You love your Treasure Coast home. You love the lifestyle. But every year, from June to November, that familiar anxiety creeps in. You watch the “cone of uncertainty,” you worry about your old windows, and you wonder if your roof is truly as strong as it needs to be.
Your home is your most important shelter. In Florida, “hurricane hardening” isn’t a luxury—it’s the key to your safety and peace of mind.
As the Treasure Coast’s premier, licensed General Contractor, Treasure Coast Contractors is an expert in structural safety and storm preparation. This expert guide provides the direct answers you need to secure your home before a storm is on the way.
Your No.1 Defense: The Roofing System
This is the most critical part of your home’s defense. A “new roof” is not the same as a “storm-safe roof.” The real strength of a roof is in the parts you can’t see.
- The Problem: Old roofs, or roofs installed by cheap, out-of-town crews, often have staples (not nails) holding the decking down. During high winds, this decking can rip off, leading to catastrophic failure.
- The Solution: A true storm-safe roof is a “system.” As General Contractors, we ensure your roof is secured to the latest Florida Building Code. This includes re-nailing the entire roof deck with ring-shank nails and installing a “peel-and-stick” secondary water barrier. This sealed barrier is your last line of defense, preventing water intrusion even if a shingle is lost.
The Weakest Link: Windows, Doors, & Openings
Your roof can be perfect, but your home is only as strong as its weakest opening.
- The “Pressure” Problem: The biggest danger in a hurricane is not just wind, but internal pressurization. If a non-impact window or an old garage door fails, wind rushes into your home. This massive, sudden pressure change can blow your roof off from the inside.
- The Solution: Impact Windows. Modern impact windows are a non-negotiable for storm safety. They are engineered to break safely (like a car windshield) but will not breach, protecting the “envelope” of your home and preventing pressurization.
- Don’t Forget the Garage Door: This is the largest and most-forgotten weak point. An old, flimsy garage door will fail. Upgrading to a modern, hurricane-rated garage door is one of the most important investments you can make in your home’s structural safety.
The “Storm Chaser” Mistake (And How to Avoid It)
After a major storm, your neighborhood will be flooded with out-of-state “storm chasers.” They knock on your door, promise a “free roof” (which is often insurance fraud), and use high-pressure tactics.
- The Problem: These crews are not local. They have no permanent office, no local reputation, and will be gone in six months. When their shoddy, rushed work starts to leak a year later, your “warranty” is worthless, and you have no one to call.
- The Solution: Hire a permanent, local, licensed General Contractor (like us). We have a physical office on the Treasure Coast. We are accountable, we have a reputation to protect, and we will be here for you long after the storm is gone.
Why You Need a General Contractor for Storm Hardening
You can hire a “window guy” and a “roofing guy,” but do they understand how the whole system works together?
Hurricane hardening is about protecting the entire building envelope. As a full-service General Contractor, we are the single point of contact for your entire project. We manage the structural engineers, the roofing crews, the window installers, and the permitting office. We ensure that every component works together to make your home a secure, sealed, and safe shelter.
Get Peace of Mind Before the Storm
Don’t wait for a hurricane watch to wonder if your home is safe. A proactive plan is the only way to get true peace of mind.
We offer a Free, No-Obligation Home Hardening Assessment. We’ll come to your home, inspect your roof, windows, and garage door, and give you a clear, prioritized plan to protect your family and your investment.