Summer, and with it, hurricane season, is upon us. Even areas far removed from the coast are still subject to hurricanes’ influence, primarily in the form of smaller storms as they carve a path across the mainland. These storms can prove to be a real home-wrecker and can leave your family dealing with the fallout of having to repair a house and its surrounding assets. Fences are the first and worst objects hit by an approaching storm, as their posts and planks can be tossed around in the presence of violent winds, but they aren’t the only aspects of your estate that are in danger from a bad storm. Here are a few other parts of a house that could be at risk of strong storms, and how to prevent their harm:
Fortify The Fenestration
Windows are another vulnerable spot for storms. Their glass panels reveal a weakness to powerful winds and objects thrown by them and can pop out through their wooden supports or shatter outright. To ensure that this does not happen, hurricane film can be plastered over a window to prevent glass shards from becoming deadly shrapnel in the presence of powerful winds. Hurricane film is clear, so it can be installed with little to no visibility loss. Unfortunately, hurricane film is not infallible and can be blown away under the presence of the worst winds, or not fully insure your window against all wind pressure. An added precaution includes reinforcing the borders of a window with a sturdy layer of plywood.
Unclog the Gutter Clutter
Over the course of the year, a gutter can become clogged with leaves, dirt, twigs, and other such debris, limiting what it can do to prevent your house from becoming burdened with a buildup of water. A clogged gutter can pave the way for expensive housing disrepair, such as a leak in the roof. A leaky roof is the last thing you want during a bad storm. The accumulated debris inside a gutter can become dislodged and thrown about the exterior of the house, scraping the paint or breaking glass or decorations hanging outside the house. Make sure your gutters are void of any litter buildups to prevent a cheap fix from becoming a painful expense.
Pack up the Garden Gnomes
Lawn decorations can become a projectile when tossed about in a powerful storm. Not only do you risk losing your valuable decorations, your risk them damaging more of your valuables. Garden gnomes, yard lights, ornaments, chimes, and other loosely-hanging objects in the yard or exterior of the house need to be packed up and placed where they can return safe and sound when hurricane season is over when bad storms approach. The weather channel or websites dedicated to warning people of adverse weather conditions should provide you with a warning ahead of time should a bad storm approach your area.
