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Preparing your home’s exterior for storm season in Texas

By Doors, Storm, Windows

Current events taking place in the world today, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, have been making quite an impact in our neck of the woods. It doesn’t help that this major event in history is happening right at the beginning of our, already intense, storm season.

Every state and region has its own storm season, and in North Texas, spring is the main event of stormy weather. From early March until late August, high winds, heavy rains, hail, severe thunderstorms, and tornadoes are not uncommon. The brunt of it hits from mid-March until the end of June.

Spring cleaning may take care of your home’s interior and its landscaping, but you also need to think about your home’s exterior. Here are 5 key actions you can take to bolster your home for the upcoming Texas storms.

1. Invest In A Window Upgrade

Older windows often tend to develop drafts, which is bad enough, but in the rainy season, leaks can develop through those same openings. That’s an even bigger problem. Foundation settling can cause window frames to warp, become too tight or too loose, or cause fissure lines above and/or below the window.

All of these reasons, plus the benefit of better weather protection, boosted energy efficiency, and enhanced curb appeal argue for spring as an excellent time to invest in a window upgrade in the North Texas Panhandle.

2. Get Better Doors & Storm Doors

Water and wind – think drafts and leaks, can also affect your exterior doors during the Texas storm season. It may be time for a new front door, back door, garage door, or storm door.

Adding a door sweep, more insulation around doors, or repainting or restaining doors with exposed wood may sometime be enough. But a newer, stronger door with a higher energy efficiency rating would help even more!

3. Take Care Of Any Siding Repairs

If you notice any siding pieces that have come loose, slipped down, buckled, warped in the Texas sun over the years, or cracked up in a past hail storm, it’s a good time to take care of necessary repairs. Well-installed siding will help prevent water from getting behind your home’s exterior and finding its way through into the interior.

Upgrading to a higher grade of vinyl siding or to steel siding will do even more to make sure your building successfully weathers this year’s string of storms.

4. Clean Out Gutters & Downspouts

When gutters and downspouts are clogged with sticks, leaves, and other debris, it can make water back up during a storm. This may lead to wood rot of your fascia boards or the edge of your roof deck. It could also cause an interior leak and encourage mold and mildew growth. And it may allow water to eat away at your home’s foundation when it doesn’t drain down the gutters properly.

If gutters are sagging, they need to be nailed back up straight. If they are leaking, that must be addressed with waterproof gutter caulk. In extreme cases, you may wish to simply replace your guttering system.

Taking steps now to protect your home’s exterior during the storm season will pay big dividends by preventing damage and expenses down the road. For a free estimate on energey efficient, storm-safe siding and windows, contact Double J Siding & Windows in Amarillo, Texas, today!

 

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