Though the end of hurricane season is in November, there is still plenty of time for severe storms to rear their ugly heads. And, as any Lowcountry local knows, floods and damaging winds can happen year-round in the coastal south. 

Luckily, there are steps you can take to ready your home for storm season and maintain it no matter the weather. We’ve gathered our expertise from over three decades of building and renovating homes in Charleston to share with you so you’re equipped to be a savvy homeowner and keep your abode safe, rain or shine. 

Common Weather Problems

Wind and rain are the most common problems in Charleston, and when combined, they can be particularly dangerous, often leading to flooding and other damage. Strong winds can often blow heavy rain into roof vents or ridge caps, causing leaks. Wind and flooding can also cause water to get behind walls or flooring and cause mold or mildew. 

Standing water from flooding or other leaks in your home can also damage floors and furniture, short-circuit power outlets, and damage electronics. Before severe weather with a potential flood, unplug electronics, including surge protectors and power strips, and move them to higher locations where they won’t be damaged by water. If you are evacuating from severe weather, turning off your power can help reduce damage to your electrical system. 

Should water enter your home, dehumidify and dry out the affected areas as soon as possible to prevent further water damage and dangerous mold. 

Maintenance and Inspections

Maintaining your home all year is the best way to ensure it doesn’t suffer catastrophic damage during severe weather. Regular maintenance and home inspections are the easiest way to avoid spending money on costly repairs down the road. 

Before any significant storm season, it’s a good idea to go through the following checklist to ensure your home is in tip-top shape. 

• Keep your gutters clean and in good condition to improve water mitigation. 
• Trim back bushes and trees that are close enough to your house to cause damage in a windstorm. 
• Make sure to bring in any exterior furniture that’s not secured during severe weather. 
• If you don’t have impact-rated glass, cover glass doors and windows with a system of screws, clips, and plywood protection known as PLYFASTNER during severe weather to protect them. 
• While not an end-all solution, sandbags can help direct and mitigate water flow from areas where it is most likely to enter your home, like around doors and crawl spaces. 
• Have your roof inspected regularly, especially after a windstorm, to ensure everything is secured and there is no damage. 

While there is no right answer for how often you should have your home inspected, you should have it checked before hurricane season every year and as soon as you notice a problem. It’s better to call experts who can diagnose and remedy the problem before it evolves into a major issue that could cause serious damage to your home. 

Weather-Proof Your Home

In addition to regular home inspections, you can add some preventative features to your home to help weather-proof it. Drip edges and larger overhangs will help protect your roof and prevent water from blowing in, while weather-resistant barriers, weep holes in masonry walls, French drains, and proper grading will ensure your home and property are safe during flooding. 

Weather-Rated Materials

If you’re planning a renovation or home maintenance, consider weather-rated materials and products to lessen potential damage to your home. Depending on where you live, you may be required by law to have these materials installed. 

Impact windows and doors are highly recommended for this part of South Carolina, but if you don’t have them, you are required to have other means of windborne debris protection, such as PLYFASTNER. They can withstand strong winds and are less likely to shatter should objects be thrown against them. If you live in an older home that hasn’t been recently updated, you may need to check to see if you have installed impact windows and doors. 

You should also use treated lumber for any part of your home that could come into contact with weather elements or the ground, as it is less susceptible to water damage. 

Other weather-durable materials to consider when in the planning phase of your renovation include:

• Concrete
• DensGlass
• Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)
• Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)
• Impact-resistant shingles 
• Moisture-resistant insulation
• Fiber cement siding

Other ways to stay safe

After your home’s been weather-proofed and prepared, it’s time to batten the hatches! 

Make sure you have potable water, an alternative way to cook food in case the power goes out, and extra water for dishes, toilets, and bathing. Be sure to stock up on shelf-stable foods and food for your pet if you have one. Charge backup batteries and vital electronics prior to severe weather, and if you’re in an area prone to power outages, consider investing in a gas generator. 

These precautions and regular home maintenance can ensure you’re prepared when Mother Nature strikes. 

Ready to make your home inspiration a reality with our 30 years of superior performance, craftsmanship, and service? Contact us today!

Classic Remodeling & Construction was awarded a “Best of Houzz” award for Design,  on Houzz®, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The annual people’s choice award recognizes professionals among the Houzz community who stand out in both talent and customer service. Classic was chosen by the millions of homeowners that comprise the Houzz community from among more than 3 million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.

Best of Houzz awards are given annually, in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design awards honor professionals whose work was the most popular among the Houzz community. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including a pro’s overall rating on Houzz and client reviews submitted in 2022. Architecture and interior design photographers whose images were most popular are recognized with the Photography award.

“Best of Houzz 2023” badges appear on winners’ profiles as a sign of their commitment to excellence. These badges help the more than 65 million homeowners and home design enthusiasts on Houzz to identify popular and top-rated home professionals for their projects.

We’re excited to receive this recognition again this year. This is our 8th Best of Design award and our 15th total Best of Houzz win, across both the design and customer service categories. This award is a symbol of the work that our entire team puts in each day, in an effort to produce the best designs and remodeling experience for our clients.

 “We are thrilled to highlight incredibly talented and customer-driven pros from the Houzz community through the Best of Houzz awards,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “At Houzz, we strive to support professionals from building their brands and attracting clients, to managing their business efficiently and profitably, and collaborating with clients. The Best of Houzz awards provide a distinctive mark of credibility for homeowners looking for pros on Houzz. We congratulate all the winners for everything they’ve accomplished in 2022 and look forward to seeing their work and positive reviews in the year ahead.”

 

You can see our work as well as client reviews by visiting our Houzz Profile.

 What is  Houzz

Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing an all-in-one software solution for industry professionals and tools for homeowners to update their homes from start to finish. Using Houzz, people can find ideas and inspiration, hire professionals, and shop for products. Houzz Pro (houzz.com/pro) provides home industry professionals with a business management and marketing SaaS solution that helps them to win projects, collaborate with clients and teams, and run their business efficiently and profitably. The Houzz community is made up of millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals around the world. Houzz is available on the web and as a top-rated mobile app. For more information, visit houzz.com. Houzz is a registered trademark of Houzz Inc. worldwide.

 

 

Before your renovation can begin, the space has to be cleared. Starting with a blank slate allows your contractor to get into your home and immediately start on the demolition phase of the project without delay. It’s certainly not the most exciting phase of a project, but it’s definitely an important one. And when done well, it can make your renovation less stressful and your move-in at the project’s end much easier. Here are few tips for decluttering and cleaning out your space before a renovation:

Plan. Just like any project, make sure you begin your “move out” process by having the right tools to do the job.

• Keep a supply of trash bags on hand for trash (obviously). You can also use bags or cardboard boxes for anything you want to donate.
• Clear plastic bins are a great tool to have, especially for everyday items you’ll need to keep on hand.
• Cardboard boxes are ideal for items going into storage during the renovation. Large boxes are great for small appliances and light weight items like linens. Dish packs are ideal for fragile pieces.
• If you are tackling a bathroom or bedroom remodel, you may want to have a rolling garment rack and a tower with clear plastic drawers for clothing and toiletries.
• Also for everyday items, consider bins on wheels. That will make them easy to move around if you need to.
• Don’t forget to label your boxes!

Identify your everyday items. Identify the items you’ll need to use on a daily basis. Store them in an easily accessible area. For a kitchen renovation think about utensils, plates, cups and small appliances (like the coffeemaker!). In bedrooms and bathrooms, think about the clothes and toiletry items you will need.

Declutter. This is a perfect time to get rid of anything that won’t fit in your new space. Consider selling or donating any furniture that you won’t be reusing. Sort through paperwork. Throw away what you don’t need.

Pack up the items you want to keep. Remembering to keep your everyday use items aside, pack up everything else that will be going back into the room at the end of the renovation. Be sure to label your boxes so you know what’s in them (that will make unpacking much easier).

Figure out where you’ll be storing your items. Do you have another room in the house where you can keep your things? Will you be storing them in the garage? Do you need to rent a storage unit?

Protect Your Valuables. Find a safe place to store your valuables. Your contractor should be trustworthy, but during the renovation there can be any number of workers come in and out of the house. Don’t take a chance with your valuables. Lock them up in a safe or safe deposit box.

Taking the time to get organized and declutter before your renovation project begins will ensure you have easy access to the things you need during the renovation, and will make moving back into your new space easier and quicker!