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
►►Header(Top)
►►►"h"
Header
►►►"u"
Header
►►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:
-
Use 5/8 or 3/4 inch exterior grade
plywood and 3- or 4-inch heavy duty barrel bolts.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.)
-
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).
-
Once your panels are done you may
waterproof them with a coat of varnish or paint.
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