5 Top Tips to Prepare Your Home for Florida’s Storm Season
Florida summers are amazing – warm weather, blue skies, and time in the water. But summer also means the beginning of the storm season.
Storm season can start as early as late May and run until October/November. But those are just for the thunderstorms and tropical storms. Hurricane season starts June 1 and ends November 30.
So let’s talk about getting your home ready for storm season and what to do after a storm hits.
How to prepare your home for a Florida storm
The steps you take will help reduce damage to your home and keep you & your family safe. You want to take these steps before the storm arrives.
Install window & door protection
You can install storm shutters or reinforce windows with impact-resistant film. For your doors, you can install deadbolts or hurricane-resistant doors.
If the storm is coming, placing plywood over your windows to protect them from high winds and flying debris is another option.
Clean out your gutters
Check all your gutters and downspouts for any clogged areas. You want to have proper drainage to reduce the chances of water damage or flooding during heavy rains.
Secure outdoor items & structures
You’ll want to make a plan of where you’ll put any outdoor items during a storm. Items like furniture, pots, and grills. These pieces can all become flying debris during high winds.
If you’re using a shed for storage, reinforce or anchor it to the ground to prevent it from being damaged or becoming flying debris. You’ll also want to do this for gazebos and pergolas (if you have them).
Check your sump pump
If you haven’t run a test on your sump pump lately, now’s the time to do it. You want it working properly before any heavy rains. And don’t forget to test your backup pump if you have one!
Don’t have a sump pump? Look at getting one installed to prevent your basement from flooding.
Know how to shut off your utilities
When a storm hits, do you know how to shut off your water, gas, or electricity if you need to?
If not, now is the time to figure that out. Make sure you and anyone living at home know where to locate and use the electrical panel and the water & gas shutoff valves.
Repairs and debris removal after a storm
Depending on the strength of the storm and the amount of damage, your home may need some repairs and cleanup. Which may be a bigger job than you can handle (or you just don’t want to do it yourself).
Hire a handyman to help!
A local handyman can help you with the repair and maintenance tasks you need to restore your home. Some tasks they can help with are:
Debris removal to clear away fallen branches, leaves, and other debris on your property.
Window & door repairs to replace broken windows, repair damaged frames, and fix/replace damaged doors.
Fence & gate repairs to replace or repair fence panels, fix gate hinges, or reinforce weakened sections.
Gutter cleaning & repair to clean out debris clogging gutters and repair any damaged sections.
Deck & patio repairs to replace damaged boards, replace any broken or loose parts, and reinforce the structure.
Exterior painting to restore the appearance of your home.
General cleanup like pressure washing and other general tasks to help restore your property to pre-storm condition.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
If you need help preparing your home for the next storm or cleaning up after one, let Building Standard take care of it for you!
We’ll make sure you have the peace of mind that your family’s home is ready for the next storm.
Contact us today!
We service homes in the Tri-County area (Miami-Dade, Broward, & Palm Beach) and the Florida Keys.