If you’re considering residential remodeling and live in an area that is prone to storms, you might want to include a practical solution that protects your home from storm damage. While you’re imagining the beautiful changes you’re going to make, why not improve the stability of your home by carrying out residential modeling that aims to be both appealing and practical? The choices for high quality remodeling, renovation, or repair are endless, so you don’t have to let harsh weather conditions ruin your dream of living in a home that exudes style and comfort.
No matter what you hope to achieve in terms of home improvement, it’s recommended that you arrange to have a residential building plan created. This will contribute greatly to the efficiency and organization of the residential remodeling project.
Some areas of your home are more vulnerable to storm damage than others. Luckily, there are easy and affordable things you can do in order to protect your home from storm damage. In order to make your home storm-proof, it’s essential to know its weak points. Here are your home’s four most vulnerable points during a storm:
Roof
The roof of your house is one of its most vulnerable points during a storm. This is particularly true for hurricanes. Hurricanes create powerful upward forces as they pass over the roof of a house. This means that if shingles or other materials on the roof are loose or incorrectly attached, they will be lifted off easily. Gaps in the roof can then potentially cause water damage in the interior of your home.
If your roof sheathing becomes compromised, this is an even more serious problem as it threatens the structural integrity of your home. Luckily, residential remodeling isn’t just about aesthetics: it’s also about strengthening the house’s framework. As such, seams can be waterproofed, sheathing can be covered with roofing felt, and roofing materials rated according to the impact they can withstand can be chosen.
Note: wind-rating codes are different depending on where you live, so if you’re considering residential remodeling check out the codes before you make any lasting changes to your roof.
Windows
During a storm, it is likely that there will be high winds and a lot of debris flying around. Your windows are at risk if they happens, especially if a heavy tree branch or metal object around the yard bumps into it. If your windows smash during a severe storm, it causes catastrophe inside your house. The phenomenon is known as ‘internal pressurization’. The wind that has entered your house through the broken window is likely to be travelling up to one hundred miles per hour.
The scary thing is that wind that enters your house, due to the laws of physics, must come out. It will put overwhelming pressure on the weak points inside, and could potentially cause serious damage in the structure of your home. Just because it came in through one window doesn’t mean it will go out that way!
However, all is not lost. The demand for building materials and fixtures that can withstand hurricanes has resulted in improved windows being designed. Most leading manufacturers sell windows that are tested extensively for their strength and ability to withstand exceedingly high pressure. These windows contain a sort of safety layer in between the two layers of glass. The middle layer is plastic. This means that even if your window is smashed, the middle layer will stop the wind or rain from getting through to the interior glass layer. This sensible measure could save the structural integrity of your home.
Garage and Entry Doors
Garages and entry doors are parts of your home which are very likely to be damaged during a severe storm unless you take necessary precautions. It should also be noted that basements in general, are prone to water damage. In order to maintain your residence properly, it’s good practice to look for signs that your basement needs waterproofing. Waterproofing it will protect it from water damage that can be caused by many indirect problems such as badly-installed gutters or leakages that originate elsewhere.
The roll-up door of a garage is asking for trouble during a hurricane. These doors are made of thin aluminum panels: no match for very strong winds. The same principle applies here: if the wind penetrates through the roll-up door, the pressure on the inside your home will build up until it quite literally blows apart. Double entry doors have a similar effect if they don’t have adequate reinforcing.
Again, the solution here is to invest in the best. Storm-proof your home by purchasing materials that have an excellent storm rating and have been proven to withstand everything nature throws at it, before hiring an experienced residential contractor to reinforce your home.