5 Springtime Renovations to Make Before Hurricane Season

1024 Constantinople Street, Listed By Barbara Bedestani

New Orleans is best known for its vibrant music scene, Creole cuisine, exciting architecture, and infamous Mardi Gras festival. It’s also a city that has seen its fair share of hurricanes.

Residents of New Orleans have mastered safety and storm preparation during hurricane season, which runs from June to November. Due to their unpredictability, it’s uncertain what damage a hurricane may leave in its wake. For that reason, taking the time to renovate your home in the spring is essential for safeguarding your property, possessions, and family.

Here are five springtime projects you should consider to prepare your home for hurricane season.

1. Add Hurricane Shutters

When people consider hurricane shutters, they may think of plywood coverings or long metal panels hung over your windows and doors before a storm. However, installing these types of shutters can lead to serious injury.

According to a recent study, 329 hurricane shutter-related injuries were reported from 2001 to 2017 – the most common being lacerations, sprains, and fractures.

This spring, you might prevent unnecessary injuries by adding newer hurricane shutters that look like they’re a part of the house. Consider automatic roll-down shutters, which attach to the top of your window and shield the glass with the push of a button.

Accordion shutters are another alternative that you can easily slide shut and lock at the sign of a powerful storm. Homeowners may also prefer colonial or Bahama shutters, which are more attractive options you can prop open or close when needed.

2. Repair Your Roof

Imagine hunkering down in your home during a hurricane when water starts seeping through the ceiling and walls. Approximately 30.8% of New Orleans homes risk significant flood damage during storms, resulting in about $3,200 in annual repairs. Many times, water damage comes from having an older roof.

The colorful city streets of New Orleans are lined with beautiful historic mansions and bungalows. Throughout history, many homes were built with wooden roof shingles. If this is still the case where you live, you’ll want to know the signs of damageand have your wooden shingles inspected and repaired before hurricane season.

Of course, regardless of your roofing material, it’s always essential to ready your roof for extreme weather conditions.

3. Upgrade Your Windows

Hurricane winds can cause a lot of damage to your home and property. Thankfully, improving your home’s window treatments can provide durable, long-lasting protection from heavy winds.

Storm windows are designed with impact-resistant glass anchored in a secure frame that can withstand hurricane-force gales. Typically, storm windows contain double-paned glass or a shatterproof film.

According to Angi, homeowners can expect to pay an average of $8,200 for hurricane windows. Ultimately, this cost fluctuates depending on the size, frame colors, hardware, latches, stabilizing bar, weather stripping, and other customizations.

4. Install a Generator

Average temperatures can reach the 90s in New Orleans during peak summer months. Meanwhile, high heat indexes and humidity can make it feel even warmer on some days.

As you prepare for hurricane season this spring, you might consider installing a generator. Depending on the storm’s severity, it may take a while to clear away debris and turn the power on again.

A generator will help keep your appliances running during a power outage, allowing you to preserve food, charge your electronic devices, and turn the fan or air conditioner on for a few hours. Excessive heat can be hazardous for elderly individuals or those with medical conditions.

The cost of installing a generator is between $1,428 and $8,078. While it may seem like a significant expense, having one may prove helpful if you lose electricity. The type of generator, including size and power source, may further affect the price

5. Hurricane-Proof Your Yard

Hurricanes drop a lot of precipitation at once. Since New Orleans is situated on the Gulf Coast, the city is also susceptible to flash flooding and ocean currents battering coastlines. This is particularly true due to most of the city sitting below sea level.

It may be wise to focus your springtime hurricane renovations on the exterior of your house this year. From improving the drainage system to pruning your trees, your yard should be fully prepared for a major storm.

The topography of New Orleans is relatively flat, so finding ways to grade the land away from the house can help shed some of that floodwater. You might also want to raise your garden beds and plant salt-tolerant trees, bushes, and flowers.

Don’t forget to trim back branches and remove dead trees that may fall against your house or roof in gale-force winds. At the same time, choose trees for your yard that are sturdy in hurricanes, and try not to plant them too close to your home’s foundation.

Smart Preparations for Hurricane Safety

By investing in these five home renovations this spring, you can feel more confident you’ll be prepared for hurricane season during the summer months. It’s better to play it safe with upgrades to your home than be unprepared during a weather emergency.

*Written By: Rose Morrison of renovated.com