Be Hurricane ready
Courtesy of Ralph's Tropical Weather
Storm ShuttersSession: 7There were shutter failures during hurricane Andrew, but the vast majority of those were for one of two reasons:
1. The shutters were not properly attached to the building.
2. The shutters were poorly designed and did not even meet the old building codes.
We all know that any home or building not protected is at risk of severe structural damage in a major hurricane. All shutters sold prior to 1994 do not meet the new Miami-Dade County Code.
In most scenarios storm shutters were the best line of defense against the destructive winds of a hurricane. Make sure to shutter all sides of your home or building, because hurricane winds come from all directions.
Although shutters are designed to protect windows and entry points, Shutters are NOT designed to keep out rising water or prevent wind driven rain from coming into your home.
The most common shutter system being sold under the new code are; Storm Panels, Accordion Shutters, and Motorized Rolling Shutters. Some Insurance Companies are giving shutter discounts or may require shutters as a condition of your policy. Ask your agent if your entitled to this discount.
Shutter FAQ (Click here)
Storm Panels Less Expensive between $7 and $15 per square foot Great for Homes, Detached Homes & Business For the best price around visit family owned:Storm Panels are removable vertical metal panels that are placed on brackets attached to your outside wall. One bracket is placed above the window sill and the other below the window sill. The upper and lower bracket are placed at least 3 to 4 inches inches above and below the sill and are cut long enough to allow 3 to 4 or inches on each side of the window sill. This allows for sufficient overlapping of the panels all around the window opening. Remember storm panels should not be cut to fit exactly the opening of the window they must overlap.
If installing the shutters your self, NEVER install them on the inside of the window sill or NEVER try screwing them into the window frame. Make sure your holes are drilled no further than 13 inches apart. The closer together yours screw holes are the stronger the brackets will hold. (You can use 2 inch long Pin Anchors or Tapcom screws to fasten down the Brackets)
DO NOT try to short cut by leaving a small section without paneling. Some people do not measure correctly and improvise by leaving a section without paneling. Either call an authorized shutter company to install them or measure the opening of your windows Height x Width and take it to a local Home Depot or Lowe's Home Improvement, they usually carry panels. (Remember! if you are in the middle of a Watch or Warning don't expect to find these items. Do your shopping and preparations today.)
Note: Panels are considered suitable for detached homes
Panels come in three types: Galvanized Steel, Aluminum, and Lexan Clear Plastic Panels some of the clear panels manufacturers make them in a darker tint color for more sun protection.
Steel Panels (Galvanized Steel): Steel panels are stronger however, they are heavy and could be cumbersome to install. They are also high maintenance because if stored away damp they will eventually corrode and weaken in those corroded areas. You must wipe them dry and put on a coat of WD-40 before storing them away.
Aluminum Panels: These are the best selection for panels, because they are light but strong enough to hold up to the impact of flying debris. They install with an ease and they do not corrode like the steel panels.
(0.50 or 0.63 thickness are best)
Plastic or Lexan Panels: They are very light and translucent which are good to let the outside light in. However they are more of a cumbersome to install due to all the brackets / braces, wingnuts and washers required to install them. Please note that the brackets and braces must be installed due to the flexing in the center of the panels.
Plastic is also vulnerable to sunlight and the everyday outdoor weather conditions. This means that the longer they are exposed to these environments, the better the chance for them to become brittle and weaker. So store them away after the storm passes.
Accordion ShuttersMore Expensive between $15 and $25 per square footGreat for Apartment, Condos, Residential & BusinessAccordion: Are vertically slatted aluminum shutters that not only provide weather protection but can also provide security for when you are away from home. Accordions are one of the strongest shutters in the industry. With a top and bottom track and a locking mechanism and key, they can be closed and locked with ease. They are rather costly running around $15.00 to $25.00 dollar a square foot. They can also be used in second story homes or high-rise condos. The latch can be place on the inside so the accordion can be closed from the inside of your home. You can now buy these accordions with clear panels to allow outside light to come in.
Note: square footage may have gone up in the past few years so check around for best price but do this during the off season when companies tend to give you a better price and are not so busy.
Rolling Shutters Very Expensive between $20 to $35 per Square Foot Great for Apartments, Condos, Residential & BusinessRolling Shutters: Are shade like shutters mounted in a motorized box which could either be lowered by the touch of a button from the inside of your home, or it can be lowered and raised manually via a crank.
They are easy to close and lock before a storm and are good for windows where outside access is impossible, like Condos and Apartments. They are excellent for Storm Protection and also for Security. They provide energy conservation and also provide privacy at the push of a button. However, there complexity, generally, makes them the highest priced shutters.
Bahama Shutters Fairly Reasonable between $15 and $20 per Square FootGreat for Lower level Condos, & ResidentialBahama Shutters: Are easy to lower and secure, they provide weather protection, block out noise, provides privacy, provides security from unauthorized entry or vandalism and they provide shade. Although these and other styles shutters are still available they do not seem to as popular as before.
Plywood Shutters Expensive but DANGEROUS last resort between $ 20 and $ 40 a sheet (Not recommended)Plywood Shutters: Should be ONLY used as a last resort, however, if you must use them remember that they do not meet the code and must be properly installed to the wall and NOT the window frame. Make sure you useTapcom screws and washers at least 1 inch in diameter. Make sure to add as many screws around the board as possible. DO NOT drill four holes and expect it to hold, make sure to space them no more than 13 inches across the top sides and bottom.
The plywood should be 3/4 inch pressure-treated plywood and no thinner. Plywood is heavy, cumbersome to install, need more than one person to help with the installation. They are also bulky to store and can warp from heat and humidity, and may not be reusable. If not properly installed they can fly off exposing your windows to fly debris and even damage near by buildings. Hang the board by drilling the two top corners first then do the rest of the board.
If you want to take the time during the off season and build yourself some strong plywood shutters, you have to remember that unless you have a dry place to storm them they will warp and you time, money and effort would have been wasted.
How to make strong plywood shutters that held up well during Andrew.
