Even with summer winding down, Mother Nature can be hard on your home during this time of the year. Thunderstorms and hurricanes can cause extensive damage to houses and entire communities. Some preparation, however, can help homeowners defend their homes against severe weather damage. Here are home improvements you can undertake to help protect your home from weather damage:

• Repair or replace windows.

Check the condition of your home’s windows, as well as the weather stripping around them. Re-caulk windows where stripping is worn and replace any windows that are damaged.


If you live in an area prone to storms and high winds, consider investing in some plywood or permanent storm shutters that you can keep on-hand to cover windows when a storm approaches.

• Trim trees and shrubs, and take care of landscaping.

Keep your yard free of debris and items like kids’ toys and gardening tools. During storms with high winds, debris and items on the lawn can become projectiles that damage siding and windows.

• Install a standby generator.

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Power outages are a common result of severe weather, and losing power can cause further damage to your home. Automatic standby generators turn on within seconds of a utility power outage, run on propane or natural gas and are connected to the home, similar to an outdoor air conditioning unit. Automatic standby generators keep critical appliances operating when the power goes out, ensuring you won’t go without refrigerators and critical home systems.

• Take care of gutters.

Clogged gutters can cause flooding in the basement and leaks in the ceiling during storms with heavy rain. Before storm season arrives, check your gutters and clear them of debris. Repair or replace any damaged parts of the overall system. Gutters provide vital protection for your home, so if yours have seen better days, consider replacing them altogether.

• Install roof clips/hurricane straps.

Roof clips or hurricane straps can help ensure the roof stays on your house in high winds. Check building codes in your area, as some states require new construction to be built with these protections. If your home doesn’t have them, a professional easily can retrofit your roof with clips and straps to help prevent the roof from blowing off. Losing the roof is not only a massively costly repair, it also means you’ve lost the part of your home that does the most to protect everything and everyone inside it.

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This article is courtesy of Brandpoint.