Colorado is one of the most notorious states in the U.S. when it comes to hail damage. Hail tends to be a lot worse in Colorado than other states because of the high altitude. When you live a mile high, the air is thinner, causing hail to fall faster and hit surfaces a lot harder. In May of 2017, one hail storm caused over $2 billion in damage in the Denver metro. Living in Colorado means that the potential for property damage is extremely high, read below to learn about how best to prepare and protect your home from damage this upcoming hail season!
Roof
Your roof is the first line of protection between the elements and you, your family, and your valuables, so making sure your roof is ready to get hit with hail is extremely important! Schedule an inspection so that a qualified roofer can let you know whether or not your roof is due for a replacement, and if you’re experiencing a leak make sure to get it repaired before it causes more damage to your home and your gutters. When looking for new roofing options, talk to your contractor about impact resistant shingles or Boral stone coated steel. Using these could get you a discount on homeowner’s insurance!
Windows
The best way to protect your windows from hail damage is to install permanent shutters that can be closed in the event of a hail storm. No matter what protection you have on your windows, make sure to close your blinds or drapes during a large hail storm to prevent glass from being blown into your home. If you’re buying and installing new windows, consider wind or impact resistant glass.
Landscaping
It’s difficult to maintain a beautiful lawn with flowers and plants when they get damaged or killed by hail storms every summer. So how do you protect them without a roof overhead? First, be prepared by caring for and fertilizing your plants properly before any potential storms.
Next, be prepared by having protective materials on hand. This includes hail netting, buckets or trash cans to cover flower plants or bushes. When you get wind of an oncoming storm, set up wood posts and stakes to make covering and protecting your landscaping quick and easy.
Car
The first and most obvious way to protect your car is to have covered parking. This can be a garage or a covered driveway. If you typically use your garage for storage, consider clearing it out for hail season. If you don’t have a garage or a covered parking option, consider riding out the storm in a local parking garage to protect your vehicle. Finally, there are car covers you can purchase to put over your car before any incoming storm.
