Dealing With Wind

Wind can sometimes be the most damaging and destructive thing your property will ever face. Strong winds can tear off shutters, break windows, demolish trees, rip of roofing tiles, tip over trash cans, and much more. Sometimes wind will be accompanied by precipitation in the form of rain or snow, which can make the effects even more dangerous. Surprisingly, wind is not something that most homeowners prepare for when thinking about how weather events could damage their property. Wind is forgotten despite the fact that it comes very often (especially in Colorado), has the capability to destroy homes and trees in one fell swoop, and is unconditionally dangerous to people and property. Luckily, you don't have to be one of those people who neglect the all-important task of preparing for windstorms. You can insead be the one person on the block who comes away from a blizzard, thunderstorm, or high wind situation with minimal damage and low to no repair costs--compared to your neighbors, who may have to replace their roof, cut down trees, and resod their yard. Learn more below on how you can be THAT PERSON.

There is no foolproof way to stop wind from affecting you. Inevitably, you might get a branch on your roof or a piece of siding pulled off--it just is what it is at that point. There's no way to completely stop Mother Nature from doing her damage. But there are many tips and tricks that you can use to stop costly damage, and possibly stop damage at all the next time the wind picks up. The following bulleted list will cover all of the different things you can do to prepare your yard for the wind before it happens.

• Cut Loose Hanging Branches: Trees near your house are the ideal way to end up with a hole in your roof. Now, we're not saying that you cut down all the trees in your yard that have the potential to fall on your house. If a windstorm is big enough to uproot a fully grown tree and throw it on your roof, then your house is going to sustain damage no matter what. That kind of wind is very unlikely. However, the kind of wind that could tear a large branch off a tree and put a hole in your roof is much more likely, and luckily that's something you can prepare for. It's as simple as hiring someone (or doing the job yourself) to cut down any branches near your house that are large, weak, old, or otherwise dangerous. It should be obvious to you which branches they are. This should almost singlehandedly decrease your roof damage.

• Tie Down or Shelter Items: If a windstorm is forecast, the first thing that should come to your mind is lawn decorations like chairs and fire pits, as well as trash cans and any seasonal decorations you may have out in your yard. If you have a shed, it's a good idea to put chairs and anything else out on your patio in the shed for the duration of the storm; that way you don't have to worry about them blowing away and you also don't have to deal with trying to tie them down. Christmas trees, garlands, fall flowers, and other decorations can go in the house or the shed as well. A well-prepared home will have a totally empty patio and sidewalk when the wind comes. (Also take care of your trash cans--put them in the garage or the shed, or shelter them between three walls if you have an ideal place on your property). 

• Do Good Work on Your House: The best way to prepare for the potentiality of a windstorm tearing off siding or roof tiles is to have them well-installed. Have a trusted professional do the work for you, and make sure that the job has done correctly and everything is firmly in place. In a windstorm, you might lose two or three pieces of siding if the job was done sloppily--if the job was done well, you might preserve everything.

After an intense windstorm, be sure to inspect your house. Walk the length of the house, checking out the siding and anything else that could potentially have been damaged by the wind. Check on your trash cans if you left them out, and make sure everything else is still on your property. Get a ladder and check on the roof; additionally, walk the interior of the house to make sure no leaks have sprung. (Don't forget the attic!) 

There are many things you can do to prepare for a storm; these are just a few of them. Hopefully, your house is better prepared for the inevitable wind thanks to this article.

Published December 26th, 2023.

CPC PLOERMEL. "Alize-Vent." Wikimedia Commons, 12 Jan. 2019, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alizé-vent.png. Accessed 26 Dec. 2023.