Living on the Treasure Coast is paradise, but that paradise comes with a serious responsibility: we live in a high-risk hurricane zone. For a homeowner, this means “storm readiness” isn’t just a seasonal checklist; it’s a year-round mindset. Unfortunately, many homeowners make critical, costly mistakes in how they prepare, often focusing on the wrong things while ignoring the biggest threats.
As the Treasure Coast’s trusted general contractor, we’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. Here are the most common storm-proofing mistakes we see and the professional solutions to keep your home safe.
Common Storm-Proofing Mistakes
Too often, homeowners wait until a storm is approaching to think about safety. True storm-readiness is about the structural integrity of your home, and these common mistakes can leave you vulnerable.
Ignoring Your Roof’s Age
The single biggest mistake is assuming your roof is “fine” just because it isn’t actively leaking. In Florida, your roof’s age is a massive liability. Insurance carriers are now proactively dropping coverage for shingle roofs over 15 years old. This mistake leaves you in a desperate scramble, trying to get a new roof during hurricane season, or worse, facing a storm with an uninsurable roof that’s destined to fail.
Forgetting Your Home’s “Vitals”
Homeowners fixate on windows but often forget the home’s most expensive systems: the HVAC and electrical.
- HVAC: The Treasure Coast’s salt air is constantly corroding your outdoor A/C unit, weakening it long before a storm.
- Electrical: When the power snaps on and off after a storm, a power surge can fry your A/C, your refrigerator, and your computers. Ignoring these systems is a costly error.
Missing the “Remodel Opportunity”
The third common mistake is remodeling for “looks” while ignoring “safety.” Remodeling a kitchen is the perfect opportunity to address the home’s hidden vulnerabilities. If you open a wall and don’t upgrade the 40-year-old corroded plumbing or outdated electrical panel, you’re just covering up a future disaster.
Choosing the Wrong “Opening” Protection
Many homeowners buy plywood or panels, thinking they’re prepared. But these have to be deployed, often in a panic, by climbing a ladder in high winds. Choosing a “protection” that is difficult to use means it often doesn’t get used correctly, if at all.
How to Protect Your Home the Right Way
True fortification is a year-round strategy. Here are the professional solutions to avoid these common mistakes.
Be Proactive With Your Roof
Your roof is your #1 defense. The solution is to treat it like the investment it is.
- Get a Professional Inspection: A licensed contractor can assess its true lifespan and identify weaknesses before they become a crisis.
- Invest in a “System”: A new roof isn’t just shingles. It’s a modern system built to the latest Florida Building Code, with a sealed secondary water barrier and hurricane-rated fasteners.
- Secure Wind Mitigation: A new, code-compliant roof is the single best way to lower your home’s insurance premiums.
Service and Secure Your Systems
Protect your home’s “vitals” before the storm.
- Service Your HVAC: Regular, bi-annual maintenance is not optional on the Treasure Coast. Our technicians can clean the unit and apply protective coatings to fight salt-air corrosion.
- Install a Whole-Home Surge Protector: This is a simple, affordable upgrade our licensed electricians can install at your main panel. It protects all your appliances and electronics from dangerous power surges.
Remodel with a “Fortification” Mindset
Use your remodel as a chance to make your home safer. As a full-service General Contractor, when we open a wall for a kitchen or bath renovation, we also inspect the “bones.” This is the perfect time to upgrade old plumbing, modernize your electrical panel, and find hidden leaks before they become a disaster.
Invest in Passive, 24/7 Protection
The best storm protection is the kind you don’t have to think about.
- Impact Windows are the ultimate “passive” solution. They provide 24/7/365 protection from storms, intruders, and UV rays without you lifting a finger.
- Hurricane Shutters are also a great, cost-effective solution, but you must be prepared to deploy them.
Your Treasure Coast Storm-Ready Contractor
Don’t wait for the storm. A truly storm-ready home is built over time, not overnight. It requires a professional plan that addresses your roof, your internal systems, and your openings.
We offer a Free, No-Obligation Project Assessment. We’ll come to your home, listen to your vision, and show you how we can make your home more beautiful and more secure. Contact Treasure Coast Contractors today to schedule your free consultation.