5 Home Upgrades That Build Storm Resilience

When you live in an area that endures severe weather, you need to be proactive about protecting your home. Natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes can wreak havoc that can hurt your financial picture. That’s why it’s so important to invest in building materials and upgrades that can help your home withstand a storm surge or other threatening weather event.

Keep reading to discover five smart home upgrades that can build storm resilience.

1. Sturdier Roofing Materials and Connections

While a roof can shelter you from a downpour, it’s more susceptible to strong winds. The last thing you want is for a roof to detach from the walls beneath it, so it’s wise to invest in better metal fasteners. That way, you’ll establish a strong connection between your roof and walls that can weather the storm.

Further, wind-rated roofing materials should meet standards like ASTM D3161, which looks at the wind resistance of roofing products. Products will be classified based on how they tolerate different wind speeds. When you choose higher-quality materials and work with experienced roof repair specialists, you give your roof the best possible chance of withstanding extreme weather conditions and staying secure during severe storms.

2. Automatic Flood Vents

Flooding can be devastating if you’re not prepared for it. You’ll need to turn to solutions like automatic flood vents that conform to FEMA standards to help keep your foundation secure. Without these features, your foundation could form cracks. Similarly, plan on getting shields for your garage and doors. Without them, water can rise during a storm, and it won’t have a place to go.

3. Laminated Glass for Doors and Windows

If your home has traditional glass windows and doors, it won’t take much for them to shatter during a storm. A piece of debris could shatter a window, leaving the interior of your home vulnerable to additional damage. The best solution is to invest in impact-rated windows and doors, which use laminated glass. A thin plastic interior layer sits between two panes of glass in impact windows & doors. This helps ensure that the glass won’t shatter completely if it’s hit.

Make sure you’re choosing windows that meet Florida Building Code regulations, especially if you’re in a hurricane zone. Certifications like ASTM E1886 for windows or doors are an indication that the windows have performed well under extreme weather conditions. Know that you’ll help save energy and money, too, by upgrading to impact-rated windows.

4. Permeable Pavers and Rain Gardens

You don’t want your driveway to encourage water to gather and flood. With gravel or other permeable options, you’ll encourage water to soak into the ground beneath the pavers instead. Other natural options, like native plants, can help capture runoff to limit the potential for flooding. Rain gardens can catch debris, too, to help keep them from contaminating larger waterways.

5. Solar Panels and Battery Storage

When you’re experiencing severe weather, it’s common to lose power. And if you don’t have a backup option, you could lose the contents of your refrigerator as well as access to other key appliances. But if you have solar panels or batteries, you’ll be able to have enough electricity for lighting and other key needs.

As a bonus, you can feel good about using solar energy. Solar energy is a form of clean energy, meaning it won’t require you to use a generator that creates a larger carbon footprint. Further, solar energy won’t be as noisy when you’re trying to recover after a storm.

Create a Storm-Ready Home

A storm-ready home can withstand bad weather more effectively, giving you peace of mind during a hurricane. Fortified roofing materials, laminated windows, solar panels, and permeable pavers are among the critical upgrades that can protect your home. Be proactive about making upgrades to ensure you’re ready when the next storm hits.