Check that windows and doors close securely

 

Check that all windows and external doors close securely.

Every home has either double or single entry doors made of either solid wood or hollow metal, with or without glass panels. Doors without glass panels can better resist wind pressures and cyclone debris. If you are unsure about whether the entry doors of your home are strong enough here are some simple precautions. If you have double entry doors, install head and foot bolts on the inactive door of double entry doors, to act as a brace.

Make sure your doors have at least three hinges and a dead bolt security lock, which has a minimum one-inch bolt throw length. Since double entry doors fail when their surface bolts break at the top or bottom where they enter the door header or threshold (floor), check the connections at both places. Be sure the surface bolt extends well into the door header and through the threshold into the subfloor, as this adds strength.

 If you're exposed to intense winds often, consider the advantages of impact-resistant glass for external glass doors and windows. Glass breakage is particularly dangerous and most windows and doors are not tempered safety glass, particularly in older homes.

Garage doors that lead directly into the house are, in fact, entry doors, in the same way that your front door is. However, they represent a more serious threat to your security, because they are usually made of a lightweight metal, to allow easy manual opening and closing. 

When installing garage doors, ensure that you choose ones that are adequately wind and debris rated. Double-width garage doors are more susceptible to wind damage than single doors, because of the large surface area. Unless you have a cyclone resistant door, the wind may force it out of the roller track, especially if the track is lightweight or some of the anchor bolts are not in place. This occurs because excessive wind pressure pushes the door out of the tracks, enabling strong winds to damage items store in the garage, and if the garage is under the same roof as the house, the rooms adjacent to the garage.

To secure your garage door:

  • Check with your local code requirements for garage doors
  • Ask the garage door retailer to retrofit a kit to strengthen your garage door
  • Install temporary horizontal and vertical bracing onto each panel, prior to a cyclone striking your area
  • Consider installing permanent heavier hinges and stronger end and vertical center supports for your door

 

If you decide to retrofit your garage door with a kit that allows you to operate the door after it is installed, make sure the door is balanced by lowering it about halfway and letting go. If the door goes up or down, the springs will need adjusting by a professional, because these springs are dangerous.