How to protect your home against storms
A little bit of storm planning can go a long way towards protecting your home and belongings in bad weather. Here’s our list of tips for minimising the risk of damage:
Storm proofing your home - things you can do now
- Check your roof for any signs of ageing, such as cracks or misaligned tiles. Look out for any obvious damage to chimney stacks - especially if they’re tall. If in doubt, speak to an expert such as a building surveyor.
- Keep gutters, drainpipes and drains clear of blockages. Doing so will ensure rainwater has somewhere to go and is less likely to build into a flood.
- Check the condition of trees close to your home and consider removing any that could potentially fall onto your house or car. Remove any branches that have grown very close to your home - if in doubt, speak to a tree surgeon. If the tree is on your property, you can arrange this yourself. However, you’ll need to speak to the council if it is on public land. Also, if the tree is subject to a preservation order, you’ll need to obtain permission from the local planning authority.
- Ensure all fixtures around your house, such as fences and sheds, are in good condition and securely fastened down. Normally these aren’t covered by insurance policies, and they can cause damage to other property if forced loose by strong winds.
- If you live in a coastal or low-lying area, you may be at risk of coastal or flash flooding when a storm hits. Storms can cause sea levels to rise - an effect known as a storm surge - while heavy rainfall can cause rivers to burst their banks. Read more about protecting your home against floods and emergency planning here.
What to do when a storm is forecast
- Close and securely fasten doors and windows - don’t forget to bolt any garage doors too.
- Secure any loose objects, such as garden furniture or ladders.
- Try to keep internal doors - including loft access doors and skylight windows - closed where possible.
- Park your car in a garage if possible, or park away from large trees.
“Even with the UK’s relatively mild climate, we have seen many examples of high winds and heavy rainfall wreaking havoc on neighbourhoods across the UK in recent years. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to take a look at your home with the list of precautions above in mind. Familiarising yourself with what to do before a storm arrives will help give your property the best chance of emerging from a storm unharmed.”
Swinton Insurance
Correct at the time of publication. Information in this article has been gathered from various sources, therefore Swinton Insurance cannot be held responsible for any view or opinion expressed herein.
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