It’s easy to see our homes as a place of comfort, where we raise our families, and a financial investment and asset, perhaps the most valuable we will ever own. Yet the truth is when we boil down the real purpose of our household down to its most important element – our homes are shelter. It’s easy to overlook this given how comfortable and used to living in a house we are, but that’s the truth. A house is sheltered from the outside world, and we certainly miss that if we don’t have access to it.
In some cases, maintaining and managing the household to withstand hard weather and difficult conditions is essential. Not everyone has to contend with hard weather, but those that do will have to make plans in advance. For example, if you live in a cold area that suffers intense winters each year, you’re in a tornado zone, or you live on the oceanfront where the wind is really rather intense, implementing plans to keep yourself safe is key.
But how can we prepare a property to withstand hardship and extreme weather in perpetuity? In this post, we’ll discuss that and more:
Reinforce Roofing
Roofing can be reinforced where appropriate to protect against heavy winds, especially in seafront properties. This might include asphalt shingles that offer high wind ratings, metal roofing with many robust attachment points, and even concrete tiles where appropriate. Moreover, the “aerodynamic” design of a household blasted by the wind from one common direction will help the wind flow over the household slightly more easily than it would otherwise.
Reinforced roofing can also protect against other effects of intense weather damage, like leaks or breakages. Of course, it’s also important to inspect the roofing system after particular bad conditions, such as the guttering and water runoff system. This way, you can make sure the condition remains reliable over the years.
Secure Outdoor Furniture & Equipment
If you’re used to bad winter weather, it’s helpful to store your outdoor furniture and personal belongings in a garage space, or outdoor shed, or to secure it with attached tarpaulin where appropriate. Securing this outdoor furniture can not only protect it from flying off in hard winds but in cause other property damage where appropriate.
Sure, some weather effects are less concerning. Perhaps the wind is broken by many trees surrounding your neighborhood, but intensive snowfall could still rust out garden play equipment or furniture your family likes to use. Preparing for this in advance can save you a great deal of money each year.
Consider The Use Of A Generator
It’s not just flash floods, intensive storms, and snowfall that might lead to power cuts. As we’ve seen in Texas, sometimes intensive heatwaves parts of the world aren’t prepared to handle can cause issues with the power grid, and that’s a problem.
That’s why installing a free-standing generator can help you enjoy backup power when that’s truly needed, allowing you to stay inside more comfortably despite being cut off through other means. It will help you enjoy power, and warmth, and cook where appropriate, though remember that careful power utility is still important.
You can also use services such as Central Oregan Heating, Cooling & Plumbing that offer generator repair near me to make certain you’re utterly prepared for the upcoming stress of intensive weather effects. After all, even if these conditions won’t impact your household as much, they can still impact the capability of the supply chain that provides for it.
Manage Your Trees In Advance
Trees can be fantastic for blocking the hard effects of difficult weather. They can break wind, and they can even absorb a lightning strike instead of your property, which may require additional attention, but surely beats a power blowout, even if you have to be mindful of fires.
But it’s also true that a tree that can’t withstand heavy wind or may have less-than-secure branches could also cause problems. It’s not uncommon for trees to be torn from the ground in intensive wind conditions, and as such, managing this in advance is key.
Making sure trees with strong roots are pruned can help you avoid any nasty debris while removing weaker trees with the chance to be affected can also be ideal. Keeping an eye on your treeline and its maintenance makes good sense, considering rot that might come from prolonged floods and still water in your area.
Manage Your Basement & Supplies Where Appropriate
It’s important to recognize that in the event of very difficult weather circumstances, such as a tornado, evacuation is your first port of call, especially if directed by the public authorities to do so. That being said, sometimes this is not necessary or possible, and so sheltering in place is key.
While certain provisions like storm shutters can help protect your windows, it’s important to spend time in the basement during the most intensive times. You can also use this opportunity to reinforce the entrance hatches and any external exits while keeping them functional. Keeping certain provisions like non-perishable foods, warm blankets, candles, torches, and lamps, a first aid kit, portable cots for sleeping, and more can be a great idea.
Sure, you may not need any of this, but it’s important to make sure you have it on hand and ready for whatever weather impact your area is likely to have. For example, if you live in Northern Canada where constant snowfall can lead to snow-ins, having snow shovels, grit, tire chains and more to hand is key, alongside all the provisions mentioned before. This can help you if your property is cut off from others or if the supply chain, as mentioned above, is limited.
Upgrade To High-Quality Insulation & Weather Stripping
Remember that insulation acts as a barrier against heat transfer, helping to maintain a consistent indoor temperature and reducing the workload on heating and cooling systems – this can be essential if running from a generator or hoping to limit your power use during difficult periods. You can use materials like spray foam, fiberglass, or cellulose where appropriate, and benefit from better protection and also cheaper energy bills in the long run.
Additional weather stripping complements the insulation by sealing gaps and cracks around doors, windows, and other openings that may otherwise be open to airflow. This can also prevent draughts and water leakage which may be essential in torrential downpours or cold spells. Not only does this make the property more comfortable to live in, it helps you withstand more difficult weather effects with greater peace of mind.
Reinforce Garage Doors & Entry Points
It’s important to reinforce garage doors and weaker entry points where appropriate. Stronger garage doors can serve as a better replacement, and sometimes making certain you have the pulley system available instead of only relying on electronic openers can provide you with that analog backup system you need in the event of a power outage.
Entry points of note might be external buildings that connect to your property, basement doors, and doors that lead into the underground floors of your flat if you have any separate rooms there. Reinforcing these areas will ensure that even in the worst-hit areas, you can protect your home against difficult conditions.
Invest In Flood Barriers/Sandbags For Low-Lying Areas
Flooding may or may not be an issue where you live. If your house is on the top of a hill, odds are you don’t need to worry too much if the river flood protections burst. Yet it’s also true that poor water runoff or houses in potential flooding areas need to prepare against those difficulties ahead of time.
Low-lying areas can be supported with sandbags where appropriate, whereas block modular flood defenses you can raise around your property might help during intensive water exposure. Remember that torrential downpour that lasts for quite some time might also cause a flood even if you’re not within reasonable distance of a large body of water. Addressing your runoff, especially in gardens where water could pool, is another worthwhile investment of yours. Ultimately, you shouldn’t have to suffer water where it could be better contained or redirected.
Implement Fire-Resistant Landscaping & Materials
If your area is known for general wildfires, building your house or certain elements of your property out of easily-combustible wood isn’t helpful. Moreover, bushy plants can quite easily set alight and set fire to your perimeters. That’s why it’s always helpful to use stone dividers where you can, or cladding that remains heavily fire resistant.
Note that no property can be 100% fire resistant except for those entirely made out of stone (in which case, you’d live in a castle), but taking steps to protect against this, and also possible smoke inhalation, is key for safety. Note that this shouldn’t also cause you to avoid an evacuation order, but at the very least your property will be a little more durable than it would have been otherwise, and that’s a positive outcome.
WIth this advice, you’re certain to prepare your property to withstand hardship and extreme weather as desired.
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