Help Your Home Stand Up to High Winds

Home Improvement 3min Read

Help Your Home Stand Up to High Winds

Don’t Let the Wind Huff & Puff & Blow Your House Down.

When it comes to your home, securing any weak links between your roof structure, walls, and foundation could determine whether it will withstand powerful gusts of wind – a must for Florida homes – or fold like the proverbial home blown down by the big bad wolf.

Understanding Opening Protection

Opening protection refers to wind-resistant features installed in a home, such as reinforced doors, windows, and garage doors, to meet stringent building codes. These features are designed to withstand high winds and flying debris, providing a crucial layer of defense during storms and hurricanes.

4 Ways Wind Affects Your Home

High-speed winds can affect homes in several ways:

Uplift: Wind flowing over the roof creates a lifting effect, potentially separating the home from its foundation.
Racking: Horizontal wind pressure can cause the home to tilt.
Sliding: Wind pressure can slide the home off its foundation.
Overturning: If the home cannot rack or slide, wind forces may cause the walls to rotate off the foundation.

Protecting Your Home from Wind Damage

Start at the Top: The connection between your roof structure and the walls is one of the most important connections in your house. It’s also the first link in the continuous load path that is critical to achieving the strongest, safest house possible for high wind conditions, including hurricanes and tornadoes. Creating a continuous load path means tying the roof to the walls and the walls to the foundation. Without these connections, your house is vulnerable to wind forces.
Don’t Forget the Windows and Doors: Openings play a very vital role in the protection of your home. Broken doors or windows are opportunities for high winds to enter and put pressure on your walls and roof, ultimately causing damage. Permanent storm shutters or temporary plywood covers are good ways to keep your home safe from damage and protect you from injury caused by flying debris. You should also cover glass doors like sliding doors, French doors, and skylights. Solid wood and hollow metal doors are most likely to resist wind pressure and flying debris.
Garage Doors Need Attention, Too: Garage doors are just as vulnerable as the roof. Unless you have hurricane-resistant doors, it’s best to add braces to the door or install hurricane panels.

Financial Benefits of Opening Protection

Investing in opening protection can lead to significant cost savings in several ways:

Reduced Repair Costs: Preventing storm damage to your home can help avoid expensive repairs. Reinforced windows, doors, and garage doors are less likely to break or be damaged, saving you from having to replace them or fix structural damage.
Lower Insurance Premiums: Many insurance companies offer discounts on premiums for homes with certified opening protection. By demonstrating that your home is better protected against wind damage, you can qualify for lower rates, leading to substantial savings over time.
Increased Property Value: Homes with robust opening protection features are often more attractive to buyers. This can increase your property’s market value, providing a return on your investment if you decide to sell your home.
Energy Efficiency: Some opening protection measures, like storm shutters, can also improve your home’s energy efficiency by providing additional insulation. This can reduce your heating and cooling costs, leading to further savings.

Many people think wind-proofing their home is just for hurricane season preparation, but gale-force winds can occur anytime during Florida’s tornado season and daily summer rain storms. By understanding wind damage and reinforcing your home’s openings, you can reduce storm and hurricane damage.

Investing in opening protection is wise for Florida homeowners. It safeguards your home and family while offering financial benefits like reduced repair costs, lower insurance premiums, increased property value, and improved energy efficiency.