Ah, Fall. Crisp temperatures, college football—and gutter cleaning. I know you don’t want to hear it, but you need to think about your home’s gutters. Why? The two top reasons that come to my mind have to do with fire and ice. Let’s talk fire first. Did you know that...
As I write this, a horrible hazardous materials fire burns in Apex, N.C., very near Raleigh. As many as 17,000 residents have been asked to evacuate their homes due to plumes of smoke and chemicals including chlorine. The fire, which began at a hazardous waste...
If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know that FLASH has a pretty nifty website at www.flash.org that’s filled with information to help you strengthen your home against disasters. But what if you want more technical information? FLASH has you covered there,...
What if kids had a place of their own to go to learn about ways to keep themselves, their families, their pets, and their homes safer in case of disaster? Well, now they do! It’s called the FLASH Kids Zone, and it’s part of our website at www.flash.org—look for the...
At FLASH homeowners often ask us: “How can I find a reputable contractor to work on my home?” First, be sure that your contractor is licensed and insured before any work is undertaken. Check with the state agency that handles the licensing of professionals and your...
Did you know that the shape of your roof has a lot to do with how well it stands up against high winds, including hurricane-force winds? Hipped-roof systems are more likely to stay put in a hurricane than gabled-roof systems. Why? Unlike gabled roofs, a hipped roof...
We've looked at how to assess your home’s risk to flood. Now here are three ways to reduce potential flood damage. 1) Elevate Your Home—Raise your home so that the lowest floor is above the flood level or base flood elevation (BFE). Use building piers or columns to...
Floods have been in the news a lot in 2006. Already this year more than 60% of federal disaster declarations in the United States have involved flooding. Most recently, the Southwest was hard hit by flash floods produced by a monsoon. Is there anything you can do to...
We've talked about attaching shingle and clay or concrete tiles, now let’s look at metal panels and slate. For metal panels, clips or cleats are preferred over exposed fasteners because they won't be exposed to weather. Clips and cleats also allow the metal to expand...
When it comes to roof coverings, you have several choices, among them shingles, clay or concrete tiles, metal panels, and slate. But which of these roof coverings perform best during severe winds? The answer may surprise you. All of these types of coverings can...
