Fixing The Damage After A Storm

Every single year, there is at least one freak storm that affects the buildings where it lands. Even regular rainstorms can be devastating when there is an onslaught of it every single day. After a time, people come to better understand the cyclical nature of storms in their local area and they prepare their homes and gardens as much as possible. No one can truly guess the storms that will occur every year, but we can have an educated guess! Some homeowners, however, do not look at the frequency of the bad weather, and so end up with a lot of damage after a storm as a result of their home being badly affected by the storms.

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[ctt template=”4″ link=”FWfi0″ via=”yes” ]Some homeowners do not look at the frequency of the bad weather, and end up with a lot of damage after a storm.[/ctt]

Most of the damage that occurs as a result of the storms is siding and roofing damage. Your exterior siding options are about to expand if you need to replace yours after a storm has occurred! Roof damage occurs as a result of the wind shaking the tiles or sending debris flying into the roof and causing damage that way. You can't control the weather, but you can begin to prepare yourself for what to expect when a storm does come flying in. You need to take precautions in a storm, and here are some of the easiest ones in which to do so that you can minimize the damage and the cost.

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• Replace The Shingle. So, the storm has blown out and you've got shingles in your roof missing. The roof will be exposed to the elements all the time, but once the shingle is missing, the attic and the walls on the inside of your home are at risk of water damage and mold. Shingles will break free when they're damaged, and if they're missing it's going to be a windy day in your house! Shingles should always be nailed down properly and not above the nai line. Whether you have shingles or metal sheeting, you need to think about ensuring that it's all properly in place. The risk to people if there is flying shingle in the area is great, so you should do what you can to ensure that your roof is secure!
• Go To The Siding. Siding can come loose as a result of extreme wind. If you notice that the roof is damaged, then check the siding, too. The same rules apply, as if the siding comes away from the house, the rainwater can get into the walls and cause bigger issues. You don't want peeling, moldy walls and condensation building up inside the house, so the siding needs inspection.
• Clear The Gutters. Before the storm season sets in, get up and clear the gutters out. Leaves, sticks and animal mess often clogs up the gutters, which then prevents good water flow. In a storm, the excessive rain can block the gutters even further and you want to ensure that your gutters are clear for the water to drain away properly.
• Clean The Drains. As well as doing the gutters properly, you should consider cleaning out your drains in the lead up to storm season. Your house is going to be under attack by rain and wind, and the last thing you need are overflowing, filthy drains. You want to have water flowing away from your home and into the drains, but if the drains are blocked, the water will back up again.

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• Check Your Sump. The sump pump will keep the water flowing. If you don't have a pump in good order, you won't be able to prevent the water from leaking into the basement. A flooded basement can be very expensive to fix and you need to have that extra security that a flood won't happen. Extreme weather doesn't just affect the roof or the sides of your house, it affects the basement, the interior and the ground around the outside. Fixing the damage of a non-working sump pump means that you need insurance for storm damage, and you should work on a plan for recovery, too.
• Sealing The Windows. When you live in an area where storms are devastating, the last thing that you want to happen is the windows to the home being ripped away. All the windows need is a small, unsealed gap to be unstable. Storms come with strong winds and heavy rain, in some cases, hailstones are regular. You need to seal the windows and doors to prevent them being pulled off and your home being exposed to the elements even further.
• Secure The Fences. Around the perimeter of your home needs to be secure. The fence posts need to be secured so that they aren't a liability to the house. These are often forgotten for those looking to get ready for a storm, but a fence post that goes flying is a hazard and it's on you to storm-prep your home.
• Call Tree Surgeons. Though that tree on your property is old and lovely, it's a hazard if there are hanging branches and logs. Not only can these be ripped up and damage your property, they can smash windows and cause a build up of muck in the gutters. Calling in the tree surgeons means that you can get these trees regularly trimmed back. Not only will you be avoiding blocked gutters, but you could potentially avoid disaster as a result of a storm.
• Inspect The Property. When was the last time you walked around your home and land to check the state of the property? You need to know if there are any hazards that can be a problem during a storm. This is such a basic thing to do, but it's vital if you want an intact property during storm season.

Storms are not easy to recover from, but that doesn't make it impossible. You can recover better from a storm once you're as prepared as you can be. Take the time to get your property ready, and you won't have to think about whether you need to dip into those savings to replace the roof – insurance will already be in place!

This is a contributed post.

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