Home improvements to prepare for storm season
Storm season is officially upon us and that means our homes are more prone to storm damage. To make sure your home is ready for storm season, consider making these home improvements.
Upgrade your roof
Most people don’t give much thought to their roof day to day, but in a storm, they’re usually one of the first parts of your house to cop some major damage.
If it’s been a while since you took a look at your roof, get up there and check for these signs of storm damage. If your roof is showing any of these signs, it means you could be at more severe risk of getting a leaky roof - which is something you definitely don’t want in a storm.'
Depending on the severity of the damage, you may not necessarily need to replace the entire roof - a quick repair could be all it takes to do the job.
Get gutter guards
If your guttering is clogged up with debris, it can make it easier for water to get backed up and enter the roof. At least twice a year, you should clean out your gutters or get an expert to come over and do it for you if you don’t feel confident doing it yourself or if your house is more than one storey high - safety first.
You may want to consider buying gutter guards that will keep debris out of your gutters. Gutter guards have a mesh surface that keeps debris like leaves and twigs out of your gutters and down pipes.
Install cyclone shutters
If you live in North Queensland or in any other cyclone-prone part of Australia, it may be worth investing in cyclone shutters if you haven’t already.
The most common type of cyclone shutters are aluminium roller shutters which look pretty similar to the roller doors that shops use. Make sure you get cyclone shutters that have been tested to withstand Category 3 and 4 cyclones, especially if you live in North Queensland.
Get cyclone straps for your roof
Another useful thing to install if you live in a cyclone-prone part of the country are cyclone straps. Cyclone straps are primarily used in cyclonic areas to tie the roof of your house down. Bunnings sell cyclone straps made of galvanised steel that can be “doubled up” for twice tie down capacity requirements.
Use your home equity to pay for upgrades
If you have equity in your home, you can use this to pay for these home improvements. The equity in your home is the difference between its market value and the remaining balance on your home loan. So it’s basically the value of what you currently own in your home.
To find out how much equity you have in your home, calculate your usable equity and use it to fund your home improvements.
Find out if you qualify for a home loan with us by contacting one of our friendly lending specialists today.
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