Has a recent storm left your hurricane windows and doors damaged? This can feel overwhelming and even leave you worrying that your home’s safety is affected. To restore your home’s safety, it’s important to deal with the damaged hurricane windows and doors promptly. Let’s understand what you should do in such a situation.
1. Put Safety First
Before inspecting the windows and doors, it’s important to make sure your home is safe to enter. Hurricanes can weaken the structure of your home, leave behind sharp debris everywhere and even cause water to seep in from broken windows and doors. If you feel that any walls are unstable or there are shards of glass and exposed electrical wiring, it’s better to wait for the professionals to assess the situation.
2. Document Everything Properly
At times like this, your phone or camera is the right tool to capture all the visible damage. You can take photos of the cracks in glass, bent frames, water seepage, etc. By capturing photos of the interior and exterior from different angles, you can use them for documentation during insurance claims.
Plus, it can also help repair companies understand the damage that your windows and doors have sustained. If you have any photos of your home before the storm damage, then it can also be useful for comparing the amount of damage it has sustained.
3. Inspect with Care
Once it’s safe to inspect, wear gloves and protective footwear to look for shattered window panes, cracks, fogging between glass layers, and warped frames of doors. Check if the doors still close and lock properly. Don’t ignore gaps in seals, as they can lead to bigger problems in the future.
It’s best to contact a specialist to inspect the impact windows and doors so that they can properly identify the hidden damage. At times, frames look fine, but their structure has been damaged, so a professional can better inspect whether it is damaged or not.
4. Secure Your Home Temporarily
If a window or door is very damaged, you should cover it immediately with plywood or some heavy-duty plastic sheeting to protect your home from more water intrusion and keep pests out. If you are confused about what to use, you can contact a professional, as they can offer temporary solutions that can be used before a full repair is done.
5. Contact Your Insurance Company
Inform your insurer about the damage as soon as possible. Provide documentation and receipts of temporary fixes as well. Usually, homeowners’ insurance policies cover wind and storm damage, but the details can vary depending on the policy you choose. Keeping clear, detailed records can help speed up the insurance claim process.
6. Call a Trusted Impact Window and Door Specialist
Once major storms are over, repair companies are quite busy, so it’s best to reach out quickly. They can tell whether your windows and doors need repair or replacement. At times, upgrading your impact-rated products can offer not just better protection but also help lower insurance costs.
7. Plan for the Future
After the repairs and replacements are done, you can think of more ways to improve your home’s hurricane protection. Modern impact windows and doors are specially designed to resist hurricane-force winds and the flying projectiles brought on by hurricanes. They ensure your home stays safe all year round, irrespective of how bad the weather conditions turn.
Call Windpact Windows and Doors
Reach out to Windpact Windows and Doors today for installation of hurricane-resistant doors and impact windows in Wellington FL. Our team has years of experience in this and can help restore your home’s safety, so that you can be prepared for the next storm.