why professional window installation is important

Homes in hurricane zones must meet certain building codes to ensure they are relatively safe from wind and rain damage. However, barely meeting the codes is not always good enough. If your home is in a hurricane-prone area, you may want to make a few upgrades that take you above and beyond in terms of protection. 

1. Impact Windows

Having your windows break during a hurricane can be the first in a chain reaction of tragedies resulting in substantial home damage. Not only is the broken glass a pain to clean up, but rain can then enter your home, causing substantial water damage. Branches and tree debris may also blow into the home through the open window. If the windows blow in, the home is often not worth repairing. Thankfully, you can reduce the chances of a window breaking by upgrading to impact-resistant windows. These windows are specially coated with a plastic material, which makes them less likely to break. If they do break, all of the glass remains attached to the plastic -- so it does not make such a mess. The lingering plastic also provides some remaining protection against water penetration. 

2. Sturdy Garage Doors

Flimsy garage doors made from aluminum or vinyl may blow off or cave in during a big storm. Then, anything inside your garage can blow away or be damaged. Look for a steel garage door that is designed specifically for storm protection. Steer clear of models with glass windows. The light that the windows let into the home is not worth having them cave in!

3. Roof Straps

Having a roof blow off will definitely mean catastrophe, and even a few missing shingles after a storm can lead to extensive water damage. Also known as hurricane straps, these are special metal straps that your roof company can use to anchor your roof to the home's wall structures. They work best with metal roofing, but they are compatible with some types of shingles, too. 

4. A Safe

If worse comes to worse and you have to evacuate, you may not be able to take everything with you. What if you are already out of town and a hurricane hits? Having a safe allows you to protect your most precious items and documents from the storm. Heavy, built-in safes are impervious to wind and rain, even if the rest of your home ends up being destroyed. 

For more information, contact a company like The Screen Shop.