Are you looking to start a custom home remodeling project in Florida? Whether it’s your year-round residence or vacation property, there are some important considerations to keep in mind.
Compared to the other 49 states, Florida experiences a unique frequency and severity of hurricane activity found almost nowhere else in the United States. While most days in the Sunshine State are beautiful, it is important to ensure that your home is protected when intense storm activity occurs in your neighborhood.
If you’re renovating or upgrading a home in Florida, keep these tips in mind so that you can enjoy your new living space with peace of mind that it is protected against weather-related risks.
1: Choose Sturdy Building Materials that Can Withstand Hurricane Activity
When preparing for a construction project in Florida, it is important to prioritize high-quality building materials that can withstand hurricane-force winds. Some of the best materials to use include concrete, brick and laminated glass.
2: Check your Contractor’s Reviews, Licensing & Insurance
Before undertaking a home improvement project it is wise to take a moment to check your contractor’s reviews. The most trusted review sites for home improvement include: Angi (formerly Angie’s List), Google, Facebook, Houzz and Home Advisor.
Equally important is to make sure your contractor has the proper licensing and adequate insurance. Otherwise, if things go wrong, you could end up in a nightmare situation with unexpected costs. Homeowner’s insurance policies usually exclude damages from unlicensed contractors, so they may not reimburse you. You can also be sued by injured workers if they are not properly covered by Workers’ Compensation.
Paradise Exteriors is one of the largest home improvement contractors in America. We carry ten-times the required Workers’ Compensation insurance and twenty-times more than the minimum required Liability Insurance.
In addition, Paradise Exteriors is top rated. Only 5% of contractors qualify for the Angi Super Service Award. Paradise Exteriors has been awarded the Angi Super Service Award 11-Years in a row! We have over 1,000 reviews on Google and have been earned Home Advisor’s most prestigious award “Best of Home Advisor”. We are also highly rated on Facebook and have won Best of Houzz every year since 2018.
3: Park Your Vehicle in a Garage During Hurricanes
If you have a garage or are planning to add one, make sure to allocate enough space to store your vehicles during a hurricane. You will want to have enough space to park your car inside, so that it is not damaged by high winds or flying debris.
If possible you may also want to have space in your garage to store any patio furniture, grills, or other outdoor items that need to be brought inside during a storm. If you do not have enough room in your garage, you may want to temporarily bring some items inside your house, to be able to park your vehicle.
An alternative option is to park your car at a commercial parking garage before the storm approaches. Paying to keep your car at a parking garage, such as those in downtown areas, train stations or the airport, may be a better option than leaving your car outside exposed to the elements or at risk of flooding.
4: Install a Hurricane-Rated Roofing System
Installing a roofing system rated for hurricane-force winds can help your home both withstand common hurricane threats and remain attached to the rest of the structure in the face of high winds. These systems also typically offer greater leak resistance than other market-variety solutions.
Paradise Exteriors offers the only roofing system rated for unlimited wind speeds.
5: Install Impact Doors to Protect Your Entryways
Installing impact doors can prevent hurricane winds, water, and debris from breaching your home’s largest point of entry. There are many varieties and styles to choose from that can span from glass storm doors to elegant wood finishes.
6: Protect Your Windows with Hurricane Impact Windows
Similar to impact doors, hurricane windows are designed to resist penetration from high winds and flying debris. With aluminum or vinyl frames, these windows are able to withstand common storm forces along with advanced pane construction that prevents shattering.
To ensure complete protection for your new home, you should plan to install impact windows throughout the property. A home is only as strong against hurricanes as its weakest window or door.
Hurricane impact windows also provide additional benefits such as:
- Greater energy efficiency and thermal control
- Reduced outdoor noise
- Greater home security
- No setup or teardown during hurricane activity
- No maintenance required
- UV light filtering
Protect Your Remodeled Home in Florida Today
Paradise Exteriors is the proud exclusive distributor of Paradise Platinum hurricane impact windows as well as a GAF Roofing Systems Master Elite Contractor – a distinction held by just 2% of roofing companies nationwide.
Paradise Platinum windows are the only windows that hold both multiple Energy Star Awards and an endorsement from the National Crime Prevention Council.
Call to learn more about how we can protect your home by outfitting it with hurricane-rated impact windows, doors, and roofing systems. Also, to help remove financial barriers during your new home construction, we offer plenty of generous financing and warranty options. Contact us today or request a free estimate (844) 749-2121.
