With hurricane season upon us (hello: Harvey and Irma), it\u2019s more important than ever for coastal homeowners to prepare their abodes for hurricane-force winds, tropical storms and possible flooding. While we hope you never have to deal with any of these horrible disasters, it doesn\u2019t hurt to be prepared. Fortunately for those who live in a hurricane zone, there are ways (very good ways, in fact!) to protect your home from hurricane damage. Some improvements are as simple as pruning trees and cleaning gutters. Other changes may cost an extra thousand dollars but are well worth every penny. Not only is hurricane proofing a home good for resale value, but it also ensures that you\u2019ll still have that home to sell later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re currently house-hunting for a beach house, I recommend adding these 5 hurricane-proof improvements to your home buying checklist as well. Trust me when I say that they can make a big difference when it comes to how well your home weathers the next monster storm. Follow these steps to learn how to build a hurricane proof house.
\nHow to Hurricane Proof Your Home<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Install a metal roof\n\nIf you\u2019re moving to a hurricane zone, you\u2019re going to need a hurricane proof roof. Otherwise, your home may not survive the next major storm. With constant exposure to wind, rain and other outside forces, a home\u2019s roof is one of the most (if not, the most) vulnerable parts of the house. And if you live in an environment prone to tropical storms and hurricane-force winds, your roof is sure to take a beating, no matter how well it\u2019s built.\n\nFortunately, there is a material that can withstand a hurricane\u2019s high wind speeds and torrential downpours: metal. If you\u2019re purchasing a home that does not already have a metal roof, I highly recommend installing one. Metal roofing is one of the most popular types of wind-resistant roofing available. According to American Building Components, metal roofing is outfitted in interlocking panels to \u201cprovide unique strength and security.\u201d This type of roofing can also resist winds of up to 140-mph. The company also notes that a metal roof can last 50 years, which is \u201cmore than double the lifespan of traditional asphalt shingle roofs.\u201d When installing a metal roof on your home, you\u2019ll need to make sure it meets all state and local building codes.\n\nThe cost of a metal roof is another important consideration. According to the Improvement Center, wind-resistant roofing costs more than average roofing. The company notes that in low-wind areas, you should budget $1000 extra and in high wind areas, the costs could increase up to $5000 extra.\nInstall impact windows\n\nIf you\u2019re house hunting in a hurricane zone, you\u2019re sure to hear the words \u201cimpact glass\u201d quite a lot (especially if you have a good Realtor). In Florida, this type of glass is practically a prerequisite for many future homeowners. These impact windows are made of impact-resistant glass which is safely and securely installed into the window frame. The durable, strong glass is built to keep heavy rain, hail, hurricane-force winds and flying objects from shattering your windows. According to BobVila.com, \u201ca broken window provides a point of entry for wind, which enters the house, increases pressure, and seeks another way out.\u201d During a storm, this can cause serious destruction in a home. Thankfully, impact windows prevent this from happening in the first place. Given that they are particularly difficult to break, impact windows will keep potential burglars at bay as well.\n\nHowever, installing shatter-proof, wind-resistant windows in your home will cost you. Just like a hurricane proof roof, these impact glass windows cost more than your average, run-of-the-mill windows. According to The Balance, \u201ca good hurricane window cost will be between $40 and $55 a square-foot, and this will include the frame and the hurricane-proof glass.\u201d The cost of impact glass may seem high, but it\u2019s simply the price you pay for peace of mind.\nReplace wood doors with Fiberglass doors\n\nIn addition to windows, make sure your doors to the outside are impact and wind-resistant. When a hurricane rolls through, debris inevitably goes flying through the air. Unfortunately, it only takes one of these windblown items flying at hurricane-force winds to knock the average front door down. Once its knocked open, more wind, debris and water can enter into the interior of the home. This can result in significant structural damage from increased pressurization, as well as flooding from excess water.\n\nTo avoid these disasters (and others), take precautions by installing hurricane proof doors to the outside. Hurricane proof doors are typically made of Fiberglass. According to The Balance, these doors are built tougher than your average door and can be made to look like wood. The articles notes that Fiberglass doors rarely scratch, peel or warp, \u201cand can resist different weather conditions performing better and lasting longer than wood doors.\u201d In addition to being able to withstand strong wind forces, Fiberglass doors are more energy efficient as well. The price of a Fiberglass door varies by customization but typically hovers around the $1,500 to $2,000 mark.\nLandscape the yard\n\nOne of the best ways to keep your home protected from a hurricane is to simply prep your yard. Regular landscaping and yard maintenance can go a long way in preventing damage and destruction to your home during hurricane season. First, clean your gutters. By clearing the gutters around the home of leaves and various debris, rainwater from hurricanes and tropical storms will be able to move more easily off the roof. Second, prune all trees and bushes surrounding your home. Don\u2019t forget to also remove coconuts and loose branches that present a potential danger to your home\u2019s exterior. If you spot a tree that looks like it\u2019s sure to topple over, call to have it professionally removed. However, Jacksonville.com points out that any questionable trees should first be examined by a certified arborist.\nInstall a metal garage door\n\nAccording to CNN Money, \u201c80 percent of residential hurricane damage starts with wind entry through garage doors.\u201d For this reason, it\u2019s particularly important that you upgrade your garage door. Lightweight garage doors are susceptible to wind and flooding. If your garage door breaks due to hurricane winds, you can bet the inside of that garage will be flooded in no time \u2013 ruining your car and everything else inside. This is so common, in fact, that \u201cthe Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) identified loss of garage doors as one of the major factors contributing to hurricane storm damage in homes,\u201d according to HouseLogic.\n\nIf you live in a hurricane zone, make sure your garage doors are designed to combat a hurricane\u2019s force. Most hurricane proof garage doors are made of steel. Many also come with add-on reinforcement posts. These steel posts can be installed before a storm approaches. The posts will keep the garage door in place in the event of hurricane force winds. HouseLogic notes that impact-resistant garage doors typically cost between $750 and $1,295.<\/pre>\n\n\n\nReady to move?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before moving to your coastal abode, make sure you hire the right movers for the job. To find the best moving company to handle your upcoming move, check Moving.com\u2019s extensive network of reputable and reliable movers. All relocation companies in our network are licensed and insured, so you can rest assured that your move will be in good hands. Good luck and happy moving!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
With hurricane season upon us (hello: Harvey and Irma), it\u2019s more important than ever for coastal homeowners to prepare their abodes for hurricane-force winds, tropical storms and possible flooding. While we hope you never have to deal with any of these horrible disasters, it doesn\u2019t hurt to be prepared. Fortunately for those who live in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":521,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.afinances.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/520"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.afinances.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.afinances.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.afinances.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.afinances.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=520"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.afinances.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/520\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":524,"href":"https:\/\/www.afinances.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/520\/revisions\/524"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.afinances.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/521"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.afinances.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=520"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.afinances.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=520"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.afinances.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}