Spring Property Maintenance Tips

Spring thunderstorm season is already here, but it’s not too late to prepare.  Each year, properties are damaged by thousands of thunderstorms, with the most sever occurring storms during the spring and fall.  These storms can produce damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes. 

You may have noticed increases in insurance costs on your home coverage recently.  Over the past few years, increased storm activities have accounted for these increased costs.  Insurance carriers pay out millions in property losses every year resulting in higher costs for insureds.

Falling trees and limbs cause millions of dollars in damage alone each year by damaging homes and cars and downing power lines.  Windstorms are the leading cause of such damage and injury.

Homeowners represent the first line of defense but often times, neglect taking their surroundings into consideration when trying to protect or prepare their property from storms.  It is important to regularly examine trees and check for damage or other troubling signs.  Good pruning can prevent many problems, but over pruning can weaken a tree.

Some potential problems are easy to spot.  These include:

•                 Cracks in the trunk or major limbs
•                 Hollow and decayed trees
•                 Branches hanging over the house near the roof
•                 Trees that look one-sided or lean significantly
•                 Limbs in contact with power lines
•                 Mushrooms growing from the bark, indicating decayed or weakened stem
•                 V-shaped forks rather than U-shaped ones.  V-shaped are more likely to split
•                 Crossing branches that rub or interfere with one another

Good pruning can help to prevent many problems. Remove diseased, damaged or dead plant parts helps to limit the spread of harmful insects and disease as well as reduce the possibility of future storm damage.  Always check local tree regulations prior to pruning.

If it is time for a new roof, replace your old roof coverage with new asphalt shingles making sure they have a Class 4 rating under Underwriters Laboratories’ (UL) 2218 standard.  A class 4 rating tells you a sample of the product did not crack when hit twice in the same area by a two-inch steel ball. 

What does this mean?  This means added protection when Hailstorms hit.

When a hailstorm strikes, if you are indoors, stay there.  Because large pieces of hail can shatter windows, close your drapes, blinds or window shades to prevent the wind from blowing broken glass inside.  Stay away from skylights and doors.

If you are outside, move immediately to a place of shelter.

Be sure to check the exterior of your home for loose siding, gutters and roof shingles.  Be sure to repair to avoid additional damage in the future.  It is always recommended to have a contractor review and make the necessary repairs to be sure they are properly corrected.

For additional repair and safety information, review the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety at www.disastersafety.org.