When preparing for an impending hurricane, most of us focus on our homes, their contents, and the perimeter. But have you considered the best ways to protect your lawn furniture from hurricane winds and to protect nearby property from being hit by outdoor items that get tossed by strong winds?
Of course, the best idea is to store it safely in a shed or garage, but many times due to space and the difficulty of moving larger pieces, this may not be an option. Gale-strength winds can turn garden furniture into flying projectiles that can easily destroy cars, homes, and other nearby property, so plans do need to be made for securing every piece.
“Many of us don’t think to protect pricey outdoor furniture until it’s too late, and we are watching our wicker sectional and cafe umbrellas tumble off into the neighbor’s yard. But there are plenty of ways to protect your lawn furniture before the storm hits,” said Galen M. Hair of the New Orleans-based Insurance Claim HQ.
Hair is an attorney who handles exclusively property-casualty insurance cases along with his team of experienced lawyers. As a longtime resident of a hurricane-prone region — and someone whose own home has been hit by a hurricane — he has seen all the damage hurricanes can cause. He’s also well aware of the hesitancy of insurance companies to pay claimants the funds they are due when their outdoor furnishings are damaged.
Using his advice below, you can protect your outdoor items and hopefully save yourself from having to contact your insurance company altogether.
A Quick and Easy Fix
If your furniture is too large or too unwieldy to move indoor, the easiest and fastest thing you can do is to stack it and secure it under a tarp secured with rope or bungee cords. “If the items are secured in one parcel, it will be heavier and harder for the wind to lift and move them. That’s not ensuring that it won’t happen, but it will take stronger winds to make it happen,” said Hair.
He also advises placing the stacked furniture against one side of your house to protect it from winds on at least one side.
A Weighty Solution
This option is not too much harder than the first but does require more advanced planning. Hair suggests assessing all of your outdoor furniture to decide what is most vulnerable; this will include any lightweight, flimsy, or delicate pieces, such as single chairs and wicker or rattan pieces.
“These lighter items can be weighed down with sandbags, secured with deck tie-down anchors that are professionally installed, or by using museum gel glue to attach items directly to decking,” said Hair.
Strategically Pre-Plan
This advice requires the most advanced planning and can include having a dedicated indoor space for your furniture at all times of the year.
If that’s not possible, you can opt for purchasing sturdier and heavier outdoor furniture, like classic pieces in wrought iron, cast aluminum, or solid wood. When picking umbrellas, get ones with weighted bases since these top-heavy items are especially prone to flying away in storms.
If hurricanes are a recurring issue in your area, you might consider planting strategically placed tree windbreaks or hedges that can buffer winds and protect furniture. These can be planted as saplings and left to grow and help protect your home over time or planted as fully-grown trees ready to help protect your property in their first season.
Don’t Hesitate to Ask An Insurance Attorney
If hurricane winds damage or destroy your lawn furniture, it’s important to reach out to an experienced property insurance attorney as soon as possible. They can assess and report your property losses and help you make the best case for your insurance company to swiftly cover all damaged property.
And, should your insurance company deny your lawn furniture damage claim, hurricane damage attorneys like Hair and his team at Insurance Claim HQ can help you to fight back. He also noted that clients can expect honest answers from attorneys like him since they usually don’t get paid unless they win damages for their clients.
However, after using these tips for securing your lawn furniture, the chances are much lower that your outdoor decor will be damaged.
About Galen M. Hair
Galen M. Hair, Owner at Insurance Claim HQ, is a property insurance attorney who has helped over 1,200 families rebuild their homes and businesses. He has been rated a Super Lawyers Rising Star and voted one of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100. For more information about protecting your property from disaster, please visit http://www.insuranceclaimhq.com