For immediate release: 
Norwich, UK 24 January 2019

Preparing for snow and storms

How to protect your home from four typical examples of wintry weather

During the winter months the workload for any glazing provider or locksmiths tends to rise considerably. This is because not only do properties sustain damage due to attempted break-ins (which are more common in the darker months of the year) but also through poor weather.

Winter storms can have a big impact on homes, damaging doors, windows, roofs, conservatories and garages. The dedicated home emergency response division of Evander, VPS247, recommend these preventative steps in order to lessen the chances of damage to your home.

HIGH WINDS/GALES - can lead to roof tiles slipping, debris picked up by the wind causing damage to property, and even windows breaking due to pressure.

If high winds are forecast for your area, it may be worth doing a check of your whole property to ensure all doors and windows are closed and secured properly. Anything in your garden or surrounding outdoor space which could be blown about by the wind, such as garden furniture, hanging baskets and trampolines, should be secured down or brought inside to minimise the risk of damage to your doors and windows. If you have enough time, check surrounding trees and bushes to ensure there is no dead wood or rot which may be a risk factor. It can be surprising just how strong the wind can be, so it's always better to be safe than sorry in this instance.

HEAVY SNOW/ICE can make conservatory roofs buckle under weight of snow, whilst ice can expand in gaps in brickwork around windows and doors. 

Snow and ice can cause problems for many people across the country, but the focus is usually on how it affects road users, rather than the impact it can have on your home. When a lot of snow falls in a short space of time, the sheer weight of it can cause problems for properties with older conservatories, as the roof may not be able to hold the extra weight. Ice also causes problems, particularly if water is freezing in the gaps in your brickwork surrounding windows and doors. As water freezes into ice, it expands and can therefore make the crack or gap bigger, putting your home at risk of more serious issues. Ensure your home is cold-proof by keeping all roof sections in good order and by filling in any gaps in brickwork or rendering to prevent worsening issues.

TORRENTIAL RAIN can cause flooding

Many homes in the UK are susceptible to flooding, especially those in low-lying areas, those near to waterways, and properties which are situated in valleys and at the bottom of hills. Properties which are located on flat land with very little tree cover may also be prone to flooding, as trees soak up a tremendous amount of water and their absence can make a big difference. Flooding can damage your home in many ways - some taking years to recover from and rectify. If you have received a flood warning, then it's important that steps are taken to protect your home and your belongings. Sandbags are effective at preventing water from entering your home so long as you can obtain enough of them in time. If you are able, moving your electrical items and furniture from the ground floor to the first floor (or, if you live on one floor only, raising everything up by a few inches to protect it from the water) will protect your belongings and make the clean-up operation much easier to handle.

HEAVY HAILSTONES can break glazing and also breach conservatory roofs

Here at VPS247/Evander we have already fixed a lot of damage which has been caused by large hailstones last winter and we anticipate them continuing to be an issue this season. Very large hailstones can be quite heavy and fall from the sky with some force, and as such can cause a huge amount of problems when they reach the ground. Some hailstones may bounce and cause glazing to smash or crack, whereas others may fall straight downwards and damage older and more flimsy conservatory roofs.

Bring prepared is only half the battle - when it comes to the weather, there is obviously a layer of unpredictability which cannot be overcome. The most important thing is to keep yourself and your family safe, so if you are expecting bad weather, take as many precautions as you can and ensure you are well covered under your home insurance policy.

VPS247 and Evander are part of the VPS Group that specialise in protecting people, property and assets, by securing, maintaining and managing properties across a wide range of customer and industry sectors. The Group also have a division dedicated to ‘security through occupation', via their VPS Guardians service. For more help on protecting and improving your home, see www.vps247.co.uk/blog/general/articles

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Notes for editors :

About the VPS Group:

VPS Groupsecures more than 30,000 properties and employs over 1200 staff in locations across the UK and mainland Europe.

Their services protect properties against unauthorised access and a variety of hazards such as arson, theft, squatting as well as wintry hazards of storm, ice and snow damage. www.vpsgroup.com    www.vps247.co.uk   www.evander.com 

Further details, call the press office.