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Storms can damage our homes in many different ways. High winds, lightning strikes, heavy rain/hail and flooding can all create different forms of destruction. This post lists some of the types of damage to look out for and how to protect your home from this damage. 

Roofing

Your roof can take a beating over time. Heavy rain and hailstones can wear away at your roofing, while high winds can force tiles loose. This may eventually lead to cracks and holes in your roof, allowing rainwater, cold air and pests to enter. A weakened roof may even eventually collapse or be blown off in a storm if it is not repaired.

It’s worth regularly inspecting your roof for damage. This could allow you to make repairs before you start experiencing leaks or other major issues. It’s worth noting that certain types of roofing are more robust against storms than others - metal roofing is typically the best solution. 

Guttering

A storm could also cause damage to your guttering. High winds can easily cause guttering to come loose if it is already damaged. Heavy rain can also put a lot of demand on your gutters - if there are blockages due to leaves and debris, you could find that water doesn’t drain. If this then freezes, it can cause guttering to expand and break. 

The best way to protect your gutters is to annually clean them out so that there are no blockages. If guttering is already damaged, it may be worth installing new guttering. Working gutters will stop water spilling out onto the ground around the home - which isn’t just important for preventing puddles but also protecting your foundations.

Siding

Siding on the external walls of your home could also be damaged over time by rain and high winds. Once too damaged, a large gust of wind even be enough to rip your siding off.

Look out for loose siding on your property and get it repaired before another storm occurs. Once siding starts to become heavily worn, it may be better to simply replace it. 

Electrics

Storms can also potentially damage your home’s electrical system. The most common issue is trees falling on power lines. This can cause long-term power outages if your home is reliant on mains electricity. Lightning strikes are another danger for those who live somewhere high and remote. If your home is not sufficiently grounded, all of your outlets and appliances could be damaged by a rogue lightning bolt.

A backup generator is the best defence against power outages. There are many different types of generator that you can buy - this guide to buying a backup generator details what to look for. As for defending your home’s electrics against lightning strikes, your best defence is making sure that your home is suitably grounded.

Windows

Most regular storms are unlikely to damage your windows. However, when it comes to hurricanes and tornadoes, there can be a real risk of windows shattering.

In storm-prone areas, it is recommended that you look into reinforced glass or hurricane shutters to help protect your windows. Windows mechanisms such as lipped casement windows (also known as ‘stormproof casement windows’) can meanwhile prevent rain and water getting in. 

Foundations

A big risk of heavy rainfall and high winds is flooding. This is particularly the case if you live near a river, lake or the sea. Flooding can cause all kinds of damage to a home depending on how severe it is - from damaging electrics to ruining flooring. However, the most common problem it can cause is weak foundations. If too much water gets into the earth around your home, the earth can become boggy and your home may start to sink into the ground. Cracks could also start to form around your foundations, which could spread around your home, putting the entire structural integrity of your home at risk.

There are a few different ways of flood-proofing foundations. The most effective option is to invest in drainage solutions to stop too much water reaching your foundations. This includes installing french drains, adding slopes leading away from your home or building channels to divert water around your home. As mentioned already, working guttering is also essential for protecting foundations - making sure that gutters aren’t blocked and overspilling.

Fencing

Storms can cause all kinds of damage in your yard. Fence panels can often be damaged by high winds - which could affect your privacy and security.

Repair fence panels before they get too damaged to prevent them being ripped off by high winds. If you live somewhere that gets particularly vicious storms, it may be worth investing in metal fencing to reduce the risk of it getting damaged.