This article will discuss the different types of hurricane protection for your garage doors, what materials work best, and how far you need to go with hurricane-proofing your garage door according to the hurricane incidence and intensity in your area.Using the right wind-resistant garage doors will not only keep your property safe, but also lower your insurance costs. Some states require additional safety features by law. You can read more about the Texas “Tie and Strap” code in this article, for instance.
Not all US states are affected by hurricanes. We’ve compiled the following table to help you choose the appropriate measures to help your garage withstand historical hurricane intensity in your area.
Having an Attainable Home, at the end of the day, is an idea. An idea that everyone has the right and the chance to work hard, live comfortably, and have prosperity throughout their life. We’re happy to say that it’s still possible.Standard garage doors are made of lightweight materials that cannot withstand powerful hurricane winds. However, if your area rarely experiences powerful hurricanes during the season, you can get away with standard doors that are reinforced with additions, such as braces and panels.AttainableHome.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We also participate in other affiliate programs which compensate us for referring traffic.Hurricane braces are the best additions to your garage doors. These braces are heavy-duty steel constructs drilled into the floor and attached to the doors with brackets. Follow the instructions to install the hurricane braces of your choice.
Depending on the hurricane intensity in your area, you can protect your windows by using high-impact or hurricane windows. You can learn more about hurricane-proof windows for your garage by reading our article explaining the differences between the two.
To hurricane-proof your garage door, you must first check the local regulations and historical intensity of hurricanes. The most common safety additions are hurricane braces, panels, shutters, and wind-resistant garage doors. If your garage has any windows, you should ensure they’re hurricane-proof. Windows are susceptible to cracks caused by flying debris, which could pose devastating risks for your home. Garage doors are one of the weak links in your home when a hurricane strikes. Having a hurricane-proof garage door will lessen the damage done to your property during this devastating event while also reducing the costs of your insurance.
Words can’t really describe the peace of mind you have when you know your house is hurricane-reinforced as a Category 4 hurricane is barreling toward you.
Depending on where you live, wind-resistant garage doors might be legally required for your home. Garage doors are rated according to the wind speed resistance they offer.Other valuable additions to your garage doors are wooden panels or storm shutters mounted on the outside. These will help you avoid damage from flying debris. While modern materials like wood, fiberglass, or aluminum are stylish for garage doors, steel is the only option that offers enough resistance against powerful winds. And if you live in a coastal area in a hurricane-prone region, you’ll need to further reinforce your steel garage doors. Depending on what part of the US you live in, you need to take several steps to make your garage door hurricane-proof. Leaving your garage door unprotected during a hurricane will not only cause damage to the door itself, but the damage sustained to the whole house will be more severe due to the wind, water, and objects hurled in.
Just recently, Hurricane Ian hit our first netzero solar renovation house in Cape Coral, FL. We’re talking 140MPH+ winds for five to six hours straight. The house was fully hurricane-reinforced, which included:
Say you are buying a home in a hurricane-prone zone. The spot you choose for new home construction and area weighs in on the materials you need for the house. You may wonder if something like a cinder block or concrete seal your family from raging hurricanes.Investing in a hurricane-rated garage door reinforced with hurricane braces and storm shutters is recommended if you live in an area where powerful hurricanes usually strike. Other areas that experience less destructive hurricanes can benefit from a reinforced garage door along with storm shutters or OSB panels.
Are hurricane garage doors worth it?
Prevent Water Damage Hurricane rated doors do more than just protect from flying objects and high winds, they also prevent water from getting into your garage. That can save you thousands in water damage costs in a flooding situation.
To support condenser units, heat pumps, and other equipment. The Air Brace is particularly useful in residential or multi-family dwelling applications where flooding, snowfall, mud, and steep grades are a concern.
If your garage encounters winds it cannot resist, it is likely to either buckle inwards or get pulled outwards. The end result is a lot of damage to your garage door. Some issues can be repaired, but it’s more common for homeowners to need to buy a brand new door. If the high winds are accompanied by other extreme weather, you can also end up with a lot of water inside your garage. This can damage any stored items or cause flooding.Now that you know about all the dangers of a weak garage door, you might be rethinking your current situation. If you are in the market for a new garage door, you need to carefully consider the door’s wind resistance. Many homeowners want a wind-rated door that can withstand at least 50 mph winds. This gives you coverage from most issues like storms, tornados, and blizzards. If you live in an area with a lot of wind, you might want to select an even stronger door.
Some garage doors may mention their WindCode on them, or you can use Clopay’s WindCode calculator to find your garage door’s code. Once you have the WindCode for your door, you can see if it’s appropriate for your exposure level. The exposure rating refers to how exposed your house is to the wind. Homes surrounded by forests or other homes get less battered by wind, while homes on open plains or by oceans get intense wind forces. It is important to find a door with a WindCode rating that gives you enough coverage.
If you aren’t happy with your door’s wind rating but don’t want a brand-new door, you do have the option of installing a bracing kit. A wind bracing kit won’t improve your door’s ability to withstand wind-flung objects. However, it does keep the individual panels from buckling when a strong wind hits. This retrofit kit is quite affordable and can help your door withstand wind speeds of over 100 mph.A door that is pushed in or ripped off by wind does more than just expose your garage to the elements. It is also a big structural danger for the rest of the home. Modern houses are designed to work as a single cohesive unit. If a large hole appears in any of the walls, you can get uneven pressure zones throughout the home. Wind can funnel into your garage and end up knocking over walls or pushing your roof off. Ultimately, even a tiny bit of damage to your garage door can weaken your home’s structural integrity.Did you know that garage doors are one of the most vulnerable parts of your home? Though they might look sturdy, they still have to be lightweight enough to raise and lower. This can lead to issues when your home encounters intense storms. If you want to avoid major damage to your home, you need to make sure your garage door has the right wind rating.
Typically, 20 mph wind resistance is the bare minimum for garage doors. It is very common for doors to be able to resist higher amounts of wind. Many doors marketed as “wind-resistant” can withstand winds over 100 mph. These doors can usually withstand up to 50 pounds per square inch of pressure from the wind. There are even specially designed impact doors that can resist winds of up to 200 mph.
What are garage door braces?
The product is a vertical bracing system made from high quality aircraft-grade aluminum that attaches to the inside of the garage door. The Garage Door Braces both strengthen the door and provide support and anchors for the door in addition to the garage door tracks. Cached
Though safety should be your priority, it’s also important to consider your budget. Typically, a higher wind rating comes with a higher cost. If you need an affordable garage door, you might want to avoid getting an unnecessarily strong door. However, keep in mind that a higher wind resistance can be good even if you don’t encounter storms. Many insurance companies will give you a discount on your premium if your garage door meets certain safety standards. Check with your insurance company to see if they adjust premiums based on garage door type. In some cases, the higher cost for a door might be offset by lower insurance.
Look along the inside of your garage door for a label. This is often an orange, white, or yellow sticker somewhere along the side of the door. If you do not see a label, try looking up your door’s model number online. You can often find a user manual with details about the door’s wind resistance. Once you locate the label, you can look for the part of the label that says something like “design wind speed.” This will tell you the maximum speed of wind the door can handle.
Are you worried about your garage’s ability to withstand wind? Garage Door Doctor is here to help. Since 2009, we have been helping the people of Indianapolis with their garage doors. Our team is comfortable working with both residential and commercial doors, and we provide a variety of installation and repair services. To schedule a free consultation about your garage door, give us a call today.
Your garage door label will actually have a lot more information beyond just the maximum wind speed the door can handle. As you look at the label, you’ll find a spot that says “PSF” with a low number and a high number. The PSF rating will tell you the number of pounds per square foot of force that the door can handle. This helps you get a better idea of how the door handles pressure as the wind pushes against it.
Are hurricane straps necessary?
Extreme winds, such as those generated by powerful hurricanes, can sometimes rip the truss of the roof off the walls of a home. This concern is especially important in areas with strong hurricane-force winds. To reduce the risk from these winds, building codes in some areas require hurricane straps.
The typical garage door is usually strong enough to resist winds of at least 20 miles per hour. This means that they usually won’t get damaged by the typical thunderstorm or snowstorm. However, most garage doors won’t rip off the second the wind goes over 20 mph. Instead, they just start to weaken at this point. Extended exposure to wind over 20 mph is enough to cause problems with your garage door.Indiana’s building codes aren’t extremely strict about wind ratings for garage doors, so there’s no guarantee that your door can withstand a certain amount of wind. To be prepared for any extreme weather, you need to take the time to check your door.
There is a positive and a negative PSF number because wind can hit your door from multiple directions. The positive number refers to how much pressure your garage door can handle when the wind blows against it. The negative number refers to how well your garage door can handle wind pressure sucking the door out of the frame.
If you’re concerned about your garage door’s ability to stand up to wind, it might be helpful to learn a little about WindCode ratings. WindCode is a standard rating system developed by Clopay. It takes into account things like the garage door’s size, its maximum wind speed, and its position on the building. This rating has levels ranging from W-1 to W-9, with higher ratings meaning the door can resist higher wind speeds.
As a last-minute fix, if you know that a storm is about to hit soon, you can use sandbags to divert the water away from your garage door. The rainwater will hopefully be redirected to roadside gutters and storm drains.
The insulation commonly used for garage doors is either polyurethane or polystyrene (styrofoam). Most experts agree that of the two, the superior material is polyurethane. Polyurethane is sprayed into the garage door panels, which improves rigidity.
How do I proof my garage door from breaking in?
There you go nice and secured. So the purpose of the shield is for example you have somebody trying to fish. Your pull cord out they won’t be able to access that because this shield is not in the way.
When the weather turns bad and we look to protect our home, our garage door is often neglected even though it is a major vulnerability. We’ve all seen the destruction a storm can do. The wind, rain, and hail that come with it can be devastating to homes and other structures in its path. But what about our garage doors?
How do you brace your garage door for hurricane?
Tighten the you bolt on the top brace that’s the one with a single track about two inches from the top end for the next few steps. I like to lay the top. And bottom braces on the table like this on.
Ensure your garage door seals tightly against the ground so that water doesn’t seep in underneath it, check the weatherproofing regularly, and if it looks worn or cracked, ensure you replace it.
This bracing device attaches to the wall of your garage or, in some cases, the ceiling. It has two arms that extend from one end, and when an impact happens on the other end, it will prevent all of the force from being concentrated at one point.
Once your door has been laid open to the elements, anything you have stored in the garage will be exposed to rain and wind. If your house is connected to the garage, the issue can be compounded with a knock-on effect that can cause significant structural damage to your home.When the struts are joined, they can look like a ladder for your garage door. But it is important for your safety that you never climb on them to reach for items stored above the door. If you have children, who might be tempted to use the garage door struts as a climbing frame, they should be warned that it could cause serious injury and be strongly discouraged from doing so.
When a hurricane-force storm hits, if you don’t have adequate garage door reinforcement, it’s likely to be a part of your home that takes the most damage. If the garage door installed is not strong enough, high winds can push it inward. This results in pressure building up inside your garage, which can do more than just knock things around: It can cause structural damage by blowing out windows and doors, knocking down walls if they’re weak enough. In some cases, it can even blow out the roof.
Storm braces are easy to install, but they must be installed correctly, or else they won’t be very effective at protecting your garage door from damage. You can buy ready-to-install garage door storm brace kits that cost around $500. These garage door storm brace kits are reasonably easy to install if you have some basic DIY skills. The other option is to build your own with wood.Before you purchase and install a new garage strut, bear in mind that they will add to the door’s weight once installed. This means that the door will need to be recalibrated to compensate for the weight change, or in some instances, you might need new heavy-duty torsion springs.
Many new garage doors are now engineered to deal with wind pressure. If you own an older garage door, it will probably mean you’ll need to retrofit the door to reinforce it. To find out if your garage door meets wind speed rating and pressure rating regulations, look for a sticker on your door.
It might seem obvious but make sure your garage door is closed before a hurricane or heavy storm hits. With many households using the garage as a second front door, it can often be neglected and left open, don’t let this be you!If you have completed a retrofit on your garage door to add reinforcement, it can get out of balance. To check if it is balanced, disconnect the opener, lower your door halfway, and then let go. If it shows movement and goes down or up, then it is not balanced. This means that the springs should be adjusted. Garage door spring adjustment can be dangerous if you are unsure of the correct procedure for your and your family’s safety. It is best to seek out professional garage door services.
When installing products to reinforce your garage, it’s really important that you follow the specifications recommended by the manufacturer. Special care must be taken when installing your product to avoid voiding the warranty or the potential of causing harm to people or property.
Installed correctly, storm braces will not only provide your garage door with extra support but should limit movement in either direction as well as help to keep it from being bent or pushed out of its tracks by heavy winds. Damage from wind during a storm is just one part of the equation. Water and flood damage can also cause devastation when a storm hits. Regardless if an emergency is predicted – flooding can happen unexpectedly with little warning. The best way to protect yourself against water damage is to always prepare for any type of weather, even when there’s no threat of rain, snow, or high winds. Horizontal garage door struts are long metal bars that are installed on the interior of your garage door. A garage door strut helps support the door’s weight when open and reinforce it when bad weather hits. Without garage struts, the weight of your door can cause bending or bowing if left open for too long. This can result in damaged panels and even a broken door opener. You’ll commonly find them in lengths of 9 to 18 feet, but longer ones are available.Wind-rated garage doors are designed to withstand high winds and are built with a robust steel frame and sturdier panels. They also have a heavier, thicker gauge garage door track and include post or built-in reinforcement. A third party tests wind-rated garage doors for durability and resistance to wind load. The test determines the amount of pressure that can be exerted on the door and how long it takes for the door to fail under those conditions.
Making sure your garage door is reinforced should be high up on your list of priorities. While some areas are more prone to hurricane-force winds than others, extreme weather conditions and high winds can hit even the calmest of US states. Whether you install a brand new garage door tested for wind resistance or retrofit your existing door using reinforcement brackets and garage struts, it pays to be prepared.Opener reinforcement brackets are designed to replace the smaller original brackets that come with standard garage door openers to provide better stress relief. The brackets are installed to the top of your garage door on the center stile. They serve to evenly distribute the force of the opener that pulls the door, so it doesn’t crack or stress. There are times, for instance, in the cold months where the bottom of your garage door can freeze to the floor. This can result in the center stile being ripped from the garage door panel due to the excessive tension it is under if not adequately reinforced.
Another benefit of using a storm brace is that it will add structural support to your existing garage door hardware, which can extend the life expectancy of both your hardware and your door itself.
Garage doors are large expansive surfaces of metal or wood that are often built very light so that they can be raised and lowered easily. They are also only supported on either side of the entrance, not at the top or bottom. This makes them a major weak spot and prone to hurricane or storm damage.
These days, if you live in an area that is prevalent to storms, you will probably be required by your local building code authority to have a garage door installed on your property that is approved to meet a specific wind rating. Typically the further inland the county you live, the less stringent the requirements. States that have special wind-rating requirements include Florida, California, Kansas, Nevada, Missouri, and Utah.
Garage door reinforcement brackets are a simple way to improve the strength and durability of your garage door. They are designed to help reinforce your garage door opener’s lifting, lowering, and opening mechanisms. Garage doors are often exposed to heavy use and constant wear, which can cause them to weaken over time.Typically the more layers of insulation, the more durable and stable your garage door will be due to the increased support of the panels and added weight.The ideal solution would be to replace an older, weaker door with a code-approved garage door as soon as possible. If you do have an existing garage door that isn’t wind-speed rated, you’ll need to reinforce it using other retrofit solutions until it comes time for you to replace it.Make sure you have an adequate drainage system for rainwater or snow runoff, which should include gutters and downspouts. In addition, they should be regularly cleaned to prevent debris from clogging them up.
If water gets into your garage and breaches the foundation of your house, it can lead to reduced structural integrity. So it’s not just your garage that is at risk of damage. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), it is estimated that $25,000 of property damage can be caused by just one inch of floodwater.
In some parts of Florida that are particularly hurricane and storm-prone, it is a requirement that garage doors have a rating to withstand winds of up to 150 mph. There are even hurricane-rated doors that are so heavy duty they are resistant to winds of up to 200 mph so that they can handle a category five hurricane!As well as ensuring that your garage door is adequately reinforced to withstand hurricanes or other extreme weather, here are some other measures you can put in place.
The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) says that 80% of hurricane damage in residential areas starts with the wind entering through the garage doors.
Many garage doors come with a strut as standard that runs across the top panel section, but in some cases, for instance, in areas that experience inclement weather, you might want to install more struts. Other factors include the thickness and materials of your door. A garage door that isn’t insulated and is lightweight will tend to bow more than one that is polyurethane foam insulated but the same thickness.
The benefits of garage door insulation are many and varied. For example, insulated doors keep your house warmer in winter and cooler in summer by blocking out heat or cold from entering through the walls. This means fewer energy costs. However, while there is no doubt an insulated garage door has many benefits, does it make it more damage resistant?Opener reinforcement brackets are available in a wide range of colors, sizes, and styles and can be installed on most types of garage doors. They are a cost-effective way to protect your door and are easy to fit, with no complicated installation procedures. You can choose from narrow adjustable brackets designed for most residential homes or wide adjustable opener reinforcement brackets that are a heavy-duty solution for commercial or heavy wood doors.
A storm brace for your garage door stabilizes the door and helps to prevent damage. Storm braces are strong aluminum or steel metal pieces that attach to the top of your garage doors. These braces help keep your garage door in place during high winds, storms, snowstorms, hurricanes, etc.
Secure Door is a bracing system designed to protect your garage door from hurricane force winds. It is made of high-quality aluminum that is lightweight yet incredibility strong. The Telescoping design enables the brace to fit almost all garage doors up to 8 ft. in height. Brackets are attached to hinges to keep the garage door from being sucked in or blown out. The brace is anchored to the wall above the garage door, to each hinge on the door, and to the garage floor.The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has identified the loss of the garage door as one of four major factors in homes damaged and destroyed in Hurricane Andrew? As the American Red Cross warns, if your garage door fails, the full fury of the hurricane will enter your house and in all probability blow off your roof and destroy your home? It is important to note that the brace does not actually prevent the door from being blown open, but rather helps to distribute the force of the wind evenly across the door. This prevents the door from being blown open by the wind and keeps it from being damaged.
What is a hurricane brace?
To support condenser units, heat pumps, and other equipment. The Air Brace is particularly useful in residential or multi-family dwelling applications where flooding, snowfall, mud, and steep grades are a concern.
Natural disasters are lurking around the corner at any given moment and it’s best to be prepared. If you live in an area that is prone to hurricanes, then you know that high winds can wreak havoc on your home. One of the most vulnerable parts of your home during a hurricane is your garage door.
The strength of your garage door will depend on the type of door, as well as the age and condition of the door. Older doors may not be as strong as newer ones, and certain types of doors (such as roll-up doors) are more susceptible to damage than others. The best way to find out how much wind your particular garage door can withstand is to check with the manufacturer, the label or contact a professional garage door installer.
Can I reinforce my garage door?
Install a horizontal brace along the full width of the door, near the top. A vertical brace should extend the height of the top panel. If possible, attach the braces to each other for more support. Garage door reinforcement kits may be available through a dealer or hardware store.
Eagle’s Garage may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. This comes at no additional cost to you, and all the prices and availability are accurate at the time of publishing. In this article, we’ll show you how to brace your garage door for a hurricane. By following these simple steps, you can help ensure that your garage door stays in place and doesn’t get damaged during the storm. So, there you have it. These are some of the best ways to protect your garage door during a hurricane. Be sure to take the necessary precautions and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to ensure that your door is properly secured.
The good news is that there are some things you can do to help protect your garage door and keep it from being blown away or damaged during a hurricane. By taking some time to properly brace your garage door, you can rest assured knowing that it will be much better equipped to withstand the high winds and heavy rains of a hurricane.
Most garage doors have a manual locking system that can be engaged when needed. This is usually a handle that is turned to lock the door in place. After disengaging the opener mechanism, simply engage the manual locking system to help keep the door shut.
Doors often have a sticker or label that will indicate if the door has been tested and approved for hurricane-resistant construction. Certification labels include the positive and negative wind pressure rating and model number that are placed by the manufacturer.Leaving the door open is not recommended as it can act as a wind sail and cause more damage by allowing wind and water to enter your garage. Objects inside your garage can also become projectiles and cause damage or injury. The door itself can also be damaged by high winds or get ripped off it’s hinges. It is best to close and secure your garage door before a hurricane hits.
In order to prevent damage from being blown open by the wind, you will need to disengage the opener. This doesn’t actually secure the door, but will at least protect the costly mechanism from being ruined.
High winds can cause your garage door to buckle, warp, or even come completely off its hinges. If the garage door is not properly secured, the wind can get underneath it and lift it up. Once the door is lifted up, the wind can then get inside your home through the opening, which can lead to further damage.
The simple and most common answer is that they are often the largest and weakest entry point on a home. A hurricane can exert an immense amount of force on your garage door due it’s location and the material that it is made of. Garage doors are usually made of lightweight aluminum or steel and are not built to withstand the high winds and flying debris that a hurricane can bring.
These doors are made to withstand high winds and flying debris, so they are definitely worth the investment if you live in an area that is prone to hurricanes. They are usually made of heavier materials such as steel or reinforced aluminum and have a variety of locking mechanisms to choose from.There are a few different types of braces that are available, so be sure to choose the one that is best suited for your needs. Some braces are made of steel, while others are made of aluminum. Read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to make sure that you are choosing the right one. Another option is to install a garage door hurricane brace. This is a device that is attached to your garage door and helps to keep it from being blown open by the wind. They work by distributing the force of the wind evenly across the door, which prevents it from being blown open. Most braces are heavy-duty aluminum or steel and must be drilled into the concrete floor. They have brackets that attach to the door in multiple places to secure your garage door.The best way to ensure that protection is by purchasing hurricane insurance, which is an absolute must if you live in an area with heavy storms throughout the year.No matter what, never use your garage as a hurricane shelter. For more information, check out my article discussing why a garage isn’t safe in a hurricane.The resistance level depends on the state that you live in, but it’s worth looking into before you make a decision. There’s a high chance that your house already has a small amount of resistance due to the location. However, reviewing your existing garage door and upgrading it if needed doesn’t hurt.Note: Make sure to remove the brace before opening the garage door. Failure to do so could break the brace as well as the door. If you need to, place a sticker or tape over the remote door opener to prevent unwanted issues. The wind comes from different directions, and gusts are affected by various geological features. Mountains, valleys, and even man-made structures can influence the direction and force of the wind. Getting hurricane insurance on your home doesn’t necessarily mean that your garage door is covered. Before you sign any documents, make sure you read the fine print.Hurricanes cause damage through the force of the wind, direct object impacts, and rain. When the wind blows by a garage door, it shakes the door’s surface.
Rather than depending solely on the door’s integrity, these braces hold the ground to withstand anything that hits it. Once you’ve installed everything, you can remove or reattach the brace in under one minute.
New garage doors cost thousands of dollars. Most of us aren’t prepared to spend that much to prepare for a hurricane. However, special deductibles are charged in states like Hawaii, Alabama, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and many more.
How do you brace a garage door for high winds?
A storm brace for your garage door stabilizes the door and helps to prevent damage. Storm braces are strong aluminum or steel metal pieces that attach to the top of your garage doors. These braces help keep your garage door in place during high winds, storms, snowstorms, hurricanes, etc.
Once hurricanes make landfall, they weaken very quickly. In central Florida, we only get hit with a hurricane every few years. By the time the storm hits us, it‘s usually dropped down to Category 1 or 2 strength.
Tired of feeling overwhelmed every time you walk in your garage? Our FREE Beginner’s Guide to Garage Organization can help you transform your garage into a space you can be proud of.
Instead of slamming right into the garage, rain, high winds, and flying debris hit the panels instead. They’re not as convenient as braces, but panels are still definitely worth looking into.Wind load requirements for garage doors are based on how much wind resistance they provide. Most garage doors can’t take much force, but these doors are made to hold up against 90 MPH through 150 MPH of wind load.
By that point, we’d lived in central Florida for about five years, so we’d had a few hurricanes blow through (pun intended). Still, nothing on the scale and destructive power of hurricane Irma in 2017.During a hurricane, high winds press against the outside of the door and potentially force it open, potentially causing thousands of dollars in damage.
I wasn’t worried about our front door or our glass patio doors. The hurricane was coming from the opposite direction, so they would be shielded from the storm.
Exposure classification describes things like weather, landscape, and certain other features. Using these factors, you’ll be able to get a quote on how much it would cost to purchase and install a hurricane-resistant garage door. If you already have a brace on the inside, you can still use panels, netting, and other tools. It might take a few extra minutes to get everything set up, but you’ll have twice the level of protection. Depending on where you live, there are different requirements for hurricane-rated garage doors. While Florida building codes require wind resistant garage doors throughout the state, some areas have more stringent requirements.During a hurricane, it’s critical that you manually lock the doors if you disengage the door from the track. Even if you opt not to, this will add another two secure points.
Netting is only helpful if you have windows on your garage door. Strap the netting over each window to disperse the brute force of wind and rain. It also keeps small objects from cracking the glass.
How much wind can a garage door withstand?
Typically, 20 mph wind resistance is the bare minimum for garage doors. It is very common for doors to be able to resist higher amounts of wind. Many doors marketed as “wind-resistant” can withstand winds over 100 mph. These doors can usually withstand up to 50 pounds per square inch of pressure from the wind.
If you live along or near the coast, consider more robust hurricane protection for your garage door, like a brace or additional panels mounted to the outside. Garage door manufacturers recommend disengaging the garage door from the opener’s track. This is as simple as pulling the cord for almost all garage door openers. As Irma (then Maria and Dorian) was bearing down on us, I did a lot of research to prepare. I found a couple of free steps to take to protect my garage door during the hurricane.That’s still wind speeds of between 70 mph and 110 mph, so we still take it seriously. But it’s nothing compared to the 170-190 mph wind speeds Irma and Dorian had while they were over the ocean. Tim Wells, the founder of Garage Transformed, has been featured in dozens of home renovation publications, including BobVila.com, Home Stratosphere, House Digest, Livingetc, and SFGate. Since 2018, he has helped over two million people transform their everyday garages into something they can be proud of. He lives in Central Florida with his wife and bulldog. You can take several steps to help hurricane proof your garage doors. The best solution is a combination of hurricane rated garage doors and a hurricane bracing kit. Be sure that the track of your garage door is at least 14-gauge weight–check the owner’s manual or look for markings on the track–and is securely mounted with screws at all appropriate screw locations. Replace any loose screws with longer screws. First, check your local codes. In some hurricane-prone areas, codes require that a garage door withstand winds up to 130 mph. In Miami-Dade County of Florida, codes are even stricter, and doors must withstand hurricane-force winds of 150 mph. There are two grades:
One inch of floodwater can cause $7,800 worth of damage to your home. Busted garage doors can easily let in that much water and more. In fact, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) identified loss of garage doors as one of the major factors contributing to hurricane storm damage in homes.The surest way to prevent a garage door from failing in hurricane-force winds is to brace the door using a garage door bracing kit. A hurricane-resistant retrofit kit for garage doors includes braces and hardware and costs about $500 for a double garage door. You can probably install braces yourself, if you’re handy with a drill. Mariwyn Evans has spent 25 years writing about commercial and residential real estate. She’s the author of several books, including Opportunities in Real Estate Careers, as well as too many magazine articles to count. In Florida’s Miami-Dade County, for example, the annual insurance premium on an older home insured for $150,000 runs between $3,000 and $8,000, assuming no hurricane-mitigation improvements. With improvements, such as storm shutters or hurricane-resistant garage doors, the same home would cost between $1,000 and $3,500 to insure, or about 30% less.When summer kicks off, it’s natural to have lots of big, grand plans for the season ahead — cottage weekends, catching up with friends, sports games, and, of course, knocking projects off the summer maintenance and repair checklist at home.
IKO strives to accurately reproduce the screen images of the shingle swatches and house photos shown. However, due to manufacturing variances, the limitations of your monitor resolution and the variation in natural exterior lighting, actual colors may vary from the images you see. To ensure complete satisfaction you should make final color selections from several full size shingles and view a sample of the product installed on a home. Please refer to our Legal Notices for U.S.A. or our Legal Notices for Canada.
Hurricane ties work by creating a more direct load path from the roof to the foundation of the home. The tie provides more resistance against uplift forces that can pull the roof truss away from the wall. The number of nails in the clip does make a difference as to how effective the clip is, and it may even make a difference to your home insurance provider. You should seek expert guidance from your roofer and a structural engineer to determine if you have enough hurricane straps, with enough nails.
Can you make a garage door hurricane proof?
The surest way to prevent a garage door from failing in hurricane-force winds is to brace the door using a garage door bracing kit. A hurricane-resistant retrofit kit for garage doors includes braces and hardware and costs about $500 for a double garage door.
What if your local building codes don’t require hurricane ties? Should you still install them? It depends. If your roof needs to deal with any wind uplift forces, then hurricane clips can provide some benefit. This is especially true on gable roofs, which are less able to handle uplift forces than hip roofs. Eaves and porches may also benefit from the security of a hurricane tie, as they also catch the wind more easily. Ultimately, you should ask a professional roofer if they think hurricane ties could benefit your roof.IKO showed off their latest products and roofing innovations in residential roofing at the 2023 International Roofing Expo. Roofing accessories and shingles were out on…
Many states also require hurricane straps including Texas, Louisiana and Georgia, but they often vary as to the number of straps or the number of fasteners in each strap. If your state does not require hurricane straps, your municipality may still require that you install them. Homeowners should look into local code to make sure that they meet these standards. Hurricane clips may be greatly beneficial forhomeowners in many states, even if they are not required.
In the past, roofers connected the wall and roof truss with 10d or 16d toenails. Roofers may still do this in areas where extreme winds aren’t as much of a concern as they are in Florida. However, after Florida experienced Hurricane Andrew, in 1992, the construction industry became more aware of the need to better secure the roof truss to the exterior walls of the home. Although door and window failure caused much of the damage from the hurricane, reinforcing a roof is also important to prevent hurricane damage. Building codes across Florida changed within years to require hurricane ties on new construction. Building codes outside of this region may also require you to add hurricane ties if you are replacing your roof on an existing home.
