Garage Door Hurricane Preparation

As hurricane season approaches, the threat of sudden storms and high winds is real. Before it becomes urgent, have you evaluated your garage door to make sure your home’s prominent entry point is ready to withstand whatever nature dishes out?

Garage doors are usually the largest entrance to any home, and, without the reinforcements and heavy materials found in standard wall construction, they are more vulnerable to the high winds brought on by tropical storms and hurricanes.

In fact, according to the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH),

“About 80 percent of residential hurricane wind damage starts with wind entry through garage doors.”

Following Hurricane Andrew, FEMA identified the garage door as one of the 4 most critical weak points that failed in damaged homes. Unfortunately, if your garage door fails in a storm, much more damage is sure to follow as your home is now significantly exposed to the elements.

Preparing Your Garage for a Hurricane

Is Your Garage Door Up to Code? 

If your garage door was installed prior to the code changes that arose after Hurricane Andrew in 1992, if is not up to current code. Hurricane Codes vary by county, so it’s not surprising that Miami-Dade and Broward Counties would have the most stringent requirements, where garage door systems must withstand 150 MPH winds. For the highest level of safety and security, ask your garage door vendor to meet this performance level.

Install Hurricane Braces, Panels, or Netting to Your Existing Garage Door

If you don’t have time or money for a garage door replacement, or if you rent and aren’t authorized to replace the existing door, braces, panels, or netting are reinforcement alternatives.

Whichever method you choose (short-term or long-term), both FLASH and FEMA recommend seeking the advice of a professional contractor before doing any garage door work.

Benefits of Upgrading Your Garage Door for Hurricanes

• Safety: everything you can do to keep the entrances and access points of your home from being breached keeps your belongings safer—and potentially your life if evacuation is not an option in a storm.
• Security: a strong garage door not only helps keep the storm out, but keeps anything or anyone that doesn’t belong from getting to… your belongings, particularly in the aftermath of a storm.
• Insurance discounts and allowances: the importance of hurricane preparedness is obvious to insurers, and it can have a positive impact on your wallet, making a garage door update even more beneficial.

We live and work right here in Northeast Florida, so we know what it’s like to live in the path of hurricanes and tropical storms. We want your garage door to be a safe and secure entry point for your home. Give us a call today to plan your garage door hurricane preparation!