Hurricane Shutters
When a hurricane threatens, your primary concern is for the safety of your family. But your house is important too, and even though you may be evacuating the area, your home requires whatever forms of protection you can provide. The key is to make plans and provisions to protect your home long before a hurricane becomes anything more than an unpleasant possibility. This way, when a storm does threaten, you can concentrate on the safety of your family and know that you have done your best to protect your home.

General Hurricane Panel Information

Tested to Withstand Debris Impact at Speeds of 50 Feet per Second
Heavy Duty 2 inch depth

Pre-punched at 6 Inches on Center to Meet Coastal Zone Requirements

Extended Panel Legs Add Strength While Reducing the Need for Stitching or Steel Bars


Special Multi-ribbed Design for Reinforced Protection

Multiple Mounting Methods
 
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►►Tracks(Top or Bottom)
         
►►►"E" Tracks
         
►►►"F" Tracks


       ►►Studded Angle(Sill)
  
  ►►Direct Mount

Engineering
    ►►Miami-Dade County Florida
   
►►Monroe County Florida
   
►►Broward County Florida
   
►►SBCCI

Panel Calculations

We custom cut panels for each job. It will be easier for you to sort lengths if you don't have a lot of small changes in length(88", 87 1/2", 87 1/4", etc.). When you measure the windows, add 6 inches for top and bottom overlap.  For the width, you can use the table below. Each panel will cover approximately 12 - 13 inches.

 

0-12 inches

1 panel

12-24 inches

2 panels

24-36 inches

3 panels

36-48 inches

4 panels

48-60 inches

5 panels

60-72 inches

6 panels

72-84 inches

7 panels

84-96 inches

8 panels

96-108 inches

9 panels

108-120 inches

10 panels

120-132 inches

11 panels

132-144 inches

12 panels

Our Panels

 

Storm Panel Direct Mounting
 


Storm Panel Direct Mounting with KEYHOLE WASHERS

 

Product Comparison

Features \\ Product

.038

.050

.063

20 Ga

24 Ga

Miami-Dade Approved

NO

YES

YES

YES

NO

SBCCI Approved

YES

YES

YES

YES

Pending

Direct Mount

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

Header & Sill Mount

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

Sealed Engineering

YES

YES

YES

YES

Pending

Weight(Approx.)

.9 lb/ft

1.19 lb/ft

1.5 lb/ft

2.7 lb/ft

1.67 lb/ft

Hurricane Info
Should I tape my windows when a hurricane threatens?
No, it is a waste of effort, time, and tape. It offers little strength to the glass and NO protection against flying debris. After the storm passes you will spend many a hot summer afternoon trying to scrape the old, baked-on tape off your windows (assuming they weren't shattered). Once a Hurricane Warning has been issued you would be better off spending your time putting up shutters over doors and windows.

Should I put shutters over my doors ???
Obviously sliding glass doors, french doors or any door with considerable glass in it should be protected. Some double doors or garage doors should either be shuttered or reinforced. In Hurricane Andrew many of these type doors gave way.

Why should I get hurricane shutters ?
People who live in coastal counties from Texas to Maine, and those in other hurricane prone areas, such as most of the Florida peninsula, will find shutters an excellent investment for protecting their lives and property. They protect against wind and wind-borne debris. These shutters protect not only the windows or doors they cover, but also possessions and people inside the building. Once a window or door has been breeched by hurricane winds tremendous pressure is brought to bear on interior walls and upward pressure on the building's roof. This can lead to roof failure which exposes the entire contents of the building to the storm. Shutters are a first line of defense against the hurricane. Much of the damage and building failure in Hurricane Andrew could have been prevented by well installed hurricane shutters over windows and doors.

Why should I bother with shutters if I live in an evacuation zone?
Shutters will protect your house and possessions from wind damage whether you are there or not. If the storm surge should reach your home then the shutters won't protect against the flood of water. But not every place in the evacuation zone will flood. You should take every reasonable precaution to protect your property.

What are the best kind of shutters ?
The best kind are those that are affordable, are easy to install, and offer the greatest protection. Which of these properties is most important to you depends on individual circumstances. For a disabled or elderly person it may be ease of installation with either an automatic closing mechanism or accordion type shutters. For those with limited incomes plywood shutters may be the only affordable option. For most people the best compromise would be steel panels, which offer good protection, but are expensive and take effort to install. Aluminum panels are lighter and easier to install, but offer less protection and may not meet the building code for your area.  Which ever type you decide on it is important to remember that shutters are only as good as the quality of their installation. Ensure that the shutters or their anchors are installed by qualified workmen and that quality materials that meet the building code for your area are used.

What about the plastic film and shatter resistant windows I've heard about ?
Although these are remarkable products that are being improved every year, they are no substitute for shutters. If you have windows that for some reason, such as access, can't be shuttered then you may wish to consider using the film or installing the shatter resistant glass.  Remember that the film only protects the glass, and the frame is still under pressure and the whole window could fail. Windows with these treatments will still suffer damage from the impact of debris and may have to be replaced after a storm, whereas a shutter would take most or all of the energy of such an impact. Films and special glasses also might not meet the building code for your area.

How do I choose an installation company I can trust ?
The same way you go about choosing any company that performs a service. Make sure they are licensed, get references, and then check the references. Ask your neighbors and friends about who installed their shutters and if they had any complaints or recommendations. Check out a company with the Better Business Bureau, your local licensing authority, or contractor association.

When is the best time to get my shutters installed ?
The best time to have shutters installed is when the house is built so they can be a part of the design. If you own a house without shutters have them installed as soon as is practical. Keep in mind that the beginning of hurricane season may be a busy time for most installation companies. Do NOT wait until a Hurricane Watch is issued for your area.  At the start of each hurricane season you should test out your shutters. For permanently installed shutters try closing each one to make sure they work smoothly and lock tight. For panels and plywood shutters try a couple of windows and doors to ensure the hardware works and check the time you need to complete the job. Repair any problems at this time so that everything is ready when a storm threatens.  When a Hurricane Watch is issued for your area check all mechanisms and hardware again, and maybe install the more difficult shutters. If you live in an evacuation zone and it will take 2 or 3 hours to complete your shutter installation, you may want to start during the Watch phase. If you are not in an evacuation zone you should time your installation early in the Warning phase so that you are not struggling with panels during high winds.

What if I can't afford commercial shutters ?  (YES, we can install plywood for you)
The least expensive, effective method of protecting windows is probably using plywood. The key to plywood shutters is thickness and installation. Use at least 5/8 inch exterior grade plywood, it makes the shutters heavier but safer. They should be cut to fit inside the window frame, installed prior to hurricane season, marked for which window they are made for, and stored with their hardware, preferably in a dry location. Heat and moisture over time will warp plywood, and a good fit is essential to their effectiveness.  If even these shutters seem too expensive consider making them for two or three windows at a time, starting with the most vulnerable. After a time you will have your whole house ready.

PLYWOOD HELPFUL HINTS:

  1. Use 5/8 or 3/4 inch exterior grade plywood and 3- or 4-inch heavy duty barrel bolts.

  2. For a small or medium size window, only four barrel bolts are needed -- one for each side or two each on the left- and right-hand sides. Large windows need additional bolts. A good rule of thumb is to use one bolt every two feet or so.

  3. A good fit is important for the window to be protected. Some window frames may not be square, so be sure to carefully measure each side and corner angle and cut the plywood to fit. (Some planing of the wood might also be needed.) It is helpful to mark which side of the panel is on top, and which side should face out. Also write on the panel which window or door it is meant to cover.

  4. Screw the barrel bolts to the panel, place the plywood up against the window, and mark where each barrel bolt slides up against the wall. Once the marks have been made, remove the panel and drill the bolt holes into the window recess. Use a drill bit just large enough to accommodate the bolt. (The fit will be tight enough that a gentle tap with a hammer is usually needed to fasten the bolt.)

  5. For panels covering very large areas (such as sliding glass doors) you can connect additional pieces of plywood with 2x4's (or even a full-length piano hinge to make the panel easier to fold, handle, and store).

  6. Once your panels are done you may waterproof them with a coat of varnish or paint.