Mother Nature is nurturing and bountiful but is also as destructive as it is giving. Natural disasters are a normal phenomenon that regularly happens in our world. In 2018, natural disasters that occur in the US cost around $91 billion according to the latest report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The majority of which are due to damage to property like buildings, public works, and sadly, residential homes.

Between wildfires, snowstorms, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, drought, and flooding, the US is in no way able to protect itself from these natural forces. Every citizen can feel its impact, especially when damage to property reaches our doorsteps. If there is any consolation to these events, it would be the chance to make repairs and renovation to the affected home. But what are the usual repairs needed when disaster strikes?

Here are the most common repairs our home needs after a natural disaster, something you might need to remember.

A Better Roof

If strong winds can blow or tear your roof apart, then you need to install a new and improved roof with better material quickly. It is the most typical part of the house that gets damaged after a natural disaster. Roof materials, depending on their type, can last from 20 up to 30 years.  Fiber cement made shingles can last up to 25 years, while asphalt composition roofs will be a stronghold for 20 years and wood shakes for about 30 years.

It is important to remember that maintenance goes a long way if you see leaks and vulnerabilities in your roof system. You need to act on it fast to preserve the overall strength of the structure. When installing it, make sure proper flashing is done to prevent water from getting inside which can quickly compromise its quality over time.

If you live in a region where hurricanes are a normal phenomenon, installing a hurricane strap can add extra hold and prevent your roof from easily being blown away.

Take Care of Your Windows

Windows and exterior walls are susceptible to significant damage after hurricanes and severe storms due to the strong winds and the flying debris outside. Check if your windows have cracks, if it is small, you can tape and seal it. But if it’s too big, you might need to consider installing a new one that is stronger and designed to withstand hurricane-force winds.

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Avoid using vinyl material for your exterior walls as it can easily be torn by strong wind gusts, and instead, go for bricks for stronger protection. Painting your outer wall can also help the water and moisture away from the material and weaken it over time. For window glass go for those that can withstand the force of hurricane winds like materials made from:

• Polyvinyl butyral
• Ethylene-vinyl acetate
• PVB with polyethylene terephthalate
• SentryGlas Plus

Flooded Basement

Heavy downpours can cause flooding, and that can go right into your basement, especially when you do not have a proper drainage system. Basements are made to enhance the foundation of a house. If you fail to maintain it, it can affect the integrity of your house foundation.

Installing a reliable draining system that includes sump pumps, perimeter drainage tiles and guttering will help you have peace of mind when hurricane season is up.

Power Generator

Power outages can happen pretty frequently especially during times of winter storms, severe thunderstorms, and hurricanes. And without power, your basement can start flooding due to a failed drainage system, food unthawing and spoiling, and just total inconvenience. If you have medical conditions that require, a generator is a must.

Poor Flooring

The most common natural disaster involved water and water retained at home means moisture and moisture can cause damage to flooring. Wooden floors are the most susceptible in this type of scenario, especially carpeted ones. As carpet is prone to moisture, it will keep your floor wet and moist therefore damaging it over time.

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If you keep on having this problem, you might want to switch to using tiles instead. Tiles are better at controlling moisture and are far less affected by it.