CROFTON, Md., Aug. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With reports of high winds headed to the region as part of Hurricane Irene, many homeowners are wondering how safe they are in their homes and what they can do now to prepare. Is there a point when you should head to the basement or seek shelter elsewhere?
Jeff Caruso of Caruso Homes, Inc., a master builder with more than 30 years of experience building homes throughout the region, explains that the structure of recently built homes in the Baltimore-Washington, DC area are designed to withstand winds at "design loads" of 90 miles per hour; in other words, your roof and walls and windows should be intact up to a driving 90-mile-per-hour wind.
"This is the case if the builder used enough nails in the sheathing, used the hurricane clips to attach the roof trusses to the walls and installed the framing per industry standards. Homes using structural designs in excess of local building codes can withstand higher winds," he said.
What should you expect to fail in heavy winds? There are many different levels of materials with different weights and thicknesses; with that in mind, a single piece of loose siding roof shingles could start a chain reaction at winds as low as 30 to 40 knots, according to Caruso. Properly installed asphalt shingles will start to fail in winds between 80 and 100 miles per hour and vinyl siding manufacturers claim their siding will last in winds in excess of 100 mph.
To prepare for Hurricane Irene, Caruso offers the following tips:
- Secure any objects in the yard or patio that could fly through windows;
- See that areaway and window well drains are clear;
- Understand that driving rain over 60 mph can produce a situation where the water jumps the water dam built into your windows and doors, so use towels to keep wood floors dry;
- Windows and slider tracks and weep holes (small drains) should be cleaned to assure the performance of these built-in drain systems in windows and doors.
- Consider removing screens and store them in your home; they are not designed for heavy winds and could actually become a flying object that could damage your home. The screens could also cause water to dam up on the sill.
Major leaks due to roof, window or door failures may affect carpets, subfloor, and drywall ceilings. If that is the case, Caruso says to dry out the surfaces or risk having a swelling of the floor sheathing and possibly mold formation. Mold will destroy carpet and pad, so pull them back, get as much water as possible out of them and then dry them with fans. A professional carpet cleaner is strongly recommended. If your ceilings are wet, you may want to stick a screwdriver into the wall or ceiling to eliminate water build-up and provide an air passage to assist in drying out both sides of the drywall. This can easily be repaired and will decrease the chance of mold build-up.
Finally, if you don't have a generator or a battery backup system, now is a good time to get everything off your basement floor in case the power goes out and your sump pump doesn't work. If you have a finished basement or an areaway, make sure the drains are clean and that you have a battery backup to protect your investment.
About Caruso Homes
Founded in Maryland in 1985, Caruso Homes is an award-winning home builder based in Crofton, Md., offering properties in communities throughout Maryland, including Symphony Village, an active adult community in Centreville. For information, call 1-800-570-2289, visit www.carusohomes.com, "like" Caruso Homes on Facebook or follow Caruso Homes on Twitter, www.twitter.com/carusohomes.
SOURCE Caruso Homes
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