With years of experience in natural disaster recovery and mitigation, BMS CAT has helped thousands of homeowners recover from the devastation hurricanes bring. Our experience has shown that homes built with hurricane-proof construction sustained significantly less damage than traditional construction.
So, how can you hurricane-proof your home? While completely hurricane-proofing a home is not possible, you can significantly increase its hurricane resistance. Continue reading to discover the key aspects of designing a hurricane-resistant house, along with other helpful tips to keep you and your property safe during extreme weather.
Key Aspects of Hurricane-Resistant Home Design
When it comes to creating a hurricane-resistant design, architects and builders must take into account several factors. These include an understanding of the destructive potential of hurricanes, the integration of hurricane-resistant designs, and the selection of the right hurricane-proof construction materials and techniques.
Hurricanes can inflict significant damage on homes and infrastructure. Architects must factor in elements such as wind speeds, storm surges, and flying debris to prevent damage to homes in areas where hurricanes are prevalent. Utilizing historical hurricane data and advanced modeling techniques, architects and builders are better equipped to design hurricane-safe buildings.
Design solutions for improved structural integrity of hurricane-resistant homes include reinforced concrete foundations, impact-resistant windows and doors as well as fortified roofing systems.
Prioritizing hurricane-resistant construction and resilient materials that are designed to withstand hurricane force wind pressure and water damage can greatly improve a home’s resistance to hurricanes.
Wind Resistant Design
In hurricane-prone areas, it’s crucial to maximize a home’s resistance to high winds. According to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, sustained wind speeds during a hurricane range from 74 mph to 157 mph or higher. To maximize a home’s resistance to hurricane wind speeds builders and architects must understand wind load calculations, implement structural design strategies, and incorporate aerodynamic features into a hurricane-proof house design.
Wind load calculations help builders and architects determine the pressure exerted by wind on a structure. This information helps them choose the necessary reinforcements and materials needed for homes in hurricane-prone areas for hurricane-proof construction.
These features often include storm-rated garage doors and impact-resistant windows.
Other design considerations to reduce wind impact include aerodynamic shapes, sloping metal roofs and strategically positioned wind deflectors.
Flood and Water Damage Prevention
Protecting against flood and water damage is crucial when designing hurricane-resistant buildings. Just one inch of floodwater can cause up to $25,000 in damages. Effective strategies to protect against flood and water damage include:
- Home Elevation: Elevating homes above flood levels can reduce the risk of water damage.
- Resilient Materials: Using water-resistant materials and finishes can improve a home’s resistance to water damage.
- Proper Drainage and Landscaping: Proper drainage systems and landscaping can mitigate water-related damage.
Expert Tip: Home elevation is a technique used to protect homes from water damage where new or existing homes are raised above flood levels to reduce the risk of water damage during a hurricane.
Hurricane-Rated Windows and Doors
Hurricane-rated doors and windows are essential for protecting homes from severe hurricane conditions. According to ASTM, hurricane-rated doors can withstand winds up to 150 mph. Similarly, the ICC states that hurricane-resistant windows can withstand debris impact speeds up to 50 mph. Using these resilient materials can significantly reduce the risk of structural damage during a hurricane.
Safety Beyond Construction
Other measures beyond construction are important for ensuring safety during a hurricane. Consider the following tips to keep you and your family safe during a hurricane.
- Storm Shelters: If you do not have a hurricane-resistant home yet, ensure you know the location of the nearest storm shelter.
- Evacuation plans: While hurricane-resistant homes offer protection against most impacts of hurricanes, at times, evacuations are necessary. It’s important to have a clear evacuation plan in place for situations where hurricane-resistant homes are not enough.
- Communication Plans: Establishing clear communication plans such as reliable emergency alert sources, designated meeting points and consolidated contact lists are vital to safety during dangerous weather conditions.
Benefits Of Investing In Hurricane Resistant Construction
Designing a hurricane-resistant home can minimize damage and reduce remediation costs after a storm. By investing in these features during the initial home design, homeowners can improve safety, reduce remediation costs and achieve peace of mind during hurricane season.
In Conclusion
Designing a hurricane-resistant home requires the use of non-traditional construction methods as well as resilient materials. Prioritizing these elements can improve safety, reduce the need for remediation and provide peace of mind before, during, and after a hurricane.
BMS CAT is here to assist you every step of the way, providing expert guidance to ensure your home remains protected.