Hurricane Proofed – 4 Ways To Make Sure Your Orlando Home is Protected

While Hurricane Season isn’t technically upon us here in Florida, it’s always a good time to be thinking about your own preparations toward protecting your Orlando home from hurricanes. If your home was built during or after the mid-to-late 1990s (post Hurricane Andrew), it should have some building features that help protect it from the damaging winds and destruction that a hurricane can bring. Homes built after the 2002 Florida Building Code changes are even more protected.

And while these building code features, such as impact-resistant glass, are meant to beef up protection against hurricanes and subsequent damage from rain, wind, blowing objects and other hazards, there are still many things Florida homeowners can do to protect their home structure, possessions and families.

Reinforce your garage door. Your garage door is typically the largest opening to your home. Once it’s blown in, or otherwise compromised during a hurricane, winds are more likely to penetrate your home, increasing air pressure inside and causing your roof to possibly lift off your house walls. Call a garage door repair company to inspect your garage door.

Protect your windows. While Florida Building Codes from the mid-1990s incorporate stronger glass, there are still things you can do to ensure your windows, and ultimately your home, are protected. Several companies sell plexiglass window coverings that are semi-translucent and can be left on the entire season. There are also companies that sell reinforced clips that secure precut plywood to your window openings far better than screws. Assuming you have the plywood already cut, it takes about 20 minutes to install the plywood and clips.

Inspect your landscaping. An uprooted palm tree or broken branch can easily become a missile-like projectile during a hurricane. Make a habit of inspecting all your trees for any signs of breakage or weakness that could cause them to be lifted up and propelled during a storm.