Windstorm-Proofing Tips for Your Home:
1. Reinforce Your Roof: Regularly inspect your roof for loose or damaged shingles and consider installing hurricane straps or clips to better secure the roof to the walls.
2. Upgrade Your Windows and Doors: Install impact-resistant windows or storm shutters to prevent glass from shattering during high winds. Ensure exterior doors have multiple locking points and, if possible, reinforce garage doors, as these are often the first points of failure.
3. Secure Exterior Structures: Clear your yard of loose items like patio furniture, potted plants, and decorative objects that could become dangerous projectiles during a windstorm. Store these items in a shed or garage when a storm is forecasted.
4. Trim Trees and Vegetation: Keep trees trimmed and remove dead branches near your home to prevent them from breaking off and damaging your roof or windows during high-velocity winds.
5. Inspect Your Siding: Ensure all siding is securely attached. Loose panels can easily be torn off by high winds, exposing the structure of your home to further damage.
6. Seal Gaps: Use high-quality caulk or weatherstripping to seal gaps around windows, doors, and utility entry points to prevent wind-driven rain from entering your home.
Taking these proactive steps will significantly decrease the risk of structural damage and help protect your most valuable asset when severe weather strikes.
Use a construction fastening system
Some storms are strong enough to even lift the roof of your house. Keep roofs and other vulnerable part of your house secured by having the proper construction fastening system.
Raise the structure
It is best to raise the structure of your house especially if you live in coastal areas. It would save your house from getting hit by a storm tide.
Check the garage door
Garage doors often break open during windstorms, causing even more damage because the wind could get into your house. Make sure to install a garage door that can withstand windstorms.
Clean debris
Secure all objects outdoors that can fly during windstorms, such as small chairs and flowerpots. Keep your garden clean from branches and other hard objects because it may damage your house.
Guard doors and windows
The glass in doors and windows can easily shatter during hurricanes and cyclones from flying objects hitting them. Install an impact resistant-glass or shutters to protect the house inhabitants from the winds outside.
Keep the water flowing
Make sure nothing blocks the flow of water from your roof to gutters and downspouts. You wouldn’t want water to be stuck on the roof, causing damage.
Consider having a power generator
A generator would be helpful in case a windstorm would cause the power to be out for some time. Make sure to place the generator properly so the noise coming from it wouldn’t bother the neighbors.
Ready basic supplies
Storms may cause roads to be inaccessible, so having emergency supply would be needed. Having 3 days worth of basic supplies such as water and food is highly recommended.
Take extra precautions
Ensure that your basement or crawl space stays dry by having multiple precautions. For instance, having both drainage and a sump pump system backed with emergency power would give you a backup in case one doesn’t work.
While preventive measures would minimize the impact of a windstorm, damages around the house can be inevitable. Take note that homeowners’ insurance in some areas won’t cover windstorm damage, so it’s best to consider having a windstorm insurance instead. Don’t hesitate to contact one of our agents for more information regarding windstorm insurance.
At Brad Spurgeon Insurance Agency Inc., we do our best in making sure that our clients are well-protected with affordable and comprehensive policies. To learn more about how we can help you, please contact our agency at
(409) 945-4746 or
Click Here to request a free quote.
