Garage door reinforcement brackets are a simple way to improve the strength and durability of your garage door. If you do have an existing garage door that isn't wind-speed rated, you'll need to reinforce it using other retrofit solutions until it comes time for you to replace it. The ideal solution would be to replace an older, weaker door with a code-approved garage door as soon as possible. To find out if your garage door meets wind speed rating and pressure rating regulations, look for a sticker on your door. If you own an older garage door, it will probably mean you'll need to retrofit the door to reinforce it. Many new garage doors are now engineered to deal with wind pressure. The rainwater will hopefully be redirected to roadside gutters and storm drains. Keep an eye out for any leaks or cracks in the foundation, which may indicate that you need some repairs.Īs a last-minute fix, if you know that a storm is about to hit soon, you can use sandbags to divert the water away from your garage door. In addition, they should be regularly cleaned to prevent debris from clogging them up.Įnsure your garage door seals tightly against the ground so that water doesn't seep in underneath it, check the weatherproofing regularly, and if it looks worn or cracked, ensure you replace it. Make sure you have an adequate drainage system for rainwater or snow runoff, which should include gutters and downspouts. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), it is estimated that $25,000 of property damage can be caused by just one inch of floodwater.Īs well as ensuring that your garage door is adequately reinforced to withstand hurricanes or other extreme weather, here are some other measures you can put in place. So it's not just your garage that is at risk of damage. If water gets into your garage and breaches the foundation of your house, it can lead to reduced structural integrity. The best way to protect yourself against water damage is to always prepare for any type of weather, even when there's no threat of rain, snow, or high winds.
Regardless if an emergency is predicted – flooding can happen unexpectedly with little warning. Water and flood damage can also cause devastation when a storm hits. Water and Flood Damageĭamage from wind during a storm is just one part of the equation. In some cases, it can even blow out the roof.
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This results in pressure building up inside your garage, which can do more than just knock things around: It can cause structural damage by blowing out windows and doors, knocking down walls if they're weak enough. If the garage door installed is not strong enough, high winds can push it inward. When a hurricane-force storm hits, if you don't have adequate garage door reinforcement, it's likely to be a part of your home that takes the most damage. The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) says that 80% of hurricane damage in residential areas starts with the wind entering through the garage doors.
If your house is connected to the garage, the issue can be compounded with a knock-on effect that can cause significant structural damage to your home.
Once your door has been laid open to the elements, anything you have stored in the garage will be exposed to rain and wind. Why Garage Doors are a Problem in Storm Season If you reinforce your garage door, it is an affordable way to increase its resilience and life span. This makes them a major weak spot and prone to hurricane or storm damage. They are also only supported on either side of the entrance, not at the top or bottom. Garage doors are large expansive surfaces of metal or wood that are often built very light so that they can be raised and lowered easily. The wind, rain, and hail that come with it can be devastating to homes and other structures in its path. We’ve all seen the destruction a storm can do.
When the weather turns bad and we look to protect our home, our garage door is often neglected even though it is a major vulnerability.
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