Tips to Prep Your Patio for Hurricane Season

Nothing crashes a party—or rains on a parade—quite like a hurricane or tropical storm. Several states are susceptible to this fierce natural phenomenon and the destruction potentially left in its wake. Notoriously unpredictable and at times catastrophic, hurricanes warrant extra measures to ensure your family’s safety and minimize damage to your home in the event of one.

If you’re hunkered down inside during severe weather, a well-prepped patio can offer invaluable peace of mind. Here’s how to pick the best patio furniture if you live in a hurricane zone, plus suggested supplies and preemptive chores for when there’s a storm a-brewing.

Note: Please use these tips in conjunction with local and federal safety guidelines.

Stay one step ahead of Mother Nature with the right patio furniture designs, materials, and space-saving styles.

Loose objects and small lightweight items like potted plants, lawn ornaments, and storage baskets can usually go inside during a hurricane; the same cannot always be said for your large patio table or outdoor sectional. Choose furniture with ultra-durable materials that can withstand torrential rain and downed tree limbs—and pieces with enough heft to not become airborne in strong winds.

If you have some space to store outdoor furniture in a garage or bonus room, stackable and folding designs are the way to go. Easy to move and optimal for maximizing storage space, they make life so much easier pre- and post-storm. Even if you don’t have the extra square footage inside, stack those pieces up and tie them together with cords or straps. As they say, there’s strength in numbers.

The obvious way to protect cushions, pool toys, yard games, and other outdoor accessories from storm damage (or ending up in the neighbor’s yard) is by getting them inside. However, that’s not always possible due to time or space constraints. In those cases, outdoor storage solutions will be your best friend.

Look for lidded containers that are horizontal in shape instead of vertical, shed-like structures. Better yet, look for lidded containers that can also be used as tables or extra seating when the skies clear. Keep them somewhere relatively sheltered, like near a wall, behind a shed, or in between hedges.

A patio umbrella should never be left open or upright during a hurricane—but if you have a hefty enough umbrella base, chances are good it’s not going anywhere. Cast iron bases are particularly effective thanks to their high weight-to-size ratio.

Without proper precautions, patio umbrellas can quickly become damaged at best and hazardous at worst with force winds. If left open, the canopy can flip up, tearing the fabric beyond repair. If kept upright, the entire thing is at flight risk. For these reasons, it’s highly suggested that you bring your patio umbrella inside or lay it flat and secure it down somehow.

Here are some things you can benefit from having on hand when prepping your patio for inclement weather.

• Basic tools like a hammer, drill, nails, etc.

• Ratchet straps or bungee cords

• Sandbags

• Heavy-duty furniture covers

• Plywood panels

• Urethane-based caulk

• Additional tools and supplies for necessary structural repairs

As soon as there’s a hurricane forecasted, take these steps to help prevent damage to your outdoor space and furniture investments.

☐ Examine gazebos, railings, and roof shingles for damage; repair if needed.

☐ Trim tree limbs and shrubs, prioritizing anything weak or dead and close to your home.

☐ Remove debris from gutters and downspouts.

☐ Protect non-reinforced windows, garage doors, and sliding glass doors with plywood panels.

☐ Identify gas, electricity, and water sources and make a shutoff plan for all.

☐ Turn off irrigation systems.

☐ Seal exterior wall openings with a urethane-based caulk.

☐ Dead-bolt all exterior doors.

☐ Take photos of your patio pre- and post-hurricane for potential insurance claims and your personal records.

☐ Clear out storage space and bring as many loose objects and furniture pieces inside as possible.

☐ Remove your patio umbrella from its base and/or table; close and tie up the canopy.

☐ Uninstall porch swings.

☐ Turn large or top-heavy furniture upside down or on its side.

☐ Tie smaller furniture together with ratchet straps or bungee cords.

☐ Protect your grill, fire pit table, and similar items with heavy-duty covers.

☐ Add extra weight to all furniture and still-exposed outdoor objects with sandbags.