When it comes to building your dream home, you want to be sure that it can withstand any weather and serve you for the longest period. Whether you live in a hurricane zone or an area prone to wildfires, you need to take precautions to ensure that your home is safe. From building a strong foundation to adding outdoor support, here are the six main tips for building a home that can resist the weather:
Start With a Strong Foundation
Your home’s foundation is undoubtedly the most crucial factor in weather resistance. If you live in an area that experiences high winds or hurricanes, you need to make sure that your foundation can withstand the force. One way to do this is by using concrete pilings instead of wooden ones. Concrete pilings are driven deep into the ground and are more resistant to high winds.
Alternatively, you can use hurricane straps to strengthen your foundation instead of concrete or wooden pilings. Hurricane straps are metal straps that help secure your home’s framing to the foundation. This will help keep your home from bowing to the pressure of high winds.
Add Outdoor Support
In addition to a strong foundation, you also need to ensure that your home has enough support from the outside. This means adding additional supports to your roof and walls. For your roof, you can add hurricane clips or hurricane ties. These help secure your roof sheathing to the rafters so that it doesn’t blow away in high winds. For both your wall and roof, you can add a covered patio or porch to your home.
What is a covered patio, and how does it help? A covered patio is a roofed structure that is attached to your home. It can be either open or enclosed. Apart from its shade, its other essential purpose is to provide an extra layer of protection from the elements. When it comes to hurricanes, a covered patio can help to prevent wind and water damage to your home.
Use Impact-Resistant Doors and Windows
Impact-resistant doors and windows are ideal for protecting your home from hurricane damage. These are made of either impact-resistant glass or Lexan, a type of clear plastic. Impact-resistant doors and windows can help prevent water and wind damage and fly debris from causing damage to your home.
On top of using impact-resistant glasses on your windows, you could also add some hurricane-resistant shutters to seal the deal. These are typically made of metal or plywood and can be closed over your windows during a storm.
Build With Strong Materials
When building your home, you should ensure that every material you use is strong enough to resist high winds and water damage, especially if you live in an area prone to hurricanes or severe storms.
Concrete, brick, and stone are all excellent choices for exterior walls. Metal roofs are also a good option for added protection against severe weather conditions. You can also use corrugated metal inside your home to reinforce walls and ceilings.
Consider a Dome-Shaped House
If you come from an area where strong winds wreak havoc on normal-shaped houses, you might want to emphasize the shape of the house itself. A dome-shaped home is much more resistant to high winds than a rectangular or square one. The fact that domes are built from one solid piece of concrete means they lack the point of weakness that traditional four-walled houses have. You also won’t have to worry about a roof flying off your home during a big storm.
Domes are also great at resisting earthquakes and other seismic activity. If you live in an area prone to these natural disasters, this could be the way to go.
Build Your House on Stilts
Stilts have proven to be a reliable solution when it comes to keeping your home safe from floodwater. The fact that the house is raised above the ground, even if it’s a few inches high, means that floodwater will have a more challenging time reaching and damaging your home.
Building a house on stilts does come with its challenges. For one, you’ll have to consider the height of your front door and make sure it’s high enough so that water doesn’t easily flow into your home. You’ll also have to ensure the supports are strong enough to withstand high winds and other severe weather conditions.
However, if you’re willing to take on these challenges, building a house on stilts could be the best way to protect your home from floods.
These are just a few of the many ways you can build a home that can resist any weather. By following these tips, you can rest assured that your home is built to withstand whatever Mother Nature throws its way.
Dale Ottager
Dale Ottager is a contractor with over 10 years of industry experience. When he’s not busy providing excellent service to all clients, Nick shares building and renovation tips through guest blog posts. He’s also a fitness enthusiast who spends his free time running or hiking with his wife and 2 dogs.
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