How to Protect Summer Houses From Weather Damage
Summer storms can cause significant property damage. Powerful 100 mph thunderstorm winds can wreak havoc, while hail can dent cars and break windows; and flooding caused by heavy rainfalls can make matters even worse.
Storm damage often begins with missed seams, worn beading or gaps that no one noticed require sealing – keeping these zones watertight is essential to keeping your home secure from further storm damage.
Roof
Summer brings warm temperatures, convertibles, beach trips, backyard barbeques and violent thunderstorms; it also can bring high winds, hail storms, flooding rains and tornadoes – although these severe weather conditions cannot be prevented, strengthening your home can limit their damage. By following The Basement Doctor Columbus’ expert tips you can strengthen your summer storm home protection plan and safeguard the safety of both yourself and your family members.
Start with an inspection. Conduct regular roof inspections to detect loose shingles or damaged flashing that could let water into your house and potentially incur costly repairs during summer storms. Repair or replace as needed before upgrading to metal or asphalt shingles that can withstand higher wind speeds to strengthen and protect your roof even further and increase home resilience.
Clean gutters and downspouts to reduce clogs that could overflow during heavy rainfall, leading to problems like foundation seepage or yard flooding. Consider hiring a professional installer of French drains, sump pumps or swales that will divert the water away from your house and reduce flooding risks or foundation damages.
Make a list of your outdoor possessions such as lawn furniture, grills and trampolines and bring them in before a storm hits. Powerful winds of 100 miles an hour could turn these objects into harmful projectiles that cause serious damage to both your own property as well as those belonging to neighbors.
Prepare an emergency kit by including a battery-operated radio, multiple flashlights and batteries, plastic sheeting, bottled water and any medications your family might need in case of extended power outage. Also take an inventory of your property to identify trees or branches which might pose risks close to your house and trim as necessary – then place the emergency kit somewhere easily accessible.
Gutters
Guttering helps direct rainwater away from your summer house and garden, preventing waterlogged gardens and foundation issues. A guttering system also makes collecting rainwater with a water butt an eco-friendly way to water your garden and lower utility costs.
Before summer storms strike, it’s vitally important to seal off those areas that take the brunt of wind, rain and runoff: roof flashing seams, gutter joints, window trim and foundation edges. Even one unsealed joint or gap can let moisture in; once inside it can eat through wood and metal surfaces alike before seeping into insulation or feeding mold behind drywall.
Size matters when selecting a guttering kit for your summer house. Mini gutters can be especially beneficial in sheds, cabins and other garden buildings with smaller roofs, making cleaning and maintaining it simpler than standard-sized gutters.
Kits offer all of the elements required to install a guttering system, from fascia brackets to downspout outlets. When installing new gutters, it’s essential that accurate measurements of rooflines and adding some inches for overlap are taken before beginning installation. You will require drills and tape measures as well as other tools like hammers and pliers or pop rivet fastening devices like crimpers for fastenings if using pop rivets for fastenings.
Once your gutters have been installed, it is advisable to test for leaks and tighten any loose connectors. Incorporating routine maintenance and seasonal clean-up is the key to keeping gutters operating in top form; efficiently channelling rainwater away from summer houses into gardens. PVC guttering kits offer an affordable long-term solution.
Windows
One of the primary causes of damage during summer storms is water intrusion, which can lead to mold, mildew and structural issues which wreak havoc with indoor air quality and tenant comfort. To minimize potential water intrusion damage, check windows and doors for cracks or gaps and apply caulking or replace worn weather stripping where appropriate to create a tight seal against moisture infiltration thereby improving energy efficiency and protecting tenant comfort.
Add an extra layer of protection by installing hurricane-rated windows, designed to withstand high winds and flying debris. Hurricane windows can be fitted on the outside of existing windows for added protection; they’re especially beneficial in commercial properties where altering exterior appearance would be challenging.
Summer storm damage often appears gradually and unannounced, in the form of ceiling stains that appear overnight, rotten baseboards, or mold growing behind walls and wood framing. By the time it becomes noticeable to you, however, repairs have already cost money and interrupted operations – however with proper planning and ongoing maintenance practices you can mitigate potential storm-related damages while keeping operations going as usual during this busy period.
Doors
Summer storms bring with them warm breezes, shirtleves, convertibles and barbecues but can also bring with them roof and house siding damage, flooding and structural damage to properties in their path. By taking a few simple precautions in advance of summer weather events, your property should remain safe against severe storms.
Start by sealing areas that bear the brunt of summer storms: flashing seams, gutter joints, window trim and foundation edges. Even one unsealed joint, worn bead or missed edge could allow water to enter your home, leading to mold growth, mildew or wood rot damage that could severely deteriorate its value and ruin its condition.
Clogged gutters can also cause flooding and basement leaks. To protect yourself against this summer storm home protection risk, inspect and have your gutters serviced as necessary in order to keep them clear of clogs. Grading around your property should also play an integral part – ensure the ground slopes away from your foundation, with downspouts discharging water at least six feet from it.
Prepare for an unpredictable summer storm by compiling a list of items that might be necessary in case normal business operations are interrupted by one. Stock your cupboards with non-perishable food, canned drinks and flashlights while keeping an emergency supply of plastic sheeting, duct tape and heavy-duty garbage bags nearby. Also invest in battery backup for essential systems like your sump pump and freezer as well as creating an emergency kit with items you might require during a power outage.
Landscaping
A well-kept garden, complete with manicured hedges and lush planting can transform the appearance of your home while increasing its resale value by thousands of dollars. However, simply having an attractive garden doesn’t ensure its protection. Therefore it is crucial that when designing landscape designs keep this aspect in mind.
To do this, plant time-honored favourites that complement the environment of your summerhouse. For instance, premium Scotts garden buildings with painted finishes like Forest Green or Sage pair well with shades of red from roses, hollyhocks and dahlias; yellow flowers like marigolds, day lilies, chrysanthemums or daffodils add vibrant pops of colour in Aegean Blue or Aubergine summerhouses.
Consider what views your summerhouse will offer from both within your garden and from further afield. If the location captures breathtaking sights such as a river, lake or rolling hillscape, frame this scene by placing hedges or shrubs that provide shade or privacy from neighbouring properties.
If your summerhouse overlooks both your vegetable patch and kitchen garden, consider creating a separate outdoor space through landscaping. This will provide a quiet retreat when weather turns bad while unifying both spaces into one cohesive outdoor space. Furthermore, naturalistic gardening styles such as more naturalistic gardening styles may help rewild nature by encouraging native wildlife. Well-placed trees may help reduce cooling costs by shading against direct sun rays during the day and lower heating bills by blocking cold winter breezes from coming through windows or doors.