, while other common siding options such as stucco and fiber cement are extremely flame-resistant. Siding is also very susceptible to hurricane damage if not well-maintained and can cost a fair amount to replace if strong winds take their toll.
Prepare the surrounding area
It’s not only your house structure itself you need to consider when protecting your home. You also need to take measures around it. Pruning trees is a vital step in ensuring safety, as falling branches could severely damage your home. You should also tie down any loose items that you have in the yard. Any patio or porch furniture or décor should be anchored or packed away. There are also residential sprinkler systems you can install to ward off fires.
