How To Secure Your Garage Door During A Hurricane

Garage doors can be easily damaged by high winds during a hurricane or severe storm.

How to secure your garage door during a hurricane.

First check your local codes. During a hurricane high winds press against the outside of the door and potentially force it open potentially causing thousands of dollars in damage. Garage doors don t travel straight up and down. Clopay an unreinforced garage door can be blown out making the entire house vulnerable.

According to fema the loss of a garage door during a hurricane can lead to an uncontrolled buildup of internal pressure resulting in the blowout of a house s roof and supporting walls. Fema lists garage door failures as one of the top reasons for internal home destruction during a hurricane since it may allow both wind and water to enter your property. There s a slight curve at the top of the rails. Your garage door is one of the most vulnerable parts of your home during a hurricane and it s important that you protect it just as you would for your windows and doors.

Often newer garage doors will come with extra bracing and pins that go on the sides. There are three main ways you can protect your garage door during a hurricane. Purchase new hurricane proof or wind resistant garage doors. In some hurricane prone areas codes require that a garage door withstand winds up to 130 mph.

Home improvement expert danny lipford shows you how to reinforce and brace your garage doors. The garage door hurricane brace is often made with high quality aluminum that ensures its credibility as protection for garage doors the braces support the garage door even if the garage is known to be high due to its design causing to protect the door against negative and positive pressures. Because of their large size garage doors present a much bigger risk than regular access doors and windows. However you can take steps to protect your garage doors from hurricanes and possibly lower your insurance premiums in the process.

Metal reinforcement kits are available that attach to the concrete slab and framing above the door to provide two additional points of support or you can make your own garage door reinforcement from 2x4s. Whether you choose to buy a hurricane resistant garage door or retrofit the garage door you currently have investing in hurricane protection for your garage door now can save. Reinforcing your garage door helps you protect not only your garage but also your home and contents as well. Many garage doors are constructed of lightweight materials to conserve weight and expense.