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Preparing Your Home for Peak Hurricane Season

Preparing Your Home for Peak Hurricane Season

by | Sep 5, 2024 | Checklists & Guides, Hurricane Preparedness, Landscaping & Outdoors, Maintenance

September has historically been the peak period for hurricane activity in the Atlantic Basin. While there was reduced activity around the end of August and forecasters have revised their predictions for the level of activity to be lower, the forecast remains unchanged for September and predicts a busy month. It is therefore crucial to prepare your home.

Ideally, you should always ensure you are prepared for the season, making sure you have regular property maintenance checks scheduled throughout the season. However, with everyone returning from summer breaks and the back-to-school rush, we understand that sometimes, there can be delays in getting things fixed around the home. Hurricanes can cause significant damage with high winds, the potential for flying hazardous debris, as well as heavy rain and flooding. Therefore, addressing any home issues now, before going further into September 2024, is critical.

Key Areas to Focus On

We have created a list of some key areas around your home to get checked for damage or repairs as soon as possible.

Roof and Gutters

  • Loose shingles: It’s important to check for loose shingles on your roof. Some damaged roofs and loose shingles look more obvious, but other shingles may be loose without appearing so. Either way, it’s important to get a professional to inspect them. While shingles might not have fallen off or do not appear damaged, they could have been loosened earlier in the year, for example, by winds from Hurricane Beryl, making them more likely to slip and become potentially hazardous debris if we have another storm.
  • Clean gutters: It’s vital to ensure you have your gutters regularly cleaned to ensure proper water flow and to reduce flooding around your home. Clearing them out before a peak storm period is especially important, so if leaves fall into the gutters, there is as little build-up as possible from before.

 

Windows and Doors

  • Seal cracks and repairs to surrounding walls: If you haven’t already, take some time to inspect your doors and windows for any cracks, gaps, or water leak bubbles. It’s important for these to be addressed and sealed before the next storm, or it could potentially make cracks bigger or allow more water to seep in, causing further damage.
  • Shutter checks & risk reports, or installing plywood: If you already have shutters installed, it’s always good to have a shutter check and risk report done by professionals to make sure there’s no damage. If you’re do not have shutters, it’s important to know where to get suitable plywood and have a plan in place for who can install it. However, many newer condos and homes have hurricane-proof windows, so you may not require them.

 

Landscaping and Exterior

  • Trim trees and remove weak branches: This helps prevent branches from being swept up by the wind and potentially damaging the exterior of a house or car.
  • Securing items in outdoor spaces With summer winding down, we’re sure many have had outdoor gatherings, BBQs, and, for those with kids, many toys, swings, or blow-up pools around the garden. It’s important to have a plan for safe storage to ensure everything is packed away in good time if a storm were to arise.

 

At 5 Star we’re here to help with all of your home and garden needs, including home preparations for hurricane season. For more information visit: 5 Star Hurricane Preparation Services

Please note: We kindly ask that you allow us 2 days ahead of a storm to carry out any works. This is to ensure we can complete the works in a careful, comprehensive, and safe manner. However, we also understand that sometimes issues arise suddenly too. We do offer emergency maintenance services (additional costs can apply—more information is available on our hurricane preparation page).

Types of Hardscaping (Residential)

Types of Hardscaping (Residential)

by | Jul 19, 2024 | Landscaping & Outdoors, Residential Construction

Common Types of Hardscaping in Cayman (Residential)

 

There are a variety of ways to refresh and revamp your backyard for the summer—one method being hardscaping. Hardscaping differs slightly from landscaping. Instead of using natural elements (e.g., grass, hedges), ‘hard’ materials or materials not naturally found in the environment are usually used, like brick and concrete (although wood and gravel can be used too), to create structures that provide greater functionality and aesthetic appeal to your outdoor spaces.

There are several different types of hardscaping that are common here in the Cayman Islands, some of which we will be discussing in this article.

1. Patios

Patios are normally made from concrete, stone, or brick (although brick is not as common here in Cayman). This space is usually reserved for outdoor dining or lounging.

2. Decks

Similar to patios, decks are outdoor living spaces that many use for outdoor dining or lounging. However, the main difference is that decks are made from wood or PVC boards rather than concrete or bricks, like patios.

3. Walkways

In Cayman, there are a variety of designs for walkways, with some choosing concrete, others pouring gravel, stepping stones or flagstone walkways.

4. Retaining Walls

Retaining walls can be made with stones, concrete, or wood and are used to help shape landscapes and level sloped landscapes, as well as adding a decorative touch. They also play an important part in preventing soil erosion, being built up to block rainwater/flooding, from entering an area.

Statue Garden by 5 Star

5. Driveways

Yes, driveways are a type of hardscaping too – probably the most popular type! Made with concrete, gravel, asphalt, bricks, or paving slabs etc., they provide a smoother surface to drive up to homes and some offer a higher ground for cars, helping in situations like flooding. Overall, they can enhance the overall look of the home, giving it a ‘complete feel’.

Looking to add some hardscaping to your outdoor spaces? Whether it’s doing a refresh of your current space or starting from scratch, our team at 5 Star can help. To get in touch, click the link below.

Contact us

The Importance of Tree Trimming

The Importance of Tree Trimming

by | Apr 2, 2024 | Checklists & Guides, Helpful Guidance, Hurricane Preparedness, Landscaping & Outdoors

Landscaping Services at 5 Star: Tree Trimming

Tree trimming is part of our landscaping and lawn care services at 5 Star, here in Grand Cayman. Tree trimming helps reduce the chance of overhanging branches from falling which can hit and cause damage to cars, sides of the house, power lines or even pose risk to nearby pedestrians. During hurricane season with strong winds and heavy rainfall, the risks becomes even greater. Therefore, regular tree trimming not only helps ensure you garden has a tidy, aesthetically pleasing feel, with debris being cleared, but it is also vital regarding safety too.

Legal Requirement

Going back to the hazard these trees/branches can have in regards to power lines, the Electricity Law (2008 Revised), Section 22 explains that the maintenance of these trees around power lines areas are the lawndowners responsibility and if not maintained and/or they start to pose risk to these power lines, CUC have right to do the proper trimming or removal of a tree to mitigate the risk. Therefore, it is not just important to do in general but it is a legal requirement for it to be maintained. CUC has summarised everything in a document with recommended safe distances for tree branches from power lines and higher voltage transmission lines. Their document can be viewed here. We encourage you to take some time to read through it to ensure you’re aware of all these recommendations. Take careful note of the information on p. 3 & 4 that:
  • Tree branches should ideally be 10+ feet away from the power lines.
  • Trees should be 30+ feet away from higher voltage transmission lines.
Landscapers including 5 Star are able to do tree trimming and tree maintenance for branches within the safe distance . For any branches less than 10 feet away, you must contact CUC right away for assistance.

CUC contact information (also in PDF linked above)

E-mail: service@cuc.ky

CUC’s Customer Service Team: (345) 949-5200

CUC’s Online Job Request Form:
visit www.cuc-cayman.com (click on the “Customer Service” tab on the Home
Page and navigate to the “Tree Trimming” section)

Contact 5 Star for tree trimming and other landscaping and property maintenance services:

General Enquiries: (345) 749-5749 or fill out our General enquiries online form

Urgent helpline: (345) 929 4836

Garden Preparation for Hurricane Season: Palm Trees and Coconut Trees

Garden Preparation for Hurricane Season: Palm Trees and Coconut Trees

by | Sep 12, 2023 | Helpful Guidance, Hurricane Preparedness, Landscaping & Outdoors, Maintenance

Hurricane Prep for Homes: Palm Trees & Coconut Trees

This is our third and final article in our series ‘Home Hurricane Preparedness’.

In our first article we discussed the general areas of your home you should assess before the hurricane season. In our second article, we focused in more on garden preparation in particular. For this article, we are still on the topic of preparing your garden for a hurricane however we’re looking at palm trees and coconut trees in particular!

Coconut trees and palm trees can make for a picturesque view in your commercial or residential property. However, these trees can pose a risk during storms and strong winds.

Being aware of the weather forecast along with ensuring you schedule in maintenance visits for your trees is vital.

Below are some of the main areas of the tree that should be maintained or assessed, especially before a storm.

Learn more at the end of this article about 5 Star’s landscaping services, including our urgent help service for any fallen trees or debris that needs to be cleared.

Inspect Palm Trees:

This includes looking out for any pests, areas of the tree that may be struturally compromised or any diseases.

Coconut Tree/Palms Safety:

Check the coconut trees & palms, removing any overhanging branches and/or harvesting coconuts that may pose risk during strong storm force winds

Supporting Trunks:

Taller palm or coconut trees may benefit from having braces or methods to help support it (e.g. tree straps or stakes to stablize it) to prevent the tree from falling over or the  trunk from curving.

Mulching and Root Protection:

Adding mulch around the palm and coconut trees are great for helping to retain mosture. It’s also good for soil stabilzation. However, it is important not to pile up mulch right by the tree trunk as this may lead to rotting of the tree in some areas.

Pruning Fronds:

When trimming the fronds (part of the palms), it’s best to only trim the damaged or dead ones to prevent putting extra streess on the tree.

Regular Maintenance:

Regular maintenance checks throughout the year are important to keep trees healthy, but this is especially vital during the hurricane season.

View the information below to schedule your maintenance visit with 5 Star.

Get in touch

We hope this article has given you greater insight into preparing your palm trees and coconut trees properly for a storm.

For more information on our landscaping services at 5 Star, visit here.

However, we know things can happen during storms with trees and they may fall over or cause damage to properties. We have a dedicated urgent helpline for any emergencies including fallen trees or damage to structures. For more information on our urgent help service, visit here.

Garden Preparation for Hurricane Season

Garden Preparation for Hurricane Season

by | Sep 7, 2023 | Helpful Guidance, Hurricane Preparedness, Landscaping & Outdoors, Maintenance

This is our second article in our series ‘Home Hurricane Preparedness’. In our first article we discussed the general areas of your home you should assess before the hurricane season. In this article, we will focus in more on garden preparation in particular. Strong gusts of wind during storms can cause plants and other objects in your garden to be swept away, posing risk. Below are some areas we suggest you assess and things to do in and aorund your garden before a storm comes.

View end of article to find out more about 5 Star’s Landscaping Service.

Plant Maintenance:

As mentioned in the 1st article plant maintenance including trimming dead branches from trees and shrubs is important during hurricane season to help reduce the amount of branches that may fall or be swept away by the wind. Staking and fastening taller plants to avoid them bending is also vital as it can help  increase the durability of a plant.

Harvest and Store:

Harvesting fruits before a storm, especially coconuts (which have hard shells and can be  heavy), prevent them from becoming a risk in terms of flying into cars houses. Storing produce in a safe place will also help prevent damage to your crops, for those who do farming.

Potted Plants:

It’s good to have space in your shed or inside to also store any potted plants. These ceramic plant pots could fall over and smash if left outside during a storm and the shards could also pose a risk. 

Mulching and Soil Stabilization:

It can be useful to add some mulch to your garden to help prevent soil erosion. Sandbags may also aid in securing soil in spots where it may be more likely to erode during a storm.

Irrigation Systems:

Make sure you are aware of how to turn your irrigation systems and sprinklers on and off, and ensure these are off during heavy rainfall to avoid your plants being overwatered.

Get in touch

We hope this article has given you a better feel of the key areas of your garden you should be asessing and scheduling landscaping & lawncare visits when doing your hurricane preparation. At 5Star, we have a team of trained professionals that can assist you with all of your landscaping needs:

  • Garden cleanup
  • Irrigation & drainage
  • Planting & removal
  • Urgent help
  • And more…

For more information click here.

    The Statue Garden

    The Statue Garden

    by | Aug 7, 2019 | Landscaping & Outdoors, Residential Construction

    We’re very proud of the work we did, under the guidance of a great designer, to help realise this client’s vision for a wonderful garden, filled with places to just be, relax with friends, entertain and more. The value it adds to the property is just a bonus.

    We built pretty much everything except parts of the water features. A beautiful space for relaxing meals.

    The garden runs down to the dockside, creating a seamless transition from garden to boating.

    This pergola is for relaxing evenings as the light subsides. Another beautiful space.

    There are feature walls, walk-throughs and paths throughout the garden and even an amphitheatre.