Your home is one of your largest and most expensive investments. It is also your main form of protection during natural disasters. That is why it is proper that you know how to prepare it against the damages that natural disasters can deliver. With hurricane season just weeks away, and experts predicting at least two major storms, now is the time to get your home ready. Here is how to prepare your home for a hurricane.

Preparing Your Home for a Hurricane Effectively

Preparing your home for a hurricane takes a lot of time and effort. That is the reason why homeowners should preemptively prepare for hurricanes long before the hurricane season begins.

To give you an idea of what to do, here are a few things to guide you in preparing your home for a hurricane:

• Take a look at your insurance policy.

Hurricanes can be unpredictable. Should your house receive a lot of damage during the hurricane, you need an insurance policy that will cover the full cost of repairs. Review your insurance policy and make sure that the clause for rebuilding during disasters like hurricanes are included. If not included, add it to your policy as soon as possible.

• Install surge protection.

Power surges often occur during hurricanes. Without a surge protection mechanism, your electronics and appliances can be damaged beyond repair. Protect your electronics, including your heating and air conditioning system, by installing a surge protection mechanism before hurricane season begins.

• Stock up on plywood.

Airborne debris and projectiles are among the main causes of damaged windows and doors during hurricanes. By having a lot of plywood ready, you can protect your property from these projectiles and save on future repair costs. Just make sure that your plywood complies with your state inspection standards.

• Seal your windows and doors.

Make sure that your windows and doors are free from cracks, breakages, and other forms of damages before the hurricane. After this step, find a way to seal them properly before hurricanes. These must be done to ensure that water will not be able to enter your home and cause leaks. These can also serve as insulation for your home during the hurricane and can make your home more energy-efficient.

• Check your roofing system for needed repairs.

Your roofing system serves as one of your main modes of protection during natural calamities. You have to make sure that your roof is in its best quality before the hurricane strikes. You also have to check the gutters for clogs, leaks, and damages and repair those immediately. By doing so, you are sure that your roof will not fail you during the hurricane.

An Experienced Roofing Contractor Can Make Your Roofs Hurricane-Resistant

To ensure that you and your family remain safe during the calamity, it is important to make sure that your roofing system is in its best shape.

Aastro Roofing is a premier roofing system service provider in Deerfield Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, and surrounding areas. We offer our services to residential and commercial clients alike.

Let’s make your roof ready for the hurricane season. Call us at (561) 623-3710 to book a roof inspection soon.

Are you having a new home built in Boca Raton? Are you remodeling your current home? If you answered yes to either of these questions you might want to consider the installation of a skylight. Skylights are popular windows installed in homes in high ceilings and are often found in kitchens, living rooms, master bedrooms, and bathrooms. Here are some tips for choosing the ideal skylight for your home.

A Tubular or Solar Tube Skylight

One of the skylight options available for your home remodel or new construction is the tubular or solar tube skylight. If the main goal of your skylight project is to add more natural light to your home, you will want to consider this skylight option. This option is also the ideal choice when there isn’t enough space in the ceiling for a traditional skylight. These skylights come in diameters of 10 and 14 inches. The 10-inch option is best for closets, bathrooms, and hallways. Kitchens and living rooms are better served by the 14-inch option.

A Traditional Skylight

If your preference is to have a traditional skylight installed, it can add a ton of light to the room where it is installed. If the job is done properly, your home can be filled with beautiful, natural lighting that adds flair to your home. These skylights are especially popular in homes that have vaulted ceilings. Opening up a vaulted ceiling with a skylight will bring a lot to the room.

The installation of a traditional skylight is a much more involved job than adding a tubular skylight to your home. Drywall work and reframing will need to be completed to finish this project successfully. You have some more options when choosing a traditional skylight compared to a tubular skylight. This includes being able to vent the skylight outside the home using solar power, electric, or manual controls.

Energy Efficient Skylights

Just like all other windows and doors, there are energy efficient skylights that can be installed in your home. This is especially important in Florida, where we can experience heavy rains at a moment’s notice. You will want a skylight that helps with the efficiency of your home and will survive the heavy rains and high winds that homeowners in Florida have become known to endure. A great way to reduce the heat that a skylight can send into your home in the summer months is to make sure the glass is tinted prior to it being installed.

Call Aastro Roofing Today for a Quote

Are you interested in installing a skylight in your home? The first step in this process is to speak with an experienced contractor and obtaining a quote. Call the trusted team from Aastro Roofing today at 561-409-3280 to schedule an appointment at your home. We will bring samples of skylights with us for you to browse and answer all of your questions so you can make an informed decision.

As South Florida natives, we learned early on that hurricanes can be extremely dangerous. As such, it’s important to know how to prepare for hurricane season. Here’s how you can protect your home.

Get the House Hurricane Ready

During a hurricane, anything can become a projectile. Imagine a 200 mile per hour wind picking up a coconut and hurling it against a wall. At such speeds, the coconut might as well be a cannonball.

The first thing to do if you are expecting hurricane level winds is to get rid of all debris that can be picked up by the wind and flown into the house. Once the yard is free of possible projectiles, it is time for some tree trimming. Branches can break off and become a major hazard during a storm, so make sure you trim all branches within twenty feet of the house or roof. You should also clear your gutters and make sure the drainage system is working.

The roof should be thoroughly inspected for any possible damage, holes or shingles in need of repair.  Check the shingle bonding to see if the adhesive is still strong. If it has weakened, perhaps it is time to have it checked by a professional.

Check all doors and windows, and make sure your shutters are working properly and ready to be installed at a moment’s notice. Ideally, your hurricane planning includes a professional inspection.

Stock Up

Sometimes a hurricane can leave you without power or water for days or even weeks. It is almost impossible to determine ahead of time whether a hurricane will be devastating or not, therefore the best course of action is to have a plan in place. Ensure you have the basics, along with canned food and water to last several weeks.  At the very least, you should have supplies to last you and your family for a week. Batteries can be a lifesaver, as well as camping lights. For the upcoming hurricane season 2019, make sure your first aid kit is up-to-date and stocked.

Have a Plan

Sometimes we realize that the storm is too big to ride out or a mandatory evacuation is issued. When this happens, if you do not have a plan, things can spiral out of control and you may find yourself sitting in traffic for precious hours. Plan ahead of time, know your destination and the best route to get there. Also, a grab bag is paramount. You should always keep a small bag ready during hurricane season with all the essentials in case you have to evacuate quickly. Grab bags should include your credentials, passport, and other important paperwork, as well as cash, change of clothes, raincoat, torch, first aid kit, and radio. If you take any medication you should include that too.

Choose Aastro Roofing for Your Hurricane Preparation

At Aastro Roofing, we’re the third-generation of roofers and offer high quality, from our family to yours. For help with your hurricane planning and roofing preparations, give us a call at (561) 623-3710 or visit our website at aastroroofing.com.