Protect your Property from Hailstorms

8/13/2020 (Permalink)

Although not as common in Central Oregon as other parts of the country, hailstorms, especially those that come without warning, can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your home, property and vehicle. Even with insurance, no one wants to file a claim and go through the hassle of having to make repairs to their car or roof. What, then, should you do?

The easiest and best advice when it comes to hailstorms is an obvious one: keep an eye on the weather report. As mentioned above, this may not always help you, though even a small mention of "possible hail" should be enough for you to take note of what is outside your home and the condition of your roof and any other structures on your property. When it comes to your vehicle, the best way to keep it safe is unsurprisingly to keep it under a carport or in your garage. If this is not a possibility, you will have to go the route of protecting your vehicle in other ways which could range from parking it below thick tree cover, layering blankets and car mats across the top (plywood can be added for increased protection), or purchasing a specialized "hail cover" online. Anything that can dampen the impact will be helpful, especially when the hail reaches sizes of one inch in diameter or more.

As for your home or other structures on your property, making sure your roofs are in good shape is the only way to be sure you are protected. As you probably know, roofs can be made with a variety of materials from wood shingles to asphalt or tile. Although this is not a top of mind concern in Central Oregon, looking for materials with a "class 4" rating can save you a lot of trouble down the road if a large storm does appear, and have the added benefit of being longer-lasting under normal circumstances. Always make sure to not wait until your roof has any kind of damage-- a somewhat costly roof repair will always pale in comparison to having a collapse or gaps which could allow hail and anything else to fall on your appliances and furniture. 

Your landscaping may suffer to some degree though the evergreen trees of our area are very resilient when it comes to bad weather and impacts from hail. If you have a non-greenhouse flower bed or garden you can similarly purchase a small pop up canopy or try to construct something on your own that will act as a shield when the time comes. Though flowers can be replanted-- not so much your car. Keep these things in mind and that one freak hailstorm every few years will be of no worry to you!