8 TIPS FOR BUILDING HURRICANE SAFE HOMES

Our homes are supposed to be places of safety, security, and refuge. Places where we can come after a long day and relax.

That can all change in an instant when elements like hurricanes barge into our lives.

Suddenly, home isn’t safe anymore. It’s a place of panic, stress, and frustration. In the worst cast scenarios home is simply gone.

At Design Tech Homes we don’t want you to have to experience the pain of seeing your home badly damaged or destroyed.

That’s why we’ve compiled these eight ways you can ensure your home is prepared before the next big storm.

Ready to protect your home from a hurricane? Let’s get started!

1. ROOF WITH INTENTION

To protect your property from water damage and flying shingles it is imperative to make sure that your roofing is attached well.

Ensure that builders fasten the roof deck to the frame by nailing the sheathing with ring-shank nails. These nails ensure that wind and pressure changes won’t tear your roof off.

Also, make sure to seal the roof deck to minimize potential water damage to your attic.

2. SHUTTER YOUR WINDOWS

Preparing for a hurricane is a big pain – but cleaning up broken glass after a hurricane is a big pain too.

So what can you do to avoid shards of glass laying everywhere in your home?

Most important is making sure that your windows are breakproof by investing in strong shutters or roll-downs.

As a bonus, they’ll also help keep out the sun and make your house more energy-efficient.

3. BRACE YOUR GARAGE

Pressure changes are just as dangerous as water damage when it comes to hurricane damage.

Water outside of the house or high wind speeds can both create changes in pressure which can cause the garage door to cave in and rip off its tracks.

To prevent this, we recommend installing a garage door bracing system. A bracing system helps to prevent pressure from caving in the doors and causing even more damage.

4. ELEVATION

Every property is located on different levels of elevation. Learn what your property’s base flood elevation (BFE) is from the local building department.

Then, check the property survey to find the elevation of the lowest floor where you live and plan to elevate your building if it’s under the flood line. This is the surest way that your home and belongings will stay safe even in the face of rising water.

You can also look up if your area is in a flood plain on the FEMA Flood Map.

If your home does get wet, take steps to eradicate the moisture as soon as possible so you can prevent mildew from setting in.

5. DRY FLOODPROOF

If you don’t want to elevate your building another option is dry floodproofing all the areas of your home below flood level. This ensures that your home is sealed and watertight.

How does dry floodproofing work?

We recommend contacting a home builder to help with the process of dry floodproofing – but the process is pretty simple in its boiled-down form.

You simply coat the walls of your home with rubberized sheets or special waterproofing compounds.

The result is a dry home, even when you are surrounded by water!

6. WET FLOODPROOF

Another option for the easiest post-flood clean-up possible is to outfit your house with waterproof materials during the building process.

Building Materials

Clay, concrete, or ceramic tile
Galvanized or stainless-steel nails
Hurricane clips
Indoor-outdoor carpeting with synthetic backing (do not fasten down)
Vinyl, terrazzo, rubber, or vinyl floor covering with waterproof adhesives
Metal doors and window frames
Polyester-epoxy paint
Stone, slate, or cast stone (with waterproof mortar)
Styrofoam insulation
Water-resistant glue

Interested in learning more about building your home correctly right from the start? You may enjoy two blogs from our homeowner tips page:

7. INSTALL PROPER BOLTS

To protect your doors, it’s important that all your outside doors are equipped with deadbolts in order to hold them in place when they are assaulted with the pressure changes caused by rising flood waters.

8. TIE DOWN TO THE FOUNDATION

A house is only as strong as its foundation. You can ensure that yours is strong by having it tied together with metal connectors/hurricane straps, clips, or ties during construction. These ties will ensure that the house stays together in one piece, no matter what the weather does.

Want to know how we add extra support to a foundation? Check out our blog: Supporting Your Foundation’s Cables.

MOLD TIPS

Your job of protecting your house from storms doesn’t end when the storm does. After the storm it is vital to stop dangerous mold growth in its tracks.

Remember, when first dealing with a flooded building the most important step is to air out the area.

Wet spots, broken water pipes, or trapped water areas must be repaired and dried fully as well as be cleaned to ensure that the mold will not grow back.

Never touch mold with your bare hands, and always wear a mask, gloves, and goggles to protect yourself from mold spores.

The key to eliminating mold growth is controlling the moisture levels in your home. Be sure to increase ventilation by opening windows or running a fan in humid areas such as bathrooms.

CONCLUSION

Hurricanes are a force of nature and can be very destructive. But it’s important to remember to breathe and try to relax, even during a hurricane.

Make sure to stay safe and healthy while repairing your home by following safe protection methods during clean up.

If you have remodeling needs after a hurricane, don’t hesitate to contact Design Tech Homes.

As a custom home builder in Central Texas, we’ve experienced our fair share of hurricane-damaged properties!

We are always ready to lend a helping hand to those in the Houston, San Antonio, and Waterfront Properties areas.

And if you do need to completely rebuild after a hurricane, we are ready to help there too. You can check out our home floorplans or give us a call. We look forward to hearing from you!