The whole idea of making it through a hurricane without major losses and property damage is to keep the winds outside. And that’s where preparing the garage doors for the hurricane season makes sense. In spite of their great strength, garage doors become the weak point of your home when the windstorm hits. Due to their size, they may fly off leaving the rest of the home at the mercy of the winds. Soon the walls, the roof and the entire structure may blow off making the cost of the home reconstruction unbearable and the possibility of tragedies high. Getting the overhead garage door ready to withstand the high velocity of the winds and the force of hurricanes is a must in locations rated as hurricane-prone regions. And here we’ll give you a few ideas on how to do that.
Reinforcing the garage door
Reinforcing the garage door simply means making it strong enough to take the impact of the wind without repercussions. Today, there are hurricane-resistant retrofit kits that include the hardware required to reinforce garage doors. Perhaps the most important element is the braces. The bracing system anchors the garage door to the floor and walls and act as the backbone that resists the wind force. But that’s not all.
Garage door tracks, hinges, brackets, springs, and other parts also play a role in keeping the winds outside. It’s vital that the tracks are made of low-gauge steel. This means that they are thicker and thus stronger. If yours are old, damaged, or thin, get in touch with a garage door company. It might be time for garage door tracks replacement.
Garage door repairs can go a long way
It’s important that all garage door parts are strong and free of damage. 
That’s when the value of garage door maintenance is highly appreciated. If the garage door springs are on their last leg, they might not take the force of the winds. If the tracks are damaged, the garage door might easily pop off. Not only should you keep the garage door maintained, but also check for possible problems before a hurricane hits. Even a tiny garage door repair may make the difference.
Getting a wind load garage door
Getting a wind load garage door is the best gift you can give to your family. Keeping the garage door maintained and all its problems fixed is very important. Reinforcing the garage door will be better than nothing but if the hurricane strikes nearby, the possibility of damage is likely. It’s not accidental that the Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association International (DASMA) pinpoints the importance of wind loads. It’s not a coincidence that there are building codes in each geographical area. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), garage door damage will enable internal pressure to build up and bring down the supporting walls and roof of the structure. The losses during previous hurricanes prove the point.
All in all, you need to check the building codes in your area before you make any decisions. Undoubtedly, if you live in a hurricane-prone area, getting a new and wind load tested garage door makes sense. And here you have two choices. You can either get add-on reinforcement wind load garage doors or storm ready ones. In the case of the former, you need to reinforce the garage door before the hurricane while in the case of the latter, you have nothing to do. The garage door already includes all the necessary features to remain resistant. In both cases though, wind load garage doors meet the building codes since they are manufactured to withstand the wrath of nature. And that’s exactly what you need.
