For people living in Florida, storms and hurricanes are common. They can be dangerous and destructive, which means that there is a need for preparedness before they hit. Hurricanes are severe tropical storms forming above the warm ocean waters. It forms when there is a cycle of warm air rising over the warm waters in an ocean. As the cycle continues, the air rise to the clouds forming winds with very high speeds.
Florida has been the most hurricane-prone area in the US. The most contributing factor for the hurricanes is that it is near the tropic and westerly winds from the African west coast blow to its direction. The Caribbean winds also add up to the chances of hurricanes happening in Florida. The Gulf of Mexico, which has warm shallow waters, also contributes to the many hurricanes that happen in Florida.
Over the years, people living in Florida have learned to prepare for storms and hurricanes’ reoccurrence. Better still, there is a part that is still neglected and left for damage. The lanai is a roofed entrance to a house. At times it would look more like a porch or balcony. It is an outdoor space like a patio, attached to a flat or an apartment. Most of the walls are open making it prone to destruction by hurricanes, storms, and heavy rains. As you prepare your home for the upcoming storm, prepare the lanai to avoid damage and loss.
Things To Consider When Preparing Your Lanai For Hurricane Season
1. Secure The Lanai Furniture
If you have some furniture for the outdoor space, then you should safely store the furniture indoors. In most cases, the storm is so harsh that it will get to your furniture since the patio is open. The winds are so strong that they turn any items on your lanai into flying objects. You do not want your furniture soaked and smelly after the hurricane season. It will save you so much damage and loss when you store your outdoor furniture in the garage.
2. Store Decorative Pieces In The House
The harsh winds will not be so friendly to anything on your patio. Consider bringing potted plants, vases, and any exterior decor items. When you leave the potted plants outside, there might be breakages, so they should be kept indoors.
3. Tie Down Everything
If there are any loose objects that you do not plan to move indoors, you should plan on how to tie them on a strong wall tightly. You can decide to close the lanai umbrellas and store them inside. If you don’t have space for their tables and stand inside, you can choose to tie them down against a firm wall such that the winds cannot blow them up.
4. Strap Down Your Roof
If you have a light roof for your lanai, consider strapping your roof with strong hurricane straps. You can purchase the straps in hardware stores. The straps will help strengthen the wooden frames for roofing. The straps are made of stainless or galvanized steel to stand adverse climatic conditions, especially storms and hurricanes. As you prepare for the hurricane, you can consider investing in a metallic roof, a roof that will not be blown by the winds or leak water into your home.
5.Trim Your Branches
If there are trees near your lanai, make sure you trim any overhanging branches. The winds in the hurricanes are so strong that they can break the branches in trees. If the branches are touching or near your lanai, then severe damages can be done to it. Intense rains can also uproot trees, which might fall in your lanai. It is therefore very essential that you closely look for any tree that seems unstable. Cutting them down before the hurricane season is way better than leaving it to cause damage and losses.
6. Clean The Gutters
Gutters usually get some blockages due to leaves from trees. It is necessary to clean them so that the drainage for the rainwater is secure. Excess water held on the roof due to blocked gutters ends up spilling into the lanai.
7. Install Precautionary Measure
To be on the safe side and to avoid so much damage, install storm shutters on your windows and doors, especially the ones made of glass. Screen enclosure companies in Tampa also help you choose the ideal method for protecting your lanai. Hurricane winds make windows susceptible to breakages and break off the doors when the winds are strong. Wedge sliding doors are also helpful since flat doors could be hard to open, mostly if they were in contact with water.
8. Store Electrical Appliances And Gadgets
If you have any electrical appliances, you should store them indoors. Keep all the cords and close all the ports. This means that there will be no contact between the rainwater and the electrical plugs and ports. If you don’t intend to take the appliances indoors, make sure to cover them with water-resistant materials to avoid them coming in contact with the rainwater. When there are floods and water gets into the electric system, there could be very severe damage and death threatening risks.
9. Home Insurance
When the hurricane season approaches, ensure that your house insurance is okay and in the right shape. This includes that you have dutifully paid your premiums, and the insurance cover is updated. Keep the documents in a waterproof place so that you have proof of claim in case of an event.
Bottom Line
Even when the weather forecast tells you that the storm will not be significant, always be ready for a massive storm. You will do this by taking the right preventive measures for your home, family, and pets. Remember to have a food supply that could take you for a month or two. Have an alternative for power and gas since nobody knows the hurricane’s effect and for how long it is going to last.
First aid boxes will also help along the way, mostly if an accident happens and no health center is accessible due to the storm. Finally, you should not leave the house when the storm hits; you don’t know which building or tree is likely to come down. As much as you pay attention to the other parts of the house, please pay attention to the lanai by installing a screen to cover it since it has open sides. Screen enclosure companies in Tampa will sell you the screens and provide installation services.