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Preparing Your Home for Hurricane Season

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Hurricane season is here, and these storms don’t just pose a coastal problem. Hurricanes can cause damage even hundreds of miles inland due to storm surges, strong winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding. If you have a vacation home near the coast, then it could be at risk. There are a few ways to go about preparing a home for hurricane season to protect against potential damage. 

Ways to Prepare Your Home for Hurricane Season  

  • Install Window Film
  • Add Window Shutters
  • Seal Doors & Windows
  • Inspect & Secure Your Roof
  • Clear Gutters & Downspouts 
  • Make a Disaster Plan 

Install Window Film

Windows are one of the most vulnerable areas of your home as they’re mostly glass. To strengthen your windows against the elements, you can install window film for storm protection. Window film can form a protective barrier by holding the glass fragments together if the window shatters. Flying glass is dangerous and potentially deadly. Keeping the glass intact also lessens the chance of water and debris making their way inside. Installing window film is also a more affordable option than switching to high-impact glass or installing storm shutters. In addition to bolstering your home during hurricane season, window film can also help protect your home against intruders and the elements year-round.

Add Window Shutters

You can also prepare your home for hurricane season by adding window shutters. We’re not talking about decorative shutters but ones that are made to be impact-resistant. Storm shutters can be expensive, but they’re heavy-duty and made to withstand the strong winds and flying debris that come with hurricanes. While window film will hold the glass together if it breaks, window shutters offer another layer of protection for the outside of your home. 

Seal Doors & Windows

Windows and doors both have seals that degrade over time, especially in areas where it’s warm most of the year. Windows and doors that aren’t sealed properly allow rain to seep in, especially during a hurricane where it may be blowing sideways or raining heavily. Ensuring your seals are in working fashion will help keep the water out of your home. 

Inspect & Secure Your Roof 

Just as your windows and doors need to be secure, you also need to ensure your roof is in good condition. If you have any peeling, broken, or missing shingles, you’ll want to get them fixed sooner rather than later, especially if it’s already hurricane season. Ensuring that the roof is reinforced and has enough support is also important, whether through strapping, braces, or collar ties. 

Clear Gutters & Downspouts 

Clogged gutters are a recipe for disaster in hurricane season. If your downspouts and gutters can’t drain properly, then more water will collect around your home in the event of a hurricane. If enough water accumulates, it could potentially flood your home. Clearing out the gutters and the downspouts ensures water can drain out and reduces the chance of flooding. 

Make a Disaster Plan 

With natural disasters like hurricanes, a storm’s intensity can escalate with little warning. While the trajectory of a hurricane can be predicted to a certain extent, weather conditions can change, and the path could shift at a moment’s notice. Even though you aren’t at the vacation home year-round, it’s still a good idea to form a disaster plan in the event of an emergency. 

Disaster plans typically include learning evacuation routes, practicing emergency drills, and creating a communication plan. Along with having an emergency plan in place, you’ll want to be prepared financially by making sure you have all the proper insurance lined up as well. 

We Make Preparing Your Home for Hurricane Season Easier 

At Mr. Tint, we know how much your primary and vacation homes mean to you. Hurricanes are nothing to mess around with, so we want to make sure you’re prepared for anything. Contact our window film experts today to learn more about hurricane protection and to get a free estimate. 

Mr. Tint provides 3M Window Film installation to homes and businesses throughout North Carolina and South Carolina. As a 3M Authorized Window Film Dealer, we offer only the highest quality materials and employ the most skilled technicians. Contact us for a free window film consultation.

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