![]() ![]() These covers can be made with solid plates or breathable mesh that doesn’t interfere with functioning. If you live in a hail-prone area, use covers to shield essential gear, such as your air conditioner, pool mechanicals, and grill. They can harm outdoor equipment and lead to water damage. In 2018 there were 4,611 hailstorms across the country. ![]() ![]() “You don’t want to interfere with that.” But Clason does recommend using a bead of caulk to seal thresholds of exterior doors. “Except for homes with wood windows, you probably have composite window frames, which need to move and contract as the temperature changes,” he says. While you may be tempted to caulk your windows, proceed with caution, says Kurt Clason, remodelers chair of the National Association of Home Builders and owner of Clason Remodeling in Ossipee, N.H. In addition to keeping your roof in good shape, consider having a qualified contractor caulk and brace roof soffit vents to reduce the amount of water blown into your attic during hurricane-force winds and rain. This offers fire-prevention benefits as well. Or you can install a gutter-guard system (between $100 and $2,000 for 200 feet installed, depending on the material you choose steel mesh is considered top-notch). Flushing out the downspouts could add $50 to $100. Getting your gutters thoroughly cleared once or twice a year costs about $160 per cleaning (this is the national average actual costs can vary depending on your location and the size of your house). If the wet mess in your gutters freezes during bitterly cold days, ice dams can damage the gutters and prevent them from routing melting ice and snow. If your gutters are packed with fallen leaves, pine needles, and other debris, water can cascade over the edges and seep inside your home, causing damage. While this won’t cover damage from hurricanes and other acts of God, if your roof leaks for other reasons, the repair will be free. For a 2,500-square-foot house, this is likely to take about an hour and cost around $400 if the roof is in good shape, you can add a roof certification for two years at about $350. “Know what you are getting into and check the company’s references.” An alternate route: Pay an NRCIA-licensed professional ( search by ZIP code) to perform an annual inspection. “They’re doing free work as a potential first step to paid work,” he says. Though you may see contractors offering free inspections, Watrous cautions that these can come with a hidden price. This process identifies where moisture might be seeping in any cracked, curled, or missing shingles and issues with flashing around skylights, chimneys, and vents. “A proper roof inspection involves checking five zones: the home’s interior, attic, perimeter, exterior, and the rooftop itself to look for existing and emerging issues,” says Paul Watrous, president of the National Roof Certification and Inspection Association (NRCIA). You could try to spot potential problems with binoculars, but that probably won’t tell you the full story (and please, no climbing on the roof yourself). Leaks tend to be a major issue-and fixing damage to the surface of the roof or the rafters can cost a bundle: A new roof costs, on average, $8,994 (more if the roof framing needs replacing). With a bit of planning and some smart prep work, you can keep your property in prime condition. ![]() Fear not: It doesn’t take a massive amount of effort or a huge investment to protect your place. And sometimes, a critter or even a burglar may attempt a perimeter breach. Rain, snow, sleet, hail, and heat waves can all take their toll on your home. “There is an array of ways to take control.” Here, we share the latest thinking on how to do just that. “Consumers can be more prepared and resilient, whether by installing a home security system, understanding their area’s environmental risks, or updating their insurance policies,” says III spokesperson Janet Ruiz. Inside your house and out, using both the latest tech tools and time-honored techniques, you can protect your home and enhance your peace of mind. The average claim rang in at over $13,000, reflecting the severity of most of these incidents.įortunately, there are many ways you can reduce the odds of enduring a loss and having to file a claim. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), 6 percent of insured households submitted a claim in 2020, the most recent year studied property damage, including theft, accounted for 97.7 percent of homeowners insurance claims. Security, however, may mean managing a number of complex variables these days, from flash floods to wildfires, from break-ins to porch piracy. So of course you want to keep it structurally safe and its contents well-protected. It’s your sanctuary, it’s an expression of your personal style, and, financially speaking, it’s likely your biggest investment and asset. ![]()
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