Hurricane Shutters Protect Your Property from Damage

Hurricanes and tropical storms damage homes in the United States every year. Powerful storms strike the southern coastal areas, such as Florida, every hurricane season. The hurricane season last approximately one third of the year, and devastating storms can strike at anytime during the season. Florida, for example, suffers about a dozen storms in an average year.

Homes are in danger during the entire hurricane season. All of the storms can damage homes, not just the major hurricanes. Even minor storms can be a calamity to the people whose home is severely damaged by it. Since the hurricane season is so long, and since there are so many storms each year, the threat of damage is great.

The most vulnerable parts of homes during a storm are the windows. The high storm winds launch all kinds of debris flying through the air at high velocity. The force of the impact from the debris can cause serious damage to homes and can easily go right through windows. When that happens, not only is the window itself broken, but once the violent winds come into the house they cause more damage within, and extensive water damage from the rain.

The greatest threat from windows breaking during storm is to people. Flying glass becomes shrapnel when driven by storm force winds and can injure the people inside. The best way to defend a home and its occupants during a storm is to ensure that the windows do not break, and the best way to protect the windows from breaking is by using hurricane shutters.

There are many types of hurricane shutters. The simplest types are pieces of plywood screwed over the window. This solution has many drawbacks. First, in order to provide protection against hurricanes, the plywood must be at least ¾" thick. This results in a heavy, bulky item, especially for sliding doors or picture windows. Installing an item this large and heavy can be too difficult for many homeowners. Also, a ladder has to be used to protect all high windows. People are injured each year from falling off their ladders while trying to install heavy plywood shutters.

The best solution is to install hurricane shutters. These shutters can be either permanently attached to the house, or they can be made of small metal shutters which slide into channels which are permanently attached. The removable shutters have many advantages over plywood. Since they are in sections, they are much smaller and lighter than large slabs of plywood, making them much easier and safer to install. Also, they take up much less storage space when no in use.

Permanent shutters are the best solution. They can be either accordion style which folds sideways when not in use, or roll down style, which roll up above the windows. Permanent shutters are always ready to be closed securely over the windows in a moments notice. Homeowners can safeguard their property and family quickly, easily and safely by using hurricane shutters.