There are many benefits for homeowners who live adjacent to a golf course. The open space, water features, manicured grass, and beautiful trees provide pleasant views, and fewer neighbors means greater privacy and a more serene environment.
Despite all the benefits of golf course living, there are also some drawbacks. Stray golf balls can damage your home and break your windows, and the close proximity to wildlife can lead to increased dust, pollen, and debris building up on your home’s exterior. If you live by a golf course, follow these six steps to ensure your home is protected.
#1. Understand the Risks
The biggest risk associated with living near a golf course is damage from stray golf balls. If a golfer’s aim is off, their ball can smash holes in your home’s siding, break your windows, or shatter your glass patio furniture. It may vary depending on the location and legal precedence, but usually, golf courses and their patrons are not liable for damage to neighboring homes as long as the player did not intentionally aim for your home.
In addition to damage from golf balls, you may find your home’s exterior accumulates a layer of dirt and pollen from the golf course’s trees, and you may even get visits from critters and creatures. Any open space with lots of flora also attracts native fauna such as snakes, mice, birds, and frogs, and these animals may make their way into your yard or home.
Understanding the risks of living near a golf course can help you be better prepared for anything that comes your way and prevent significant damage.
#2. Reinforce Windows
If you’re worried about rogue golf balls damaging your windows, invest in some high-quality glass. There are many options out there for break-resistant windows, including tempered glass, laminated glass, and double-pane windows. Each of these types of windows are good options for people who live near a golf course.
Tempered Glass
Tempered glass is heat-treated, then quickly cooled, making it four times stronger than regular glass. When broken, it produces small, dull pieces of glass instead of dangerous shards. This ensures that if your window does break, the danger to you and your family is decreased.
Laminated Glass
When two or more sheets of glass are connected with a thin polymer layer between them, it’s called laminated glass. When laminated glass experiences an impact, usually only one layer of glass shatters. Thanks to the polymer layer, the pieces stay together, and minor damage to laminated glass can be repaired using a special resin. Plus, laminated glass can be made using sheets of tempered glass, providing even more impact resistance.
Double-Pane Windows
Instead of a single sheet of glass, double-pane windows have two panes of glass set into the same frame, a few inches apart. This ensures that if one pane is damaged, there’s a backup, so your home remains protected.
#3. Install Protective Barriers
Protective barriers such as fences or netting can prevent rogue balls from entering your property. Transparent netting is an especially great option since it doesn’t obstruct the views that made it appealing to live near a golf course in the first place.
#4. Perform Regular Window Maintenance
If something does happen to your windows, even if it’s minor damage, don’t procrastinate getting it fixed. Minor problems can quickly escalate, causing major problems that are more complicated and expensive to fix.
Regular maintenance is imperative to ensuring your windows retain their protective qualities. If you live near a golf course, it’s especially important to regularly check for cracks or chips and clean off any dirt or debris.
#5. Seek Professional Window Inspection
To ensure your windows are in peak condition and are prepared to withstand potential hazards, contact a local window technician for a professional inspection. They can assess the condition of your windows and recommend improvements, repair any damage, or replace broken glass.
#6. Landscape Planning
Finally, strategic landscape planning can create a natural barrier between your home and the dangers of the golf course. Tall trees and dense shrubs improve the appearance of your property while preventing stray golf balls from hitting your house.
Professional Service from Peak Windows
Whether you need windows for your newly constructed home or repairs or replacements for older windows, the professional team at Peak Windows can help. In addition to windows, we also install interior and exterior doors, along with basement egress doors. Contact us today to book a service appointment.