Every year there seems to be more violent and vicious storms that hit different areas of the country. Even some areas that generally do not see hurricane force winds have had to deal with the aftermath of what Mother Nature can do. When it comes to wind force, not all garage doors are made the same. Having a garage door that can stand up to the next big storm can help protect your family and property.
The first step in storm proofing your garage door is to find out what the wind load requirements are for where you live. Your local building authority or even a garage door company can let you know what the minimum requirements are. You can then check your model or have a professional technician do a safety inspection on your current door.
If your door is not up to the wind load that is required or may be needed, there are two options. In some cases, you can buy “add-ons” to reinforce your existing door before a storm. This involves installing poles inside the door before the storm and then removing them after.
The second option is to replace your existing door with a storm ready reinforced garage door. The reinforcement for storms is part of the door and all that is usually needed is to lock the door before a storm hits. This can add piece of mind for those who need to evacuate or have vacation homes in areas with frequent storms.
Just like all storm preparedness, garage doors need to be ready before a storm hits. Once the storm is on its way it may be too late to get your door up to standard. Take the time now to find out what your door can handle and make the appropriate upgrades.
