Living in Jacksonville is wonderful but comes with the risk of hurricanes. In 2012, Storm Beryl hit Jacksonville and wind speeds reached 70 miles per hour. Unsurprisingly, winds at this speed can be very damaging for homes. This article will outline how hurricanes can impact houses as well as detail some steps you can take to protect your home from hurricane damage.
Pressure Can Destroy Roofing
If wind from the hurricane finds its way into your home, the pressure alone can rip off your roof from the inside out. This presents a huge problem because the roof is what shields your house from rain. If it’s blown away, the property is at risk of flood damage. Water damage from floods can cost anywhere from $1200 to $5000.
To mitigate the risk of flood damage, you need to make sure that your roof stays secure. The best way to do that is to reinforce all entry points into the home. This can be done by adding weight behind all of your doors and windows. Additionally, if you know that there’s a chance of a hurricane in advance, you can increase structural support by securing your doors and windows with heavy duty bolts. Secured doors and windows will make it harder for the wind to break into your home, which will help keep the roof attached.
Gusts Can Obliterate The Siding of Your Home
Intense wind gusts from hurricanes can strip the siding off your home’s exterior. This puts the support beams and foundational structure of the home in additional risk. It’s very dangerous for siding and support beams to be carried by the wind because they can collide with other homes in the community and exacerbate damage.
The best thing you can do to protect your siding from hurricane damage is purchase hurricane-resistant siding. This siding is usually made from fiber cement. It can withstand intense winds, and all other harsh weather conditions much better than wooden or vinyl panels. It’s your best bet for siding-protection against hurricanes.
Winds Can Rip Off Your Garage Door
Garage doors are less sturdy than you’d think. More often than not, a residential garage door is no match for the winds of a hurricane. This is a problem because replacing a garage door costs between $700 and $1500, and also because a compromised garage door is another source of potential flooding.
If you’re in the market to become a new homeowner in Jacksonville, and you have the opportunity to pick your garage, we recommend opting for something heavier than what is required by state standards. If you’re already a homeowner, you can increase the durability of your garage by replacing your current hinges with stronger ones and also increasing your center supports.
American Windows Products Can Help Protect Your Home From Hurricanes
Earlier, we mentioned using heavy-duty bolts to secure your windows. One way to maximize protection even further is to invest in hurricane fabric. American Window Products, Inc. uses two types of hurricane fabric to protect customers from hurricane damage. Astro Guard and Astro Flex, which are two of the most trusted hurricane fabrics in the industry, and customers who invest in these products are taking a powerful step in protecting their homes against devastating
damage.
If you’re new to the Jacksonville area or have recently decided to level up your hurricane-protection measures, give us a call today. We’ve been working out of Jacksonville for over 40 years and understand what it takes to mitigate hurricane damage.