TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015
 Have a weak garage door? A powerful storm can tear the door off its hinges and blow wind into your home with enough pressure to pop the roof.
When you think about protecting your home from wind damage, make sure to focus on the weak points: windows, doors, garage doors, siding and roofing. Also, don’t forget about trees that can crash onto your home or branches that can turn into projectiles.
Take these steps to limit the amount of wind damage to your home:
1. Reinforce the garage door: High wind can blow off a garage door and damage what’s inside, potentially causing structural damage to the entire home. Consider hiring a garage door professional to inspect your door to determine its ability to withstand high winds.
2. Cover windows and doors: Consider installing steel or aluminum storm shutters on your windows, French doors and sliding glass doors. You can close the shutters at a moment’s notice to prevent flying objects from breaking glass. Storm shutters typically cost between $50 and $60 per square foot of window, so a shutter for a 3-by-4-foot window would cost around $600 to $720.
3. Secure shingles: When wind blows shingles from your roof, it makes your home vulnerable to rain. Make sure your roofer secures shingles properly. At least six nails or staples should hold each shingle down; roofers should install the nails or staples beneath the edges of the overlapping shingles. Also, install a waterproof underlayment beneath the shingles for protection against rain in case the wind blows the shingles off your roof. Roofers typically charge between $10 and $15 per square foot to remove and replace shingles and underlayment.
4. Secure metal siding and metal roofing: High wind can tear away entire panels, making it easier for wind to blow into the home. Contractors should secure metal roofing and siding to the frame of the home with exposed fasteners, such as screws and bolts, or with concealed clips. Generally, space fasteners close together at the edges of the panels. Cover all siding edges, such as those along the corner of the home, with a metal cap or molding so wind can’t work its way beneath the siding.
5. Remove trees too close to the home: Make sure trees sit far enough away from your home to prevent damage if they fall. Generally, a tree should sit farther away from the home than the height of the tree when fully grown. The cost to remove a tree will depend on its size.
6. Remove potential projectiles: Anchor outdoor storage sheds and outbuildings with a permanent foundation or straps and ground anchors. Anchor smaller objects, such as grills and outdoor furniture, by bolting them to decks or patios. Use ground anchors with cables and chains. You can also move smaller objects inside if you have adequate warning before a storm.
For more information about Houston windstorm insurance, give Turrentine Insurance Agency a call at 281-476-0557 today!
(Source:angieslist.com)
No Comments
Post a Comment |
|
Required
|
|
Required (Not Displayed)
|
|
Required
|
All comments are moderated and stripped of HTML.
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOTICE: This blog and website are made available by the publisher for educational and informational purposes only.
It is not be used as a substitute for competent insurance, legal, or tax advice from a licensed professional
in your state. By using this blog site you understand that there is no broker client relationship between
you and the blog and website publisher.
|