Recent changes in the global climate have seen many regions of the world experiencing new types of weather patterns. Australia hasn’t been left out of this crazy weather mix and as a result, some areas are seeing cyclones and violent storms more often.
With this in mind, many Australian homeowners are resorting to a variety of maintenance tasks to safeguard their homes against potential storms. This often includes opting for the gutter repairs Melbourne roofers recommend.
Storm Preparation—An Essential Part of Weatherproofing
Despite our best efforts, there isn’t really a way to 100% safeguard your home against the tropical storms and cyclones that make their way across the Australian peninsula every year. However, our experts have compiled a list of pointers that can help you minimise any potential storm damage. Read on to see how simple it is.
- Review Your Property
In addition to water damage, tropical storms can also cause trees and loose items to fly around. This, in turn, causes more extensive damage to homes and buildings on the property. Therefore, it’s essential to review your property. Check for items that can easily become dislodged and cause damage. These may need to be secured or tied down before a potential storm hits.
You should also enlist in the services of an arborist. As specialists in tree trimmings and foliage removal, you’ll be able to clean up any risks to your property without too much effort. Trimming taller trees will also prevent any loose leaves, branches and twigs from doing any damage to your roof, gutters and downpipes.
- Check Your Roof
During storm season you’ll rely more extensively on your roof to keep your home and your family safe. This makes roof maintenance essential before storm season sets in. A few simple steps will ensure that your roof is strong and sturdy enough to withstand the toughest storms. These include the following:
- Gutter repairs: Since gutters and downpipes are going to take quite a beating during the storm, it’s essential to do routine repairs. This includes clearing out the gutters and ensuring that they are debris and mud-free. Water will then be able to flow through without creating blockages. Clear gutters are also less likely to create water damage to walls and foundations.
- Check for loose components: You should also check for loose tiles, sheets, nails and screws. All of these are signs that your roof may be damaged in some places. Leaving these areas exposed can possibly result in water damage or injury if the tiles fly off the roof.
- Use tie-downs where needed: If necessary, opt for roofing fasteners and tie-downs to keep sheets and tiles secured. You may also want to look into gutter guards to strengthen the gutters.
- Secure the Windows and Doors
Once you have secured the roof, it’s time to move onto the windows and doors. Here you want to check for any loose handles and hinges that may cause doors to come loose during the storm. Homeowners in areas with an exceptionally higher-than-usual storm or cyclone rating should consider investing in roller shutters.
These types of window coverings add an extra layer of protection to doors and windows and also reduce the risk of flying glass. Durable shutters will also add a protective barrier against flying debris from outside.
- Set Up an Emergency Plan
No matter where you live, an emergency plan should always be part of your storm preparations. Depending on the severity of the storm, there may come a time when you and your family need to evacuate your home. Consider these tips to keep everyone in the loop about what needs to be done.
- Create a safety bag that contains everything you may need if you have to leave your home in a hurry. This includes first aid supplies, torches, fresh water and a few blankets.
- Devise an evacuation plan so that everyone knows what must happen in the event of severe cyclones, bush fires or tropical storms. This includes sharing emergency contacts outside of the home and discussing the best course of action if evacuation should ever become necessary.
- Stay up to date with the local weather reports. If you’re particularly keen on watching the news, consider joining a few community groups on social media. That way you will get weather reports and updates from other people in the area. It’s also a good idea to add a reliable weather app to your mobile phone to check weather warnings in advance.
- Create a buddy system with a neighbour or someone in the community. This will help you stay in the loop and also give you a place to go if your home has become damaged.
Final Thoughts
It’s important to take the necessary precautions before storm season to keep your home and family as safe as possible. Furthermore, the right measures will also prevent any unnecessary damage to your roof, which in turn keeps the storm out of your house!
