Hurricane Season Tips For Your Outer Banks Home
Hurricane season on the Outer Banks occurs between June and November, with the peak of the season occurring from Mid-August to Mid-October. If you own property on the Outer Banks, you’re already acutely aware of this. With Hurricane Erin currently wreaking havoc along the East Coast, now is a good opportunity to provide some quick tips for your home during hurricane season.
Doors & Windows:Install impact-resistant windows or code-approved shutters. Secure garage doors to withstand wind uplift.
Decks and Balconies: Most Outer Banks decks pre-date or do not fully conform with current Building Code standards. Current standards require adequately spaced and sized foundation pilings, hurricane ties for columns, and properly-sized ledger boards. Inspect your decks regularly for loose bolts, corroded fasteners, over-notched pilings, and wood rot.
Exterior Finishes: Hurricane and tropical storm winds drive rain, salt spray, and sand against your home. These are destructive to your home’s finish. Regularly inspect and touch up paint. Use only premium paints designed for your substrate. Pressure wash gently after major storms to remove salt and sand.
Flooding: Add flood vents (if applicable) to your foundation walls. Maintain your gutters and downspouts.
Furnishings & Yard: Secure and store any outdoor items that could become airborne. Trim and remove dead branches and tree limbs.
Exterior Paint: More Than Just Curb Appeal
On the OBX, your home’s paint job does more than add curb appeal – it’s a frontline defense against hurricanes and salt air. Major storms create a sandblasting effect that strips away paint and exposes bare surfaces. Once that protective layer is gone, wood and fasteners are prone to rot, rust, and long-term water and insect damage.
Inspect your home’s exterior annually. Look for bubbling or peeling paint, especially on the north and east-facing elevations.
Don’t wait to recoat. Coastal homes require repainting twice as often (3-5 years here) as inland homes (8-10 years).
The Time is Now
If your home is not in a rental program, now is the best time to have your work done. Pricing is much more competitive than in the peak season. Labor shortages have always been a part of life on the Outer Banks, but the lack of affordable housing has led to an extreme shortage of labor in recent years.
As the rental seasons get longer, the ability to schedule contractors is greatly diminished. If you have substantial projects that need to be completed in the upcoming year, call us today for an estimate so that you can get on our schedule. Consider leaving your house available for work in months where you don’t typically book a lot of rentals. Tackling projects sooner rather than later will save you substantial money in the long run.
