1. Common Hurricane Damage
Presented by Kevin Salvagni
A General Contractor with more than 25 years of experience, Kevin Salvagni has
worked extensively in hurricane damage repair and assessment, including the
mitigation and estimation of property loss of more than $250 million due to
damage related to a number of hurricanes, including Charley, Jeanne, Ivan,
Katrina, and Wilma. Here, Kevin Salvagni covers a few of the most common
necessary repairs to residential buildings after a hurricane or other severe
weather.
Many homeowners see extensive damage to their homes after hurricanes,
especially to older homes that have not been built with modern preventive
measures. Because of the high speeds and force of winds during a hurricane,
windows are often broken or damaged, either by the wind itself or by debris it
carries. Broken windows, in turn, let in water and wind, often causing further
damage. Installing professional hurricane shutters or plywood helps to protect
windows and the interior of the building during a storm.
Another common problem is roof lifting, in which strong wind lifts the roof away
from the house. Because roofs with a low slope act like an airplane wing, they are
more susceptible to lifting during a storm than those with a steep slope.
Many homes also experience basement flooding when the soil around the
foundation becomes thoroughly saturated with water. To prevent flooding,
homeowners should ensure that their gutters are clear before the storm, and
that there is adequate drainage. They should also check that the sump pump is in
working condition in order to stave off flooding.
Often, landscaping objects including gravel, bushes, and trees blow around
during storms. Dead trees or weak branches can blow down into the house,
breaking windows or causing damage to the structure. This damage can be
prevented or mitigated through frequent landscape maintenance, including
trimming away dead branches and removing easily lifted items from the yard
before a storm hits.