Houstonians never thought they’d see so much of their beloved city submerged under several feet of floodwater. Nor did 6 million Floridians think they would be ordered to evacuate in anticipation of a monstrous storm.
However, both of those events happened as Hurricane Harvey and then Hurricane Irma laid a path of death and destruction that is still mind-boggling.
And with the official end of hurricane season not until the end of this month, homeowners are left wondering what to do, proactively, to increase their odds of beating future obstacles put in their path by Mother Nature. For some ideas, read on.
• Clean your gutters. Even in perfect weather, the go-to homeowner’s website, Angie’s List, says you’re looking at a “nightmare” if they’re so clogged with leaves, sticks, and other debris that it causes your roof to leak. Take into consideration hurricane-strength rainstorms, and the very roofing system meant to protect your roof, walls, foundation, and landscape from flooding can become useless.
• Trim the weak branches. One of the many tragedies in Texas involved a 60-year-old woman who died when a tree crashed on her home as she slept.
Far more common is that homeowners wonder how they’ll rebuild after the battering their house has taken from a fallen branch. And as the New York Times reports, “Tragedy’s hand may be unpredictable, but the road to recovery is forged in the language of your home-owner insurance policy,” words that will determine how – and if – you will be made whole again.
• Make sure your roof is in good condition. If you haven’t done so already, now’s the time to have a professional roofing contractor check for and fix any signs of wear and tear such as broken or missing shingles. And because manufacturer’s warranties typically don’t cover roof damage caused by natural disasters such as hurricanes, you’ll also want to review both your own warranty and home insurance policy to fully understand the coverage and restrictions.
“If you are going to replace your roof, consider shingles that have passed the UL2218, Class 4 impact test, the toughest in the industry,” says Jason Joplin, program manger of CARE (the GAF Center for Advancement of Roofing Excellence).
Joplin especially likes the Timberline ArmorShield II line of shingles from GAF (gaf.com), North America’s largest roofing manufacturer. In addition to looking good, they’re made with SBS-modified asphalt, which he describes as a “rubber-like material for enhanced flexibility and durability during extreme weather conditions.”
Added bonus? Depending on where you live, shingles that pass the UL2218, Class 4 impact tests may also qualify for significant discounts on homeowners’ insurance policies.
Four words: flying shards of glass.
You don’t want them. Which is why the Federal Emergency Management Agency – in describing windows as “particularly vulnerable” – recommends springing for either impact- resistant glazing or permanent storm shutters.
No comments:
Post a Comment