There’s nothing quite like the sense of security and comfort that comes with being at home, especially when the weather outside is less than friendly. Maybe it’s a severe storm, heavy snowfall, or an unexpected heatwave; the elements can wreak havoc on your home if proper precautions aren’t taken. As you already know (and probably have seen enough times on the news), bad weather will absolutely destroy your home.
No one wants to deal with the aftermath of a storm—broken windows, damaged roofs, or worse. Sometimes, home insurance will cover it; sometimes, it just won’t. While no one can control the weather, they can at least control their house. So, here’s how to ensure that your home stays safe and sound, no matter what Mother Nature throws your way.
Your Roof is the First Line of Defense
When it comes to protecting your home from bad weather, the roof is your first and most important line of defense. If your roof is not up to par, everything underneath it is at risk. So, that’s exactly why regular roof inspections are essential, especially before the stormy seasons hit. So, you’ll need to go ahead and look for missing or damaged shingles, as these can be entry points for water during heavy rains.
Chances are, you’re probably already seeing a lot of damage to your ceiling and walls when it rains if there are already any missing shingles. But you also need to consider having a professional roofer assess the condition of your roof if it’s been a while since your last inspection.
In areas prone to high winds, such as coastal regions, it might be worth investing in wind-resistant shingles. These are designed to withstand stronger gusts, reducing the likelihood of them being torn off during a storm.
While yes the cost of a new roof might be steep, it’s far less expensive than dealing with extensive water damage down the line. If your house is a newly built home, then you might not need to worry about a roof replacement just yet.
Look into Strengthening Your Windows
Windows is another major aspect of your home’s defense system against the elements. Old, worn-out windows can easily become a liability during storms. Plus, high winds can send debris flying, and without strong windows, there’s a real risk of them shattering. Basically, when your windows shatter, it’s only going to get worse from there on out.
So, it’s ideal to look into Investing in replacement windows with stronger glass, as this can make a world of difference. Depending on how old your house is, it might very well be time for a replacement anyway. Modern glass isn’t as fragile as it is in older homes, plus it’s more energy efficient, too.
Maintain Your Gutters
Gutters might not be the most glamorous part of your home, but they play a fairly major role in directing water away from your property. So, clogged or damaged gutters can lead to water pooling around the foundation of your home, which can cause significant structural damage over time.
Plus, it can get into the siding of your home which also causes some major problems too. Basically, you need to keep an eye and clean your gutters regularly, and just make sure that everything is attached properly too.
Protect Your Home’s Foundation
It was briefly mentioned above about the gutters, but yes, bad weather can mess up your foundation So, the foundation is literally what your home is built on, so keeping it in good shape is essential. Unfortunately, heavy rains can cause the soil around your home to become saturated, which puts pressure on your foundation and can lead to cracks or even shifting.
Over time, this can result in costly repairs. Usually the landscaping plays a major role, but the gutters do as well. It might help to get a professional to help out. While yes, foundation issues will always happen, and it’s flat out inevitable in wetter regions, you’ll still need to take this serious.
Trim Those Trees
While yes trees add beauty and shade to your property, they can also be a significant hazard during bad weather. So, you really have to keep in mind that high winds and heavy snow can cause branches to break off and fall onto your home, damaging the roof, windows, or even the walls. In the worst-case scenario, an entire tree could be uprooted and crash into your house.
But on top of that, you’re going to have to regularly inspect the trees around your home, particularly those that are close to your house. Ideally, you’ll need to look for dead or weakened branches and have them removed by a professional arborist (tall trees shouldn’t be DIYed).
Reinforce Your Door
Your windows were mentioned earlier, but that honestly isn’t enough. Doors are often overlooked when it comes to weatherproofing a home, but they play just as big a role in keeping out the elements as the windows do. This is particularly true for garage doors, which are often the largest and most vulnerable openings in a house.
So you may want to consider installing storm doors or adding additional locks and reinforcements to your existing doors for extra protection. For garage doors, look into models that are rated for high winds, especially if you live in an area prone to hurricanes or tornadoes.
Be Prepared for Outages
Needless to say, power outages are a common side effect of severe weather. While a brief loss of power might be just an inconvenience, an extended outage can lead to more serious problems, such as food spoilage, frozen pipes, or even security issues if your alarm system goes down.
Usually, it’s the spoiled food that everyone thinks about, and yes, that’s a big deal, but the others affect your safety and the safety of the overall house, too! So you could consider installing a backup generator, which can help keep your home running smoothly even when the power goes out. Usually, for homes with solar panels, this could be an option as well, but it just really depends on how it’s all set up.