Severe weather can wreak havoc on your home and cause a lot of damage. From high winds to snow load and ice dams to water damage and more, there are a lot of things to look out for. Thankfully, there are some things you can do to help prepare and protect your home. Here are some home updates to protect your home from severe weather:

1. Upgrade Your Siding

One of the big benefits of vinyl siding is its durability. Vinyl siding is known for being dent-resistant, scratch-resistant, impervious to rain and pests, and more. However, even standard vinyl siding has its limits and can be damaged by severe weather that delivers hits beyond standard limits.

Heavy-duty siding may not be necessary for every home, but high-strength siding can be the right choice for homes that deal with strong storms and severe weather. When dealing with hefty snow and high winds, high-strength siding withstands the storm and protects your home.

Heavy-duty vinyl siding can also be a good upgrade if your home is located in an open area where straight-line winds can occur or where there isn’t much in terms of other protection against debris.

Heavy-duty vinyl siding can also include fireproof features to stand up against high heat. For example, Certainteed Monogram 46 has been tested to withstand wind loads up to 220 mph and has a Class 1(A) fire rating.

2. Enhance Your Windows

Glass options, glazing, and other upgrades are all things to consider when adding or replacing windows in your home. Although these upgrades are more commonly associated with energy efficiency, there are also several upgrades that enhance your windows and add protective layers to them.

Triple-pane windows are more energy-efficient and offer more soundproofing, and they are also more impact-resistant. Impact-resistant glazing is also available to further enhance your windows. Not only does this help increase energy efficiency and help burglar-proof your windows, but it can also help protect your windows and your home against damage from severe weather.

If your windows do not need to be upgraded or replaced, or you have just gotten new windows, there may be some post-installation things you can do to enhance them. There are also exterior options you can install to help protect your windows against bad weather. If your area has been experiencing high winds more often, storm shutters can be a good exterior addition to help prevent damage from high winds or hail.

3. Replace Your Roof

Your roof is one of the main lines of protection between your home and bad weather. If you see missing shingles, water damage, or other signs your roof needs to be replaced, it’s important to get a new roof so that it continues to protect your home.

A new roof goes a long way in preventing damage and keeping your home protected. One of the home updates to protect your home from severe weather is to upgrade to more resilient materials.

If you are in need of a new roof anyway, you can add another layer of protection to your home by picking a type of roofing that is designed to withstand bad weather. You can also work with your contractor to install clips at connection points for added security and to add metal to reinforce the roof and help protect it even more from impact damage.

4. Reinforce Your Doors

Replacing your doors if they are damaged or outdated is essential. If you need to replace them anyway, then you can opt for upgrades in the door itself. Steel doors are a common option for areas that experience severe weather.

Upgrading your current door and adding things to help reinforce it are tips to improve front door security that can also help reinforce it against weather. Reinforcing the door jamb, reinforcing glass panes in the door, and adding a strong storm door are all things that improve security while also strengthening your door.

5. Improve Your Gutters

Gutters and downspouts are important because they direct water away from your home to help prevent leaks and water damage to the foundation. If your gutters are not installed correctly or are outdated or damaged, they can leave your home vulnerable. These are also signs it’s time to replace your gutters.

If gutters are not working correctly in the winter, it can cause ice dams and water damage. Blocked gutters can result in water damage. Loose gutters can be ripped off by high winds or heavy snow or ice loads.

New gutters and gutter guards can protect your home from water damage and also help keep your gutters from getting blocked. Additionally, hurricane clips and straps can reinforce your gutters and keep them secured to your home despite high winds. With extreme weather on the rise and more areas becoming prone to tornadoes and other severe weather, it’s not a bad idea to take precautions and reinforce where you can.

6. Keep Up With Maintenance

Keeping your home in good shape takes consistent maintenance and care. If things are left unattended and fall into disrepair, it can leave your home open to a lot of damage and puts it even more at risk during severe weather.

This is one of the reasons why not doing any maintenance or putting off necessary repairs are common home maintenance mistakes to stop making. Checking over your home regularly and preparing for every season can help you keep with home updates to protect your home from severe weather. Not only will you be able to identify areas in need of repair, but you will also be able to check in on all the details that help keep your home protected.

Check your caulking around doors and windows to make sure it’s still in good shape and providing a solid seal. Check your insulation and weatherstripping. Check sealants and insulation around pipes and wires, especially where they enter your home and could leave a gap where weather can cause issues.

Update Your Home With Zephyr Thomas

These are just a few home updates to protect your home from severe weather. In addition to specific repairs and upgrades, maintaining your home consistently can make a big difference in its ability to withstand bad weather.

Whether you need handyman services to help you check some maintenance tasks off your list or you need to get a larger home improvement or remodeling project started, Zephyr Thomas can help. Give us a call at 717-399-4708 to get started!