When building a new home, it’s important to think about more than just the colour of your countertops or

what flooring you like. You should also talk to your builder about how your home is constructed to make

sure it’s built to code or above code.

Whether it’s hurricanes, earthquakes or high-wind storms, we are all exposed to one or more of these

types of natural disasters. Unfortunately as we’ve seen or experienced, these events can be extremely

destructive, often causing significant damage to homes and communities. There are ways, however,

that you can help protect your home from the forces of Mother Nature. Structural products help support

and strengthen the frames of homes and buildings, making them stronger and safer. Although most

homeowners never see these products (they are hidden inside your walls), they play an important role in

making sure your house stays together, especially during a natural disaster.

If you own a home or are considering buying a home, you should know what’s behind your walls – it

really can make the difference in whether or not your home is still standing after the next big storm or

earthquake.

To help you learn more about the structural integrity of your home and how to improve and protect it,

we’ve put together step-by-step information on structural safety, useful questions you can ask your builder

or remodeler, and an overview of how different types of natural disasters affect your home.