Strong winds and severe weather can threaten our homes. Wind arrives with thunderstorms, hurricanes, blizzards, or an ordinary cold front. Wind damage can cause thousands of dollars in repair costs. Protect your home from wind damage as part of your home maintenance tasks.
To keep your home comfortable, safe, and sound, it’s important to understand the potential for wind damage. Here are a few tips to get you started.
Protect Your Home from Wind Damage
A new home can be built with wind-resistant materials to reduce the risk of damage in a storm. Whether you’re building new, adding on, or renovating, verify that your contractor is building your home with the best materials for the job.
Concrete is a strong, durable building material. Homes that are built with concrete stand up to storm-force winds better than wooden or brick homes. Steel is another great construction material for houses in hurricane-prone areas. Steel has the added benefits of not absorbing water like wooden structures. It won’t mold or mildew if it gets wet and steel is fire-resistant.
Clear the Yard to Protect Your Home
If there’s a storm in the weather forecast, move items inside that could be affected by heavy winds. Patio furniture, umbrellas, grills, garden tools, sports equipment, and children’s toys can be blown around by strong winds and cause serious damage.
Move vehicles into the garage. If you don’t have the space to move items indoors, push items up against the outside wall of your home and securely anchor larger items to the ground.
Address Loose & Missing Shingles
The roof is often the first part of the home to suffer wind damage. This damage sometimes goes undetected since it can be difficult to see the roof. After a storm, monitor the condition of the roof. Check around the yard for pieces of shingles that may have blown off or for missing or broken tiles. If your home has dormers or other windows that overlook the roof, you may be able to see the roof from there.
If you can’t safely get a satisfactory look at things, hire a qualified professional to inspect the roof and repair any damage that may have occurred.
Hurricane Shutters to Protect Your Home from Wind Damage
If you live in a hurricane-prone area, install storm shutters to protect windows from strong winds. These shutters are specially designed to fasten over your home’s windows and block strong winds and flying debris from shattering the glass.
Secure Loose Siding & Other Materials
Homes are built to withstand wind and rain. However, when other events have already caused damage, strong winds are more likely to be a problem. If a tree branch damaged shingles in an earlier storm, the roofing will be more susceptible to damage with the next high winds.
Poor installation sometimes allows the wind to get behind a piece of siding, pulling it loose. Areas around dryer vents, electric meters, and HVAC connections may have openings that introduce enough wind to cause a problem. The same is true of soffit and window screens. Make sure all are securely attached to your home.
Hire a Home Inspector to Examine the House
Assess the condition of your home. Your regular observations are important, but to do the best job of protecting your home from wind damage, hire a professional home inspector. The inspector will report on the home’s condition and may be able to make suggestions for other ways to mitigate wind damage.
The wind is a powerful force. Protecting your home from wind damage means taking the proper steps during construction, renovation, and maintenance to be prepared for storm season. After the gusts die down, take the appropriate steps to check for damage and prepare for the next storm.
A home inspector who provides wind mitigation inspections will help you determine how well-equipped your home is for handling storms. Nico Home Inspections offers home inspection services, including wind mitigation inspections, in Southeast Florida. Contact us to request an appointment.