Community Corner

'Hurriquake' Week Continues—Is Your House Ready?

Tips for preparing your home for harsh weather.

You've made it through the , the ,  (and a few more huge snowfalls since), the  and New Jersey's most in decades.

But Mother Nature clearly has more in store for Bloomfield and the environs with the approach of the .

There may not be much time now to  before Irene hits, but here's a list of some quick and easy fixes that can be done to give your house a better chance at standing up against the harsh weather. John Driesse, owner of House Doctors, a professional handyman service based in Caldwell, has the following tips for homeowners to ensure they’re ready for this year’s summer storms:

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  • Inspect your roof: Make sure there are no loose or missing shingles. For normal rain that goes straight down, this usually won’t make a difference, but summer storms have such harsh winds that things can easily get blown around. A roof inspection can also check your flashings, or the places where a horizontal and vertical plane meet (such as a chimney), which are vulnerable to water damage.
  • Check your home’s siding: Just as with shingles, you want to make sure the siding of your home is secure and that there are no loose pieces. If there are any loose spots, make sure they’re nailed tight before a storm hits.
  • Clean your gutters: This is something that should be done year-round, but especially before a storm you want to make sure your gutters and down spouts are clean. You want the water to move away from the foundation of your home—especially if you have a basement, as it can soak through the basement walls.
  • Prepare your basement: If your home has a basement, you might want to look into a sump pump, even if you typically don’t get water build up in your basement. You can also get a water alarm that can sound an alarm when it senses water.
  • Clear out your yard: Because of heavy winds, trees with dead limbs or with many branches can sometimes be dangerous in a summertime storm. You might want to have a professional tree trimmer come to examine the condition of trees that are close to your home or are old. Also try to clear any lawn ornaments or furniture from your landscape if a storm is headed your way.
  • Protect your electrical devices: Invest in surge protectors for your computers and other electronics. This will ensure your devices do not receive an electrical surge, which could destroy the device.


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