High winds and storms can wreak havoc whether your home is out in the country or nestled in a town or city. It pays to have a plan for checking any damage after any storm and to put in steps to repair anything that needs doing as quickly as possible.
It also makes sense to put away or secure anything that is likely to get blown away before the storm hits. If you’ve had a storm warning, take a look around the outside of your property and try to spot anything that you can be made secure.
Roof Tiles and Chimneys
Usually, one of the main areas that gets the full brunt of any storm with high winds is the roof. Slates can get dislodged and chimney stacks can even come loose and fall or crack. You should take a walk around your whole property so that you can see where any damage may have previously occurred. This is something that needs to be repaired quickly because you don’t want additional problems like rain getting into your loft area. Whilst you’re there check the integrity of TV aerials and satellite dishes, these can do a lot of damage should they come loose and fall.
Facias and Guttering
It’s also a good idea to check the facias and guttering. The facia is the wide strip of support below the roof and can be either made of painted wood or have a plastic covering. This is an important area for the integrity of your roof and any damage must be repaired as quickly as possible. With high winds, all sorts of debris can be thrown around. It’s worth checking the guttering as well to make sure nothing is blocked up and that the flow is dispersed, if left to build up the water can stagnate and rot and will soon sprout vegetation, which once rooted will cause additional damage.
Garden Fences and Gates
Before a storm hits, you should ensure that things like gates are shut and secured properly. In very high winds, gates and fencing can get damaged, slats broken and hinges twisted. While not a major priority for repairs, you’ll want to get them done as quickly as possible.
Trees and Branches
If you have a garden with a number of trees, the next thing you should probably check for are loose or broken branches. These need to be removed from the tree itself or gathered from the ground – if another storm hits, they can be lifted up by the wind and thrown around the neighbourhood causing greater damage.
Ornamental Garden Pieces
Even heavy objects such as ornamental bird baths can get knocked over and damaged during a bad storm. If you know bad weather is on the way, it’s a good idea to secure anything that you may think can get caught up in the wind. That might mean putting things like garden furniture and toys away in the shed, however robust it looks. A sudden, strong gust of wind can send it airborne and crashing into doors, windows and even nearby parked cars.
The Garden Shed
If you have a garden shed, hopefully it will prove to be robust enough to survive through the storm. Many modern designs, however, are quite light which means they can be damaged during high winds. Check weaker areas like the roof and it’s covering to make sure this is secure as well as the door and windows to see if there are any breakages.
Contacting Your Insurance
If you do suffer damage that will require you to claim from your insurance company, make sure that you document everything properly, including taking photos. Most property insurance companies operate emergency help lines when it comes to major storm damage and you should contact them as soon as possible. If you have to, you can arrange temporary emergency repairs to secure important areas and keep your property safe.
