With the recent occurrence of hurricane disasters, it has proven to most coastal homeowners that it is important to take necessary measures to ensure their houses remain intact. Even though you were never ready to tackle issues, it is for the best to stay safe and prepared. Some improvements may cost you nothing while others could call for you to dig deeper into your pocket. Even so, they are crucial to ensuring that you, your family, and your house remain safe.
If you are looking to purchase and move to a house by the coast, it is advisable for you to ensure you include these changes to your home, to ensure your house lives through the next hurricane.
Put on a metal roof
When tough climatic conditions come knocking, your roof will be the most vulnerable part of your house. Despite the expertise employed in its construction, it is sure to wear out after a couple of tough winds and storms.
Luckily, a metal roof can stand firm against the tough conditions of a hurricane. If your coastal home does not have one, it is high time that you installed it. The material is so sturdy that it can live through winds up to one hundred and forty meters per hour, and withstand wear and tear for up to fifty years. Depending on the wind speeds experienced in your area, it will cost you between one thousand and five thousand dollars to get the job done.
Put collision windows in place
Impact windows are a popular item in areas that are prone to hurricanes. They are made of tough glass that can withstand strong winds, heavy downpour, and flying debris. Research indicates that the breakage of windows during strong storms is dangerous for a home and could easily cause destruction. They come with the added advantage of burglar-proofing your house since they are difficult to break. However, they come with a hefty price tag attached to them that lies anywhere between forty to fifty-five dollars per square foot. Even so, they are worth the money.
Opt for fiberglass rather than wood doors
Having fiberglass doors will ensure they do not break upon collision with the rough conditions of a hurricane. Door breakage will send wind and other materials into your house that will lead to further damage. Doors made from this material appear like wooden ones but come with tougher properties. They come at a price between one thousand five hundred and two thousand dollars.
Maintain your yard
This is among the simplest and cheapest things you can do to protect your home from hurricane damage. Begin with clearing your gutters so that water has a clear passage from your roof. Move on to pruning all bushes and trees around your house. This should include the removal of any loose fruit and branches to avoid them from flying into something in case of strong winds. Additionally, if you notice a tree that may not be able to withstand stormy conditions, have it removed. However, it would be advisable to let an expert inspect it just to be sure.
Put in a metal garage door
Research shows that the most damage incurred by houses during a hurricane happen through the garage door. This means that you will have to upgrade your garage door to the metal kind if you do not already have one. Ensure they feature a design that can withstand strong winds, heavy downpour, and flooding. The most desirable option is a steel door, and should come with boosting posts well before a storm occurs: they keep the door firm if strong winds come by. Such garage doors come at a price between seven hundred and fifty dollars and one thousand, two hundred and ninety-five dollars.
Contact Movers Grande Prairie for moving quote.