Renovation Checklist

By theadmin

Regardless of the local forecast, savvy homeowners do well to consider storm damage and its potential impact before building or renovating their home. The issue extends beyond the material to include the most precious contents under your roof: family. To that end, keep the following 15 key areas in mind in order to weather whatever storms come your way.

  1. Gutters: Choose types that are easy to clean and maintain. When gutters cannot drain properly, water might seep into your home, damaging your ceilings and walls.
  2. Pipes: Though Texas is a warm-weather state, we can get our fair share of freezing temps, too. Wrap or otherwise insulate your pipes so they won’t burst when the mercury drops below freezing.
  3. Landscape: Beware of planting trees too close to your house; if they’re already in place, work to keep them pruned and healthy. Limbs (especially dead ones) can snap off and become projectiles in a storm.
  4. Lightning alert: “People often underestimate the harm lightning can cause but make no mistake—it’s a force to be reckoned with,” says Julie Rochman, CEO and president of the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. IBHS recommends installing surge protectors for TVs, computers, and other electrical equipment.
  5. Backup Power: “A standby generator can power an entire home during an outage, which means your life continues uninterrupted,” says Ed Del Grande, a master contractor and host on the DIY Network. “This is particularly important for homes with small children, the elderly or home-based businesses.”
  6. Windows: High winds do millions of dollars in damage each year in Texas. Impact-resistant windows aren’t cheap, but they do provide extra protection.
  7. Storm doors: For less than $100, you can add a storm door to your patio or backyard.
  8. Garage door: Fortify your garage door with a vertical bracing system made of aluminum to prevent it from blowing inward or suctioning out in gale-force winds.
  9. Shutters: They look great and can protect the inside of your home if a window breaks during a storm.
  10. Seal the deal: Properly seal your chimney to prevent water from seeping into the walls.
  11. Vents: They matter, too. If you can, position them where you can easily maintain them for the long haul.
  12. Roof: Keep your roof in good shape to withstand the elements. Not sure how yours has fared over the last several seasons? Call your Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Agent for a free assessment.
  13. Storage: If your garage isn’t large enough to house your grill and patio furniture in the off-season, consider adding a shed or similar out-building. High winds can easily pick up a stainless steel grill and hurl it into your home or your neighbor’s.
  14. Safe rooms: Make sure you have at least one area in your home you can retreat to in an emergency. Safe rooms or storm closets are generally reinforced boxes, but even a powder room or walk-in closet can serve the purpose in a crunch. Just make sure this room has no windows.
  15. A safe: Install a wall safe or hide a portable model somewhere in your home. In the event your area is hammered by a storm, you’ll have access to cash as well as key papers, including your homeowners insurance.