How to Protect Your Home from Bad Weather and Costly Repairs

Owning a home comes with a lot to consider, from maintaining things like the hot water heater to ensuring everything is clean and organized. When it comes to the exterior of your home, however, you may not think much about how to keep it safe, but it’s one of the best things you can do to save yourself money throughout the year. Siding, gutters, and the roof are a few of the most vulnerable parts of a house when bad weather hits, and they can be some of the most expensive repairs as well. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to protect your home, as well as to maintain small repairs throughout the seasons to make sure everything is safe and sound. It may cost a bit now, but in the long run, you’ll actually save money.

The first step is to assess your home before the bad weather arrives. Take a look at your roof to make sure there are no missing or broken shingles, clean the gutters and downspouts, and secure loose items — such as patio furniture — to ensure nothing will get tossed around in high winds. The more preventative steps you take now, the easier it will be to make sure your home remains intact after a particularly strong storm. So, with that in mind, here are a few tips on how to protect your home from bad weather, and what to do when it hits unexpectedly.

Keep Wind Damage to a Minimum

High winds can really do a number on your roof and all the parts connected to it, so it’s essential to make sure you don’t have any existing issues on top of the house during spring and fall, which is when windy weather is most likely to occur. Loose shingles may not be a big deal during any other time of the year, but they can create quite a bit of damage during a storm. Rain, hail, and large gusts of wind can lead to repair costs of $2,269 to $13,623 depending on which part of the house is affected, and those fixes aren’t just cosmetic. In fact, that type of damage can lead to mold, rot, and other issues around the house if they aren’t corrected immediately. Because costs vary so widely, it’s best to get quotes from a few different contractors.

Keep Things Clean

Keeping the yard and exterior of your home neat and clean goes beyond just the aesthetics; it will also help protect your house in the event of nasty weather. For example, clean the gutters during every season, making sure leaves, snow, ice, and debris are cleared out, and ensure that they are secured against the roof. Heavy items on the ground — such as a weighted umbrella base — are probably okay, but lighter items should either be secured or put away when not in use. High winds can easily toss things like patio umbrellas and flower pots through windows, and that’s a costly repair you don’t want to have to deal with.

Trim Your Trees

Keeping your trees trimmed back can have several benefits, including allowing more sunlight to hit your grass and flowers, but a major benefit is that it can prevent loose or damaged limbs from damaging your siding or windows. Just be careful about where you make cuts since it is possible to cut too much off and damage the tree. If you don’t feel comfortable with this task, hire professionals to do the job for you. However, keep in mind that you could pay between $30 and $1,000 per tree depending on the size of the job.

Seal It Up

Bad weather can affect the inside of your home as well as the outside, especially if your windows and doors don’t have a good seal or if the insulation is inadequate. Moisture can lead to rot and mold, which can cause all kinds of expensive problems to the structure of your home. So, check for air leaks around the house and seal them up using caulk. Keep in mind, however, that insulation should always be installed by a professional.

Protecting your home from nasty weather may seem like a never-ending job, especially if you live in certain parts of the country, but it’s crucial to make sure you take steps to prevent major incidents. Think about creating a house fund that you can pull from for unexpected expenses so you’ll have peace of mind no matter what Mother Nature has up her sleeve.