Do you know the children's story about the three little pigs whose house was blown away by the big bad wolf? So that the same thing doesn't happen to your garden house during the next autumn storm, it makes sense to secure the arbor accordingly. Firmly anchored to the ground and with a stable construction, you can be relatively certain that the house will not be covered by the wind or collapse due to the pressure of the storm.
How can I protect my garden house from storms and theft?
To protect a garden house from storms and theft, you should choose a stable foundation, use sufficiently thick walls and a secure roof covering, attach storm strips to wooden houses and install a good lock for the door and windows.
The right foundation
House safety doesn't start with the roof when it comes to the arbor, but rather with the roof. Only if the house is firmly anchored in the point foundation or on the floor slab, even a hurricane can do little harm.
The Walls
Not only do they have to bear the entire weight of the roof, they also have to withstand the pressure from outside. If they are rotten or, in the case of a brick arbor, not made professionally, they become a weak point. Sufficient wall thickness and regular checks, where necessary repair work is carried out promptly, effectively prevent the house from leaning.
The roof
The roof offers a large attack surface for strong winds. Professional security and regular checks also ensure safety here. If the house is not protected from the wind, a good roof covering made of bitumen shingles is recommended. Brick houses can support the roof load of a tile roofing, the safest option.
Wooden houses should have storm strips
This safety measure is only not absolutely necessary if the house is sheltered from the wind.
In wooden houses in log cabin construction, the planks are only interlocked, but usually not screwed or nailed. If there is strong pressure from the wind, the teeth can come loose and the house will become tilted.
- Storm strips are screwed directly to the top and bottom planks.
- For subsequent attachment, you can alternatively use metal threaded rods to which you attach brackets in the upper and lower areas. These are then attached to the planks with sturdy screws.
A good lock is part of security
To prevent thieves from entering the garden house, you should secure the door with a sturdy security lock (€18.00 at Amazon). If the arbor is on a remote recreational property, you should also secure the windows.
Tip
The garden house is one of the ancillary facilities and can be insured with appropriate household contents or special partial comprehensive insurance. This is generally liable for any damage caused from wind force 8.
