Protecting Your Home or Business from Wind Damage

1/23/2022 (Permalink)

Many areas in the United States have experienced heavy winds and storms this past year. The intense, powerful winds can cause significant damage to your home. Wind damage can cause a range of destruction to your property, from broken windows and fallen tree branches to severe damage to the roof, garage, or car. It can happen from the strong wind or indirectly from the wind blowing debris into your house.

Wind Damage from Different Types of Storms

Thunderstorms are the most common cause of wind and storm damage. However, winds from hurricanes or tornadoes are more robust and can cause severe damage. It can produce many types of adverse weather such as lightning, hail, tornadoes, straight-line winds, flooding, etc.

Thunderstorms are responsible for wind damage cases in the U.S. However, storm damage repair may be costly for hurricane or tornado wind damage. Billions of dollars are spent on wind damage repair and storm damage restoration each year. Understanding the nature of wind damage can help you limit the amount of damage to your property and save on restoration and repair costs.

It's important to know when and what type of storm is approaching in your area. You'll learn the potential level of damage to expect. These wind damage facts will help you better understand the likely wind damage and how to prevent it. Here are some steps you can take to minimize property damage when severe weather strikes.

Preventing Wind and Storm Damage

Flying Debris

Most wind damage starts with unsecured flying debris. If a storm is approaching your area, make sure any potential debris in your homes, such as patio furniture, toys, garbage cans, and other objects, are secured or brought inside. Secure your doors and windows to help minimize the potential storm damage to the home.

Roof Materials

Roofing material should latch to the deck. Loosely connected shingles will lift from the deck. Siding damage reduces at the construction phase. Fastened siding isn't as likely to lift off a structure in strong wind. Building codes will likely direct the minimum standards for connections. You, your architect, or your contractor may decide to exceed these minimums for a more robust storm-resistant structure.

Roof damage reduces during the construction phase when the roof deck, shingles, or membrane is applied over the decking. A well-designed roofing system will anchor the trusses and decking to the walls and foundation to keep the entire roof from lifting off the building in a strong wind.

Tree Maintenance

Tree maintenance to remove dead limbs or identify and remove weakened trees will reduce the likelihood of structural damage. Trees, at times, won't shift positions. If it does, it can shift and cause serious injury to the unwary. Roof openings and broken windows are the most common problem. Keep a roll of plastic sheeting that cuts to size and nails over the opening. Your insurance policy will likely cover the cost of an emergency close-up. Fallen trees may cause other severe safety issues, such as downed electrical wires. Contact your agent or claims center to report the damage and seek advice on how to proceed.

If your home or business sustains wind or storm damage, contact a restoration professional. SERVPRO of Southwest Fort Worth can respond immediately to storm and flooding conditions. Our quick response will help prevent secondary damage and help reduce restoration costs. Call us 24/7 at (817) 557-6895.