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Window Protection

Guarding your home with storm panels or shutters can significantly reduce damage from a hurricane because the doors and windows are the weakest places on your house. The most important thing a homeowner can do is keep wind out of the house by covering the windows

Plan early. If you wait until a hurricane is approaching, you might not be able to get materials.

You should cover all windows, French doors, sliding glass doors and skylights. If these fail, the wind can rip off the roof and cause walls to collapse. Even if the structure remains intact, the wind can scour the interior and wreck the contents.

Many homeowners use plywood; it's the least expensive alternative and can be very effective. One can purchase a low-grade, 5/8-inch sheet of plywood measuring 4 feet wide and 8 feet long.

Plywood has its disadvantages, however. It's big, bulky and heavy. Finding a place to store it can be a problem.

You should use 5/8-inch exterior grade plywood, and add 8 inches to the width and height of the window to allow for a 4-inch overhang. Attach to the house with lag bolts and anchors. The bolts should penetrate the wall and window frame at least 1 3/4 inches for smaller windows and 2 1/2 inches for larger ones. For masonry houses, use expansion bolts and galvanized expansion anchors.

There also are a variety of commercial shutters available. Four of the most popular types of shutters are the storm panel, accordion shutter, Bahama awning and the roll-down shutter.

Storm panels: This is the least expensive of the three. These are sheets of corrugated aluminum or steel that fit into a track around the window. They cost anywhere from US $7.50 to $11 per square foot of window space, installed. The advantage is they are cheaper than other shutters, but they require a large amount of storage space, and they must be attached by hand when needed. Outfitting a 1,500-square-foot house could cost about US $3,000.

Accordion shutters: Made of aluminum, these open and close along tracks located at the top and bottom of the window. These are more expensive than storm panels, running from US $15 to $18 per square foot. They are much more convenient than panels, however, and can be easily closed and locked. The same 1,500-square-foot house could cost US $5,000 to $7,000.

Bahama awnings: These are permanently fixed, louvered awnings that collapse and lock against the wall. They cost about the same as accordion shutters.

Shutters are expensive, but some insurers may provide discounts on homeowner's policies, and they also are helpful in keeping out burglars.


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