Home Care: 7 Ways to Storm Proof Your Home

1/10/2017 (Permalink)

Winter officially began December 21st, but our Illinois Tri-city area has already experienced its first seasonal storms. And with these torrential rains, we can expect flood damage. Water damage from severe weather can add up quickly. Even when your flood insurance covers those expenses, the personal costs of stress and displacement is also high. However, there are steps that you can take to prevent or minimize the effects of storm damage in St. Charles.

Proudly serving the Tri-city area of St. Charles, Geneva, and Batavia, SERVPRO has seen and dealt with every sort of storm damage restoration problem. And while it may seem counterintuitive, we hope to prevent –as much as possible—your need for our restoration services.

Use these tips to stormproof your home and for everything else, rest assured that St. Charles SERVPRO is here to take care of it for you.

1. Review Your Insurance Policy

The worst time to find out you’re underinsured is after the damage has occurred. Homeowners often mistakenly think that water damage and flood damage are the same, but when it comes to insurance coverage, these two are very different. Talk to your insurance agent and make sure that you understand your coverage. Asking questions and presenting scenarios to your agent is also helpful in putting your mind at ease that you have the best coverage for your needs.

2. Clean Up Landscaping

Remove rotted or diseased limbs from trees. These weakened branches need but a strong gust of wind to fall through the roof. Patio furniture can also fly about during a storm, causing damage to the furniture and your house if the furniture slams into it. Consider storing patio furniture and landscaping decor for the season.

3. Reinforce The Garage Door

The garage door can be a weak point by design. The seal where the door meets the floor is not tight, allowing for water to flood in. Standard garage doors are also ill-equipped to stand up to the violent forces of a storm. Consider replacing your old garage door with one made for withstanding the elements or at least reinforce it with a brace.

4. Clear the Gutters and Downspouts

It’s not the most pleasant of home upkeep tasks, but cleaning out debris from the gutters can make a big difference in storm damage prevention. Gutters are designed to help water flow away from your home, preventing flooding and the need for flood damage restoration. Keep them clear and repair any cracks you may find as you clean out the debris.

5. Inspect Your Roof

Every 3-4 months, inspect your roof for damaged tiles. Pay close attention to the flashing around chimneys, vents, and at roof joints for curling edges or cracks. If you notice any damage, call a licensed roofing company immediately. If you see any discoloration or dripping on your ceiling, you most likely already have water damage. Give us a call, and we’ll correct the damage quickly.

6. Look Over The Windows

Windows are yet another stormy weather weakness. Flying debris through the window accounts for most of the damage. However, cracks and damaged seams where the window and wall meet are also responsible. To help prevent water from bursting through your window, install storm shutters and repair those weakened joints where water can leak in.

7. Keep Your Local SERVPRO Contact Information Handy

Even with the best of efforts, flood damage restoration will likely be a service you need. St. Charles SERVPRO is on call all day, every day. We know that the best way to prevent extensive water damage to act quickly. But our fast response is dependent on your quick action to make the call.

For the quickest response, call us –St. Charles SERVPRO, the storm damage restoration professionals.