Cyclone Rates Housing: How to Cyclone-Proof a House

Like most natural calamities, cyclones (or hurricanes in the US, and typhoons in Asia), can be devastating and ferocious. For starters, a cyclone is defined as a low-pressure system which creates high winds and heavy rains, and they usually occur in parts of the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia. In 1985, newer regulations and standards were put in place to “cyclone-proof” homes and prevent further damage. Read on to learn more about how to cyclone-proof a house or small building.

How to Create Better Wind Resistance for Houses

According to professional home builders, cyclones in Australia have wind speeds ranging from 252 to 317 kilometers per hour (km/hr). Apart from the strong winds, the ferocious rains also lead to heavy flooding and damaging storm surges. Thus, homes in the affected areas need to be built to withstand cyclone-force wind and rain.

For starters, the doors should be secured with barrel bolts. This means that if the door faces into the wind's direct impact, the pressure from the outside enters the home and doubles the load on the roof.

For roofing, the roofs must also be angled on all 4 sides, while the gutters must be secured firmly to the house. The windows should also be equipped with mesh screens, shatterproof glass and bolted shutters. Footings must also be secured to the ground, and waterproof seals (along with wall-resilient walls) must be employed to prevent rainwater from being sucked in the structure. 

Look Out for Rust, Decaying Timber and Termite Damage

To further cyclone-proof a home or small structure, house builders should also be on the lookout for factors like termite damage, decaying timber and rust. For starters, check the ceiling cavity, as well as around the home, for signs and symptoms of rust.

If the bolts, screws, roof coverings and other metal parts or components are rusty, you need to replace them quickly, because rust cannot withstand even the average cyclone wind speed or downpour, and may lead to numerous leaks through the hole-infested roofing. 

Decaying timber materials rot easily too, especially if they get very wet during a cyclone. The ensuing attacks by termites further weakens timber, making these materials tear out easily during a cyclone. Thus, make a thorough check for decaying or termite-damaged timber, and replace the faulty ones, as well as have the house treated for termites.  

And because timber often expands in hot and damp tropical climates, the continuing expansion and/or contraction will eventually loosen the fixings. So, check the house for any loose fixings and have then tightened. You could even opt to install additional fixings to ensure that the house stays strong during cyclones.

With climate change further increasing the occurrence of cyclones (and making them more ferocious too), commercial and residential builders are facing bigger challenges on all fronts, from higher insurance premiums to increased rebuilding costs.

Thus, with the start of every cyclone season, everyone in Australia should be reminded of the need to prepare for the worst. Homeowners are advised to add cyclone shutters, upgrade older roofs, trim their tress and update their emergency kits too, so that they'll be safe during and after a cyclone.