How To Get Your Garage Ready for Hurricane Season

Hurricanes are a natural part of living in Florida, so it is something to prepare for regularly. Since your garage door is often the largest opening in your home, taking a few steps to ensure it can withstand hurricane-force winds is vital. High winds can make garage doors buckle, dent, or become misaligned, which can cause significant damage and costly repairs and increase the chances of water or storm debris entering your home. Our garage door company, Jacksonville, FL, can help you prepare your garage door to weather any storm. Here are some ways you can prepare your garage door for hurricane season:

Is your garage door hurricane-ready?

Get Regular Maintenance

One of the best ways to prepare your garage door for a hurricane is to ensure it's in proper working order throughout the year. Check if your door needs any of the most common garage door repairs, like broken springs, damaged panels, or misalignment. During a regular maintenance appointment, our garage door technicians will look for common issues and other potential vulnerabilities that may fail during a storm. We recommend scheduling maintenance appointments every six months to keep your door in tip-top shape.

Invest in a Hurricane-Rated Garage Door

If you own a home in Florida, your garage door is likely rated to withstand hurricane-force winds. The Florida Building Code requires most garage doors in Florida to withstand the equivalent of Category 4 hurricane-force winds (130 mph).  These codes were put into effect after Hurricane Andrew in 1992. If your home was built before this time, you’ll want a garage door company in Jacksonville, FL, to come assess your door to see if it’s up to current hurricane standards. If your door isn't rated for these speeds, you risk losing your homeowner’s insurance or only qualifying for a high-deductible plan. Garage doors are often the first point of failure during a storm, which allows rain, wind, and storm debris to enter the home and compromise the entire structure’s integrity. When you get your garage door installed by a licensed and insured garage door installer like our team at Coastal Door & Gate, we’ll ensure your door meets all relevant building codes and your community’s HOA guidelines.

Weatherproof Your Door

Weatherproofing is another way to ensure your door is ready for hurricane season. Most garage doors have weatherstripping seals along the three edges that meet the walls of your home. This weather stripping can erode, crack, or break over time, so it needs to be replaced every few years. Close the garage door and stand on the inside, looking for any holes or gaps between the garage door and the wall. Replace any worn weather stripping and caulk holes to prevent water from seeping through your garage door. We include inspecting your weatherproofing in our regular monthly maintenance appointments. 

Install Hurricane Braces

Hurricane braces help distribute pressure, add strength, and make the door more rigid and withstand strong winds, preventing the door from collapsing. These bars may be temporary or installed as permanent fixtures inside your garage door. Proper placement is key to maintaining the door's integrity, so it's vital to have a professional garage door company in Jacksonville, FL, install these braces for you.

  

Pre-Storm Prep

With the above steps, your garage door is in good shape to withstand any storm. However, there are a few steps you should take in the days leading up to a storm. First, check your door’s manual release to ensure it works. This allows you to open the garage door manually if the power goes out. Ensure the belongings in your garage are secured, and remove any belongings you don't want to get wet. Cover any windows on the garage door to prevent water from entering if the glass breaks. If your garage is in a low-lying area, place sandbags around the door to deflect water from getting inside the garage. Also, lock the door before the hurricane to prevent storm debris and unwanted guests from being able to lift the door open to access your home if the power goes out. Lastly, you can also park your car horizontally in front of the garage for added protection.

Once the storm has passed, have an experienced garage door company in Jacksonville, FL, like us, examine it to assess any damage. Don’t attempt to open or adjust the door alone, as this could cause more damage or serious injuries. We'll inspect any damage and provide you with documentation to file a homeowner’s insurance claim for repairs.

Coastal Door & Gate: Florida Weather Approved Garage Door Company in Jacksonville, FL

We work with top-tier garage door manufacturers that are made to withstand Florida’s heat, humidity, and storms. We have 20+ years of experience installing and repairing garages in Florida. We know what it takes to repair and maintain your garage door to take on any storm! Call us today at 904-300-7799 to book your storm-prep maintenance check or new garage door installation.