Preparing Your Home for a Hailstorm

8/21/2019 (Permalink)

Hail storms are common in summer months and they don’t provide much warning. During these months it is good to have a game plan in place if hail decides to show up to your home. Hail can cause damage to your windows, gutters, siding, roof, and outdoor items. Follow these tips below to help plan and prevent damage to your home.

Windows

Hail has the ability to break or shatter windows in a major hail storm. One way to protect your windows is to include permanent shutters that can be closed when a storm is approaching. If that isn’t an option and your windows do break be sure to close your blinds to prevent wind blowing glass into your home.

Gutters

It is always important to keep your gutters clean during the storm season. If hail does arrive when your gutters are filled, they will not be able to drain properly. Without proper drainage, melting hail can cause water damage.

Siding

Some hail storms can damage the siding to your home. With that being said there isn’t much you can do to prevent it. On the positive side, homeowners insurance does cover it if you do get into this situation.

Roof

Before or during a storm there is almost nothing you can do to protect your roof to prevent it from damage, although after a storm you should inspect for any damage done by the hail. If nothing is done and it is damaged, you can cause serious problems for your home. Damaged shingles can cause leaks and other major problems down the road.

Outdoor Items

Anything left outdoors during a hail storms will most likely be damaged. It is important to plan accordingly for the storms and bring anything inside that could get damaged. This includes outdoor furniture and tables.