Make Sure Your Home Isn’t Weary of the Weather
The weather is a fickle and unpredictable creature. It can also be a powerful and dangerous beast. These days, it seems like no matter where you live, you are at risk of experiencing some form of severe weather conditions, whether it’s a blizzard, tornado, flood, earthquake, or hurricane.
It is devastating to see the aftermath and damages that these natural disasters can have on homes and cities, especially when minimal warning was given. Mother Nature’s unpredictable behavior over the past few years should serve as a friendly reminder to homeowners – when it comes to the weather, always expect and prepare for the worst, even if you think you live in a safe state.
There is only so much you can do to protect your home and your family in the case of a weather emergency. This means that you should do anything you can to prepare in advance. Because it’s better to be safe than sorry, consider the home improvements suggested below.
1. Dangerous Doorways: These days, you can actually purchase wind-resistant doors and have them installed in your home. You can also keep your current doors, but apply some techniques to ensure their durability. Keep in mind that even indoor doors can pose a threat so they need to be sturdy and efficiently attached.
2. Reinforce the Roof: Gusty winds and torrential downpours can wreak havoc on an old or poorly structured roof. Roofing material makes a difference, but the main area of concern is the underlying foundation as well as the slopes and angles of the roof. However, metal seems to be the most resistant to fire, ice, hail, and wind.
3. Worthwhile Windows: Getting rid of windows in a home is safe, but it is also depressing and unrealistic. Fortunately, thanks to advancements in technology, you can purchase weather resistant windows for your home. This is definitely a worthwhile investment because windows are highly dangerous in the presence of severe weather conditions.
4. Stronger Structure: The material and quality of construction of the foundation of your home plays a major role in determining how safe it is if a natural disaster strikes. Block on block construction is a safer option, but you obviously can’t alter this part of your pre-existing home. You can, however, reinforce your current walls with formidable materials and extra layers of protection.
Even though these efforts do not guarantee that your home will remain undamaged in the case of an extreme weather situation, they are still worth considering. There is no way of knowing whether a hurricane, tornado, or blizzard will even hit your area in the next few years, but sure is nice to know you’ve done everything you can to protect your home and family just in case.