The National Weather Service tells Southeast Texas homeowners to reinforce garage doors and tracks, or replace the door with a hurricane tested one. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Inspect the door before the season, brace it when a storm is near, and stop using it afterward if it is crooked or scrapes.
Hurricane season and the garage door
The National Weather Service Houston/Galveston Southeast Texas Hurricane Guide says hurricane season starts June 1 and ends November 30. It lists the peak threat for the Texas coast as August through September, and says hurricanes can and have struck the coast in every month of the season.
In its list of ways to prepare a house, the guide's Doors section says to reinforce garage doors and tracks or replace them with a hurricane tested door. A garage door is one of the largest openings in a house, so the guide treats it as part of the plan, not an afterthought.
Reinforce the door you have, or replace it?
Reinforcing may be enough when
- The door and track are straight and in good shape
- A technician confirms a reinforcement can be fitted to your model
- The door is not worn or already damaged
A hurricane tested door makes more sense when
- The door is old, dented or badly worn
- A reinforcement is not available for your model
- You are replacing the door anyway
Ask for the details in writing, including what the door or the reinforcement is tested for. See new garage doors for the options we install.
A simple plan for the season
Before June
Check the panels, bottom seal, hinges, rollers and tracks. Have a technician look at any door that rubs, jerks or hangs crooked.
When a storm is near
The guide says to board up remaining doors, brace the garage door and stay inside. Garage or store vehicles that are not in use, too.
During the storm
Stay inside and away from the garage door and boarded windows.
After the storm
Look at the door from outside and inside. Pull the red release handle before you test it by hand, and photograph any damage.
What to look for afterward
A door that took wind or flying debris can have a bent section, a bent track or a loose hinge. Dents alone often leave the door working, but a crease near a hinge can make it bind.
If the door is crooked, scrapes, feels heavy or has a broken spring or cable, stop using it. Do not adjust springs or cables yourself. See garage door repair for what a technician checks.
Quick answers
When is hurricane season in the Houston area?
The National Weather Service says hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with the peak threat for the Texas coast in August and September.
Should I brace my garage door before a hurricane?
The Southeast Texas Hurricane Guide says to brace the garage door when a storm is near. Ask a technician which reinforcement fits your door.
What is a hurricane tested garage door?
It is a door that has been tested for storm conditions. Ask the seller to show in writing what it was tested for, and compare that with the weather service advice.
Can I use my garage door after a storm?
Only if it moves smoothly and sits straight. If it scrapes, hangs crooked or has a broken spring or cable, stop and call a technician.
Insurance and paperwork
The Texas Department of Insurance advises filing a claim as soon as you can after hail or wind damage. Take photos and video, keep damaged items until your insurer says you can discard them, and save receipts for temporary repairs such as covering a broken window.
It also says that waiving a homeowners deductible is illegal under state law, and advises getting more than one repair estimate and never signing a contract with blank spaces.
Who to call
Emil Garage Doors repairs garage doors, springs, cables and openers and installs new doors in Texas, including Houston, League City, Pasadena and Pearland. Call or send your details with a few photos and we book the soonest visit. A quote should list the parts and the labor, and the final price is confirmed after we see the door.
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