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.
Check the garage door strength
and that it closes securely.
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.