Extreme weather events are on the rise, and you must protect your home. A big storm can do so much damage, especially if you are not ready. The good news is, by making a few changes to your home and taking some basic precautions, you can limit the amount of damage caused by a storm and ensure that you and your family make it through safely. Here’s how to prepare your home for a big storm.
Cut Back Trees
Trees can cause a lot of damage during a storm. If branches become loose and blow into the house, they can smash windows or pull roof tiles down. If you have any trees close to your home, you can reduce the danger by cutting them back. Any big branches that extend close to the property should be trimmed. Shorter branches won’t catch the wind as much, so they are less likely to come off in a storm. Regular pruning is also important for the health of the tree.
If you don’t know how to prune a tree yourself, you can find a quick guide here. Otherwise, you should call in a professional tree surgeon and have them take care of it.
Secure Fences
Fences also catch the wind and get blown over in a storm. This leaves a lot of flying scraps of wood that can cause damage to your home and even injure people. So, you must secure your fences as much as possible before a storm hits. Check the fence regularly, and if there are any loose or broken panels, replace them right away. If you have wooden fence posts, make sure that you have good drainage in the area. Waterlogging will cause the posts to rot, meaning that the fence will rip out of the ground easily during a storm. When you are installing a new fence, it’s better to opt for concrete posts that are buried deep.
Get a Backup Power Source
Your power may go out during a storm, so you need to have a contingency plan in place. You can get some great home generators that will power all of your essentials and keep you going until your power gets turned back on. After a big storm that does a lot of damage, it can take a while to get the power back on, so it’s good to have a plan in place.
Check Your Roof
Loose tiles on the roof can go flying during a storm. Any holes will also rip open in high winds and let a lot of water in, leading to some serious damp problems in your home. Checking your roof and fixing any issues will help to keep your home watertight during a storm. So, get up there every few months and look for any signs of loose tiles or holes. Replacing a loose tile yourself is quite easy, but if you have any big holes, you’ll need to call a professional roofer.
These preventative steps will help you keep your home safe and dry next time a big storm hits.
