Hurricane Season Starts June 1. Is Your Home Ready?

Pre-season gutter and drainage inspection across Northeast Florida. Hardware check, debris removal, hanger tightening, downspout flushing, drainage system clearance. Get your home hurricane-ready before the first tropical storm.

Book My Pre-Season Inspection Call or Text 904-304-3199
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Why Pre-Season Matters in Northeast Florida

Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. Peak activity hits Northeast Florida from mid-August through October. By the time a named storm shows up on the cone, every roofer, gutter contractor, and drainage crew in the region is booked solid. Pre-season is the only window to fix what is actually broken before the wind and water find it for you.

Three reasons a real pre-season inspection pays for itself:

Hardware fails first

Pre-season inspection catches hangers, end caps, and downspout joints before storm winds expose them. Loose hangers tear gutters off the fascia at 60-plus mph. End cap separations turn into wind sails. Caught now, fixed in an hour.

Debris equals overflow

Cleared debris in gutters and drainage prevents storm-event overflow. A clogged 6-inch gutter under a 4-inch-per-hour rain band overflows in minutes and dumps thousands of gallons against the foundation in a single squall.

Drainage moves storm water

NDS Certified drainage check ensures the system can handle hurricane rainfall rate. A French drain or PVC extension full of silt is a useless line. We pressure-flush the system and verify outlets are open before peak season.

Book pre-season inspections April through early June. Schedule fills fast once the first NHC outlook drops. Call or text 904-304-3199 to claim a slot.

What We Inspect on a Pre-Season Walk

  • Gutter hanger condition. Every Alu-Rex Double-Pro or traditional hidden hanger or legacy hanger checked, tightened, or replaced. Spike-and-ferrule units flagged for upgrade.
  • End caps and miters. Inspected and resealed where caulk has aged or pulled.
  • Downspout joints and straps. Refastened to siding or fascia structure with corrosion-rated screws.
  • Gutter slope. Verified across each run. Bird-bath sections corrected.
  • Debris load. Gutters cleared by hand. Oak debris, pine straw, palm fronds, roof granules removed.
  • Underground extension flush. Schedule 40 PVC lines flushed and inspected at outlets. Pop-up emitters checked.
  • French drain and channel drain check. Filter fabric inspected at access points. Cleanouts run.
  • Catch basin and grate inspection. Silt cleared, grates secured, baskets emptied.
  • Sump pump test. Battery backup load test, float switch cycle, discharge line clear.
  • Soffit and fascia condition. Soft spots, animal intrusion, paint failure flagged.
  • Roof-edge drip line. Visual check for evidence of overflow staining, splash erosion, or foundation impact.

Hurricane Preparedness Specs We Recommend

If you are upgrading before storm season, do it once, do it right. Hurricane-grade gutter and drainage systems share a clear material spec:

  • 6-inch minimum, 7-inch on larger roofs. 5-inch overflows under tropical rainfall rates. We do not install 5-inch.
  • Alu-Rex Double-Pro or traditional hidden hangers at 18-inch spacing. Continuous-clip hangers hold under wind load far better than spike-and-ferrule.
  • Marine-grade or stainless fasteners on coastal exposure. Atlantic, Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra, Fernandina, Amelia Island.
  • Schedule 40 PVC or virgin HDPE underground extensions. Glued joints, never corrugated. Corrugated black pipe crushes under storm-saturated soil.
  • Virgin HDPE 4-inch 8-slotted inside French drain channels, with filter fabric sock and washed #57 stone backfill.
  • Cast iron sump pumps with battery backup for any home that relies on pump-out during outages.
  • Designed daylight outlets or pop-up emitters, not random termination in the yard.

Where Pre-Season Prep Matters Most

Coastal homes get prioritized salt-air hardware checks. Inland properties get drainage-load focus. Same crew, region-wide.

Before, During, and After the Storm

Pre-season prep is one piece of a full hurricane plan. Gutter Pro handles the entire arc.

How the Pre-Season Inspection Works

  1. Free on-site walk. Albert or a senior Gutter Pro inspector covers the property top to bottom. Typically scheduled within 48 hours.
  2. Documented findings. Photos of any failure points, written list of what is sound and what needs work.
  3. Quote for any work needed. Itemized, prioritized by storm risk. No pressure to do everything at once.
  4. Scheduled service. Repairs, debris removal, drainage flushes, and any upgrades booked in priority order before peak season.
  5. Lifetime warranty on any new install or upgrade work performed.

Hurricane Season Prep FAQ

When should I book a pre-season gutter inspection in Northeast Florida?
April through early June. Hurricane season officially starts June 1, but Northeast Florida peak risk runs mid-August through October. Book early. Once the first NHC outlook is released, the schedule fills fast and emergency call volume crowds out preventive work.
How much does a pre-season inspection cost?
The on-site inspection itself is free. We provide a documented walkthrough and a quote for any repair, debris removal, or upgrade work needed. Pre-season service work typically runs $200 to $2,500 depending on debris load, hardware repair, drainage flush scope, and any upgrades.
What is the most common pre-season failure you find?
Loose hangers and pulled end caps. Builder-grade spike-and-ferrule installs work loose within three to five years, and storm-prep season catches them before a Cat 1 or tropical storm gust tears the gutter off the fascia. Second most common is silt and debris in underground PVC extensions or French drain lines.
Should I have gutter guards before hurricane season?
Helpful but not required. Gutter guards reduce debris load through the season and through the storm itself, which means less overflow risk during heavy rain bands. For oak-canopy properties especially, LeafBlaster Pro micromesh or Alu-Rex Double-Pro covers pay for themselves in a single storm season.
Can I just clean my own gutters before the season?
You can clean debris by hand, yes. What you cannot do without lift and inspection experience is verify hanger torque, slope, end cap seal, downspout joint integrity, and underground drainage flow. The cleaning is the easy half. The hardware and drainage check is what makes the inspection worth booking.
What gutter size handles hurricane rainfall best?
6-inch minimum, 7-inch for larger homes and steep roof pitches. Tropical rain bands deliver 2 to 4 inches per hour in short bursts. 5-inch overflows under that load even when clean. We do not install 5-inch on any property in Northeast Florida.
Do you flush underground drainage lines as part of the inspection?
Yes. Schedule 40 PVC extensions, French drain access points, channel drain runs, and catch basins are all flushed and inspected. Silt buildup and root intrusion get found and cleared before storm-event flow demands a clear line.
What about sump pumps and battery backups?
Sump pump pre-season check includes float switch cycle test, battery backup load test, and discharge line clearance. Battery backups should be replaced every three to five years. We can also retrofit a battery backup onto an existing pump-out installation. See our sump pumps page.
Should coastal homes get different hurricane prep?
Yes. Salt air corrodes any fastener that is not stainless or marine-grade rated. Coastal Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Ponte Vedra, Fernandina Beach, and Amelia Island homes get a corrosion-focused inspection. Failed fasteners and rusted screws come out and get replaced with the correct hardware before storm winds load the system.
If a storm is forecast in two days, can I still get on the schedule?
Maybe. We prioritize life-safety and existing customers first. Emergency calls within 48 hours of forecast landfall get triaged. The honest answer is that pre-season inspections booked in April or May get done right; emergency calls 48 hours out get whatever can be done in the window. Book early.
What happens if my gutters fail during a hurricane?
Call Gutter Pro after the storm passes and conditions are safe. We handle storm damage gutter repair, hurricane recovery, and emergency drainage failures across Northeast Florida. See our storm damage repair page for response timing and scope.
Will my insurance cover hurricane gutter damage?
Storm damage from a named storm is usually covered under homeowner's insurance, subject to your hurricane deductible. Pre-existing wear, neglected maintenance, and 5-inch builder-grade gutters that should have been replaced years ago are often disputed. We provide documentation that supports legitimate claims.
How long does a pre-season inspection take?
A typical residential walkthrough takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on property size. Larger estates with extensive drainage systems can take 90 minutes or more. Repair, cleaning, and drainage flush work scheduled separately based on findings.
Do you offer financing for hurricane-prep upgrades?
Yes. Wisetack 0 percent APR introductory financing for qualified buyers. Approval takes minutes and does not affect your credit score. Available on full-system installs including gutters, guards, drainage upgrades, and sump pumps.

More storm and hurricane coverage

Get Your Home Hurricane Ready

Owner Albert walks every pre-season property personally. Free inspection, documented findings, prioritized quote. Book now while the calendar is open.

Book My Pre-Season Inspection Call or Text 904-304-3199
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