"Fair point, but does reinforcing the garage door alone really make that big a difference overall?"
You're right to question that. Reinforcing the garage door definitely helps—I've seen plenty of cases where a compromised garage door led to internal pressure buildup and roof failure—but it's not the whole story. Roof anchoring and window protection are equally critical, if not more so depending on your home's layout. I've worked on houses where the roof was solidly anchored, but weak windows still let wind-driven rain cause significant interior damage.
Funny you mention your buddy's upgrades... I once had a client who proudly showed me his reinforced garage door, only to realize later he'd neglected his windows entirely. First big storm, guess what happened? Yep, shattered glass everywhere and water damage galore. Lesson learned the hard way.
Bottom line: it's about balance. Garage doors matter, but don't underestimate windows and roof anchoring—especially if your house has large openings or an older roof structure.
Yeah, totally agree on windows being overlooked. My neighbor spent a fortune reinforcing his garage door and roof, but skipped the windows. Storm hit, and he ended up with a living room swimming pool... priorities, right?
Yikes, that's rough... but honestly, it's easy to overlook windows. I did the same thing my first big storm and ended up with water everywhere. Learned the hard way—now shutters are top of my list every hurricane season. Live and learn, right?
"Learned the hard way—now shutters are top of my list every hurricane season."
Haha, same here. Shutters are a lifesaver, but honestly, it's amazing how many folks forget about gutters and drains too. I've seen perfectly shuttered homes still flood because debris clogged the drains. Quick tip: before storm season hits, do a quick walk-around and clear out leaves and junk from your gutters. Takes maybe 20 minutes tops, but saves you hours of cleanup later... trust me, been there!
Couldn't agree more—gutters are sneaky little troublemakers. Another thing people overlook is roof inspections. You'd be surprised how often shingles look fine from the ground but are actually loose or damaged. Had a homeowner last year who thought he was storm-ready; shutters up, gutters spotless, the works. But a few loose shingles later, he had leaks all over. Quick roof check before storm season can save you a lot of headaches later... and awkward buckets in your living room.
