7 Smart Ways to Hurricane-Proof Your House
If you’re a homeowner in a hurricane hotbed, you’ll want to take proactive measures to protect your property — here's how to hurricane-proof your house.
If you own property along a coastline, you watch the weather forecast closely during the summer and fall — also known as hurricane season. Hurricanes are most likely to descend between June 1 and Nov. 30, many of them leaving serious damage and devastation in their wake. That’s why it’s crucial to learn how to hurricane-proof your home to minimize potential destruction and keep your property safe.
If you live in North and South Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, or Florida, states frequently hit by hurricanes, you know how important it is to be prepared. You want to take proactive measures to protect your property, not just during peak season but year-round. We spoke with storm readiness experts and a top Florida real estate agent to find out what you should focus on when hurricane-proofing your home.
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1. Install high-impact windows throughout
Ron Wysocarski, a top real estate agent in Daytona Beach, Florida, is no stranger to the ravages of hurricanes. He says windows are one of the most vulnerable parts of a home when it comes to storm damage.
“It’s best to have hurricane-impact windows with heavy frames that resist breakage and projectiles of up to 150 miles per hour,” he explains. In addition to protecting the house itself, high-impact windows help to prevent water intrusion and can lower the cost of your insurance premiums.
After Hurricane Andrew’s widespread damage in 1992, many coastal cities started implementing building codes that required new homes to be built with high-impact (hurricane-impact) windows. But if your home is older, you may want to invest in an upgrade.
Select the right windows
When shopping for hurricane-proof windows, check the Design Pressure (DP) rating, which measures air infiltration, water infiltration, and structural load. A DP rating of around 50 should withstand winds up to 200 miles per hour and pressure of 75 pounds per square foot.
The cost of impact windows will depend on size, material (aluminum versus vinyl), brand, and special features, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $4,250 to $19,850, including installation.
Don’t forget about permits and post-inspections
Wysocarski points out that homeowners typically need a permit to install new windows, and a post-inspection is usually required. In most cases, the installer works with the municipality to take care of those details.
“Unless you’re really experienced, I wouldn’t recommend tackling window installation as a DIY project,” he says. “You would run the risk of having it flagged in a home inspection as an unpermitted type of window.” A house with unpermitted work can lead to headaches and complications when it’s time to sell.
Explore these other window-proofing measures
If you don’t have room in your budget for high-impact windows, here are some things you can do to make your existing windows more hurricane-resistant:
- Some homeowners opt to add film to their windows. Although this doesn’t increase impact resistance, it does hold the glass together if it breaks and prevents it from shattering into dangerous shards.
- Adding storm shutters helps block wind and water while still letting in light in the event of a power outage. You have various options, from cost-effective storm panels to mid-range accordion shutters to the more expensive Bahama shutters. Hurricane shutters cost an average of $3,656, lower than the average cost of impact windows.
- Stephany Smith, spokesperson for the home improvement and property maintenance company Fantastic Services, recommends caulking around windows and doors to keep water out.
