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Regardless of whether you worry about hurricanes, fires or winter storms, a little preparation can make a big contribution to making your home more resistant to extreme weather. If you take the time to plan, it becomes more confident and more comfortable when an emergency occurs. Here are some house updates that you can do yourself to keep yourself and your home safely.
Check the drainage and evaluation
If there is a flood of rainwater or water made of melting ice or snow, it can test the thickness of the water barriers on its foundation and siding. One way to give your home in a wet environment is to ensure that you have adequate drainage in your house.
To check your drainage, take a look at the classification near your house. The floor should be gently from any structure in a ratio of about one inch per foot per distance for about the first 10 foot from its foundation. To measure the grade you can use two missionssome Mason’s lineand a Line level. Drive next to your foundation and a distance of about 10 feet and tie the cord at the same distance from the floor to the piles every end, and make sure that it is tight. You should continue to mark on the use of your foundation on which the line is tied up and then place your line level on the string. Slide the string upwards until the bladder is centered on the level, and then measure the distance you moved. This measurement shows you whether your slope is at least one inch for every foot of the house from the house.
If you have spots where combs have formed this direct water back into your house, you can shovel Remove excess dirt to create a slope from the foundation.
Improvement of the gutters and downhill pipes
If you keep your gutters and barriers clear, you can protect your roof from water damage and keep your siding dry. Check your gutters for sags or valleys in which water can escape the planned path and add up Gutters Where there are areas that need more support, the efficiency of your gutters improves and contributes to protecting your roof from moisture. The strengthening of the connection between the gutter and the house also makes it more wind -tolerant and reduces the likelihood that the gutter separates from the roof in high winds.
You can make your downward pipes by adding a weatherproof by A weakened Downspout extension This can make water away from your house. The hinge enables you to move the expansion out of the way to weed or mowing.
Remove the landscape design
In order to protect against fires and keep your siding clear and dry, you should cut shrubs and other plants at least one foot from your structure. If you are missing your garden of dry brushes that a fire could be fueled, reduce the likelihood of a brush fire or grass fire that damages your house. Another option for landscape design for the resilience of the fire is to use hard caping such as rocks and gravel near your house and to keep plants from 10 feet or more from the house. This reduces the available fuel in the event of a fire and makes your home less susceptible to damage.
Add storm windows
The replacement of your windows can be expensive, adding storm windows can have a variety of advantages, including your home resistant to high temperatures and the safer of your windows in a storm with strong winds. Storm window Can be installed with a screw gun and some basic hand tools if you have a bit of DIY know-how, and you are usually much cheaper than replacement window, which is an average of $ 80 and $ 185 per window. You can save heating and cooling costs without replacing your windows, making your windows more secure in strong winds and adding a protective layer against objects such as falling branches with this DIY update.
Install a backup source
Power failures can be part of most types of extreme weather events and natural disasters, so that you can improve comfort and security in an emergency by adding backup power supply. While all -house generators tend to be expensive and require professional installation, A portable power plant Can operate many household appliances without calling a professional and you will find one for around 700 US dollars. Modern electrical strength stations have the advantage that they do not emit vapors so that they can run indoors without the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Portable strength stations are also often solarbeting, so that they can be connected to each other Portable solar collectors In the event that power is equipped for more than a day or two.
