A summer storm is a break from the heat until you hear the patio furniture go over. Ten minutes of preparation before the weather turns keeps chairs, plants, grills and lights where you left them. Here is the ten minutes. Is anything on your patio going to move when the wind gets up?
Secure everything that can become a projectile
Stack chairs and tables together and strap them with bungee cords or heavy-duty straps, anchored to something solid if you can. Bring lanterns, plant pots, garden statues and anything else light indoors, or into a shed. Cover the grill and move it to a sheltered spot if you are able to.
Look after the plants
Potted plants go indoors or under cover. In the garden beds, stake anything tall and fasten trellises so they do not go over in the wind.
Cover what stays out
If the furniture is not coming inside, fit waterproof covers and fasten them properly. A cover that is not secured is one more thing the wind takes.
Check the drainage
Water pooling on the patio damages the surface and works against your foundation. Clear the gutters and downspouts, make sure the downspouts point water away from the patio and the house, and check that any patio drains are actually flowing.
Deal with anything electrical
Unplug and store outdoor electrical items. Turn off and cover outdoor lighting fixtures. Coil extension cords and bring them inside.
Tighten the structures
If you have a pergola or canopy, inspect it for movement and reinforce weak points: anchor it properly and tighten loose bolts and screws. Close patio umbrellas and store them. If your area sees serious weather, storm shutters or covers for patio doors and windows protect the glass from flying debris.
If the storm does damage something
Safety first: watch for downed power lines and sharp debris, and do not touch either. Then photograph and video everything for the insurance claim. After that, get a professional assessment rather than guessing what it will take to put it right.
JP Maguire handles storm damage restoration across Connecticut, from the first assessment to the finished repair. If something came through the patio, call 877-576-2484.
Where to go from here
If this is happening in your house right now, these are the pages Connecticut homeowners reach for, each one saying what the work involves and how to get a crew rolling: water damage restoration. Water extraction, drying, then the rebuild. fire damage restoration. Soot, smoke odour, and putting the rooms back. mold remediation. Finding it, containing it, and removing it properly. storm damage restoration. Wind damage, fallen trees, emergency tarping. burst pipe repair. Stopping the leak, then repairing what it reached. 24/7 emergency restoration. A person on the phone, any hour of the night.
Also from the blog: Prepare for a Connecticut Storm, Ride It Out, Then Assess, What to Check Before the Next Fall Storm Hits and More on storm preparation.