Sarasota & Manatee County
Hurricane Prep: What to Do Before and After a Storm
Storm season changes what your property needs, and most of it is not work you need to hire out. This page is here as seasonal guidance: what is worth doing before a storm, what can wait, and what to deal with afterwards. Where a storm leaves behind the kind of mess we do handle — salt film and debris staining on a house, a driveway or a lanai, or pavers that have shifted and need resetting and resealing — those are covered on our pressure washing and paver sealing pages.
What Storm Prep Involves
- Shutters go up over the doors, windows, and sliders that need covering before a storm
- Gutters get cleared so heavy rain has somewhere to drain
- Loose items around the yard and lanai get secured or brought inside ahead of high winds
- Shutters come back down and debris gets cleared once the storm has passed
What Does Hurricane Preparation Cost?
Pricing depends on:
- Post-storm exterior cleaning is quoted as pressure washing
- Shifted or stained pavers are quoted as paver sealing or paver repair
We no longer take on hurricane preparation work itself. The post-storm cleaning and paver resetting we do handle is quoted as pressure washing or paver sealing.
How It Plays Out
Before storm season
A walk-through of the property flags which openings, shutters, and gutters need attention before storms start rolling in.
Shutters go up
Panels, accordion, or impact shutters get secured over every opening that needs covering as a storm approaches.
Gutters get cleared
Gutters and downspouts get cleared so heavy rain has somewhere to go instead of overflowing.
Property gets secured
Loose items around the yard, lanai, and pool area get brought in or tied down before high winds arrive.
After the storm
Once conditions are safe, shutters come down and storm debris gets cleared from the property.
What Sarasota & Bradenton Say
5-star Google review
“I recently hired South West Sharks for power washing, and they went above and beyond my expectations! Not only did they make my driveway, patio, and siding look brand new, but they also did an incredible job cleaning my windows. Everything is sparkling clean! The team was professional, punctual, and very attentive to detail. They took the time to make sure every surface was spotless. Friendly and efficient service made the whole experience a breeze. If you’re looking for a reliable power washing company that does it all, I highly recommend South West Sharks!”
5-star Google review
“I was so impressed Southwest sharks did it all!!!! They pressure washed cleaned my roof and my windows then talked me into getting my pavers sealed best money I ever spent fast and professional work thank you guys!”
5-star Google review
“The Southwest Sharks were absolutely amazing at taking down our shutters. It took them less than 20 minutes. Super nice!! Very Professional! Would 100% recommend them for any of your outdoor house cleanup needs.”
5-star Google review
“Highly recommend ZACH AND HIS team, They do it all from Pressure washing to Rescreening, Our driveway is impossible to clean due to all the oak trees in our yard, Now it looks like Brand new concrete was just poured with their Pressure washing system Customer Service Top Notch”
5-star Google review
“I think everybody should go and see Zack for his peculiar attention to detail even when it may come out of his own pocket. By all means, actually they give him a call.I promise you you won't be disappointed!”
5-star Google review
“Great Job on our house! These dudes get an A+ 5 stars on professionalism and attention to detail! Thanks guys!!”
5-star Google review
“These guys are the best in the business!”
5-star Google review
“Thank you Zach for all you help cleaning up the store and making it safe during our restoration. Your team was helpful and friendly. I would recommend your team to any one needing your services. The team quickly cleaned up our store and got us on our way to getting the doors back open. Thanks again!”
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you handle hurricane preparation?
No — we no longer take on that work. What we handle is what a storm leaves behind: salt film and debris staining on the house, driveway, or lanai, and pavers that have shifted or need resetting.
Do you install or remove hurricane shutters?
No, we don't install or remove shutters. If the shutters or the storm have left staining or salt film behind, that's pressure washing — see our pressure washing page.
What should happen to a property before a storm?
Generally: shutters go up over the openings that need covering, gutters get cleared so rain has somewhere to go, and loose items around the yard get secured or brought inside.
What should happen after the storm passes?
Shutters come down and debris gets cleared. If the storm left staining, salt film, or shifted pavers behind, that's exactly the kind of cleanup we quote as pressure washing or paver sealing.
What we can help with after a storm
Storm cleanup on your home's exterior, driveway and lanai ispressure washing work, and pavers that have shifted or stained are paver sealing.