Commercial Garage Door Blog | Door Systems

What Makes a Garage Door Hurricane-Proof?

Written by Door Systems | Nov 15, 2022 5:14:19 PM

Hurricanes are complex, unpredictable storms that can cause substantial damage to homes. While it can be impossible to entirely prevent damage from hurricanes, investing in the proper materials, like a hurricane-proof garage door, can avoid severe damage to your home.

If you live in an area affected by hurricanes or other tropical storms, it is essential to protect your home and assets as much as possible. One of the best places to begin is your garage door.

At Door Systems, we pride ourselves on delivering reliable, durable door solutions to our customers. If you are interested in learning more about the protection that hurricane-proof garage doors offer and how we can help you protect your property, keep reading.

What are Hurricane-Proof Garage Doors?

What sets hurricane-proof garage doors apart from typical garage doors? In short, hurricane-proof doors are designed to withstand high winds, flood water, and flying debris. Their durability prevents typical hurricane damage from impacting your home. To ensure your garage doors are hurricane-proof, your doors should include the following features:

Wind-Resistance

During hurricanes, high wind speeds can pick up large objects, like large branches and heavy outdoor furniture. This flying debris will often strike buildings and garage doors, so wind-resistant doors are necessary. Wind-resistant garage doors are designed to withstand the pressure created by high winds. These garage doors incorporate impact-resistant panels that hold up against flying debris.

Wind-Rated

High wind speeds cause debris to collide with your property, and the winds can also threaten the structure of your garage doors. When the wind speeds reach high or extreme speeds, typical garage structures are at risk of warping and collapsing. This leaves your property vulnerable to further wind damage and water damage. Wind-rated garage doors include specific metal braces and reinforcements to withstand severe weather conditions. Wind-rated doors incorporate heavy-duty steel, high-strength rollers and hinges, and durable struts.

Impact Rating

Your garage door should have an impact rating label sticker if you live near the coast. However, if your home was not built in the last decade, your garage door likely does not have an impact rating. Garage door impact ratings differ from wind ratings because they convey the extent that a door can withstand the impact of objects. Impact ratings mean that the door was still operable after being shot by a 2-by-4 piece of wood three times. An impact-rated garage door can offer you peace of mind that the door can withstand large debris during severe storms.

How do Hurricane-Proof Garage Doors Protect Your Home?

Investing in hurricane-proof garage doors means that your garage doors will limit the severity of wind and water damage to your property. Hurricanes and tropical storms approach quickly and have devastating effects, which means that homeowners need to plan ahead to prepare for storms. As of 2019, it was estimated that the total annual economic losses for households due to hurricane and flood damage amounted to $34 billion. When hurricanes strike, the damage adds up quickly. According to FEMA, just one inch of flood water can result in $25,000 of damage to your home.

Not only do hurricane-proof garage doors prevent your property from being damaged by winds and flying debris, but they also prevent flood water from entering through the garage. Preventing this damage by investing in a secure and reliable hurricane door can save you thousands of dollars in repairs.

Trust Professionals with Your Hurricane-Proof Garage Door

When it comes to guaranteeing that your garage doors are durable and hurricane-proof, your installation methods can make all the difference. By trusting your garage door installation with professionals, you can be confident in your doors' security.

At Door Systems, we are proud to offer expert garage door consultations and installations. With locations in North and South Carolina, we are ready to equip your property with resilient, high-quality garage doors that can withstand turbulent weather.

Our door experts in Raleigh, Charlotte, and Charleston are ready to serve their local areas. If you are ready to learn more about how we can help you protect your home with hurricane-proof garage doors, reach out today!