Living in Middle Tennessee, we all know that spring brings more than just a few light showers to the area. By the end of April, we’ve usually seen more than a handful of strong thunderstorm and tornado events roll through town. While not much can be done to save a home in the middle of a tornado’s path, most home storm damage – even major damage – can be avoided by taking easy precautions. Here are some ways you can protect your home again storms this spring:
– Ensure that gutters and siding are secure and attached tightly to your home. Dangling and loose gutters and siding can tear off in heavy winds, becoming projectiles to create even more damage to your home and other homes nearby.
– Clean your gutters and keep them free of leaves and debris so that water can drain properly during a storm. A hard rain coupled with clogged gutters can lead to water backup and subsequent damage on your roof and around doors and windows.
– Be diligent in assessing your roof for loose and missing shingles. The combination of winds and heavy rain can be detrimental to a roof with shingles that are out of position or missing, especially when not caught early.
– Cut back trees and limbs that are dead, dangling and/or near your home and keep an eye out for damaged and dying trees or trees whose root systems don’t seem to be strong.
– Reinforce your garage doors. If your garage doors are taken out during high winds or a tornado, then your pressurized home can disassemble from the inside out. Install windowless garage doors if you’re looking to upgrade and purchase a garage door reinforcement kit to ensure your doors stay put during a severe storm.
– Secure fencing and any loose items in the backyard. Things like swing sets, trampolines, play toys and grills become dangerous projectiles during strong wind storms.
– Make sure windows are in great shape and aren’t leaking. If they need reinforcement, try caulking but consider replacing them if they are past their prime.
– Fix any landscaping issues in your yard that encourage standing water, especially near your home’s foundation. Work with a professional if needed in order to make sure that gutters drain away from your home. Standing water can cause water damage to your foundation and also do severe damage to your lawn.
Perhaps most importantly, after a storm occurs, walk around the perimeter of your home and property to assess any damage. Tending to small problems before they turn into large ones can mean the difference of thousands of dollars!