About Hurricane Shutter

As your home is very likely your single biggest purchase, if you are in an area where hurricanes are common you should do your best to protect it. One method to accomplish this is with hurricane shutters. They will keep out the rain and wind due to smashed windows. Having window protection of some kind is definitely a requirement in the Miami area, for example. The most common varieties of shutters are listed below.

Varieties of Hurricane Shutters

Accordion Hurricane Shutters

When not deployed, accordion shutters are stored beside the window where they are permanently attached. These shutters pull across the window and unfold in the style of an accordion when deployed. They are easy to pull out and set up by a single person and some can be locked to prevent theft while you are away from the house. Detracting from the beauty of the house is the biggest downside to this type of shutter.

Colonial Hurricane Shutters

These shutters are attached beside the window on either side and then fold together on top of the window when deployed. One benefit of these shutters is that they can often make the house look more beautiful. One negative is that they can't be used to protect doors so you will need to use at least one other type of protection. This type of shutter is propped open above the window when not in use. The shade they provide can be nice and they can also be great looking. They are easy to drop down by a single person. These can be weaker than other types of shutters, so you should check on the strength of the particular shutters you choose. They also can't be used to protect doors, similar to the colonisal stye shutters.

Roll-Down Shutters

This type of hurricane shutter attaches above the window. When not needed, these shutters roll up into the housing. Either an electric motor or a hand crank may be used to lower them. While you'll require a battery backup in case the power goes out, electric shutters are quite easy for one person to roll up and down. Roll-down shutters are more expensive than some other types of hurricane shutters.

Storm Panels

These shutters are generally made of metal and attach with brackets to the walls, covering the windows. When not in use, these shutters are completely removed so they don't detract from the style of the home. Because of this, though, it can be difficult for a single person to deploy in the event of a hurricane. They are very strong and can protect both windows and doors. You'll need a place to store the panels when not in use and you should periodically inspect the panels to make sure that they are all present and in good shape.

No matter which variety you select, be sure to get a reputable and professional installer to make sure that your house is properly protected. You can discuss the various kinds of shutters with your installer and he/she can help you select the best hurricane shutters for your particular situation.

Every year, there are millions of people that invest in a new home, make updates to their current residence, and who are looking at incorporating hurricane shutters to their houses. They are a great investment to those families that live in hurricane-prone areas or just want the added safety benefit of having them. They can be the difference of having a safe home to come home to instead of a home that has been obliterated from a catastrophic hurricane. Hurricane shutters are available as: storm panel, accordion, colonial, Bahama, and roll - down.

Storm panel hurricane shutters are the most popular type out of all of the shutters that are available. For homeowners that choose to install these type of shutters, they will need to also install metal tracts that will hold the sheets of steel or corrugated aluminum in place along the window. The storm panel type are created in a corrugated style so that the pieces can overlap one another, creating an even stronger resistance to the hurricane-force winds. Since there are different storm panel shutters that are available for installation, it is up to the home owner on which style they would prefer.

One style of the storm panel shutters are inserted to the top tract, while the bottom of the panel is fastened to the bottom tract, which lies underneath the window. It is important to cover the entire window so that there are very little gaps, if any, that the hurricane's winds can get into and blow the shutters off of the windows. There are two other versions of the storm panels as well: the panels that must be installed on tracts that are permanently set into the walls of the home, and the other are shutters that must be aligned with bolts, quite similar to hanging up a shower curtain. Many people like to purchase the storm panel hurricane shutters because they are the most inexpensive out of all of the shutters. They can also be disassembled once the hurricane has passed, which does not leave the shutters on the house permanently. They are also quite durable, which is what many homeowners are looking for. On the downside, storm panel shutters often have sharp and jagged edges, are cumbersome to maneuver, and some types are too heavy for only one individual to install. Although there may be more cons to pros, the storm panel hurricane shutters are the most popular out of all of the types available on the market.

Another form of hurricane shutters are accordion style. Just as the name would suggest, the accordion style opens and shuts just as an accordion would. They are stored on tracts that are permanently placed into a home, and fold like an accordion on either side of the windows for storage. Many home owners like the accordion hurricane style, as it can offer some of the maximum protection from a hurricane's strong and gusty winds. Also, many home owners like to have the accordion style installed on their homes so that they do not have to worry about trying to apply the other styles when there is a storm that is fast approaching. The cons of having accordion shutters are that the shutters can look aesthetically unappealing on a home, and it is set permanently. As much, accordion shutters run on wheels at the bottom of the tracts. Should any of the wheels break while in use, they can ruin the effectiveness of the shutters from an impending hurricane.

Colonial hurricane shutters are another form of shutter protection that can be placed on a house in the hopes of warding off severe damage to a home. These shutters are created in a horizontal, slat-like fashion, quite similar to the old colonial style of window shadings. There are two pieces that latch together in the middle of the window, thus covering the window as protection against the storm. Although colonial shutters are still in use, they are not as popular as the other shutters. They are fastened to the house permanently, which can be a huge time saver in the event of an emergency and fast preparedness is needed. Many single home owners like this type of shutters, because only one person is needed to operate and install them for use. They also come in various ornamental styles, which can appease the homeowners. However, older, and some newer, versions of the colonial hurricane shutters must be adhered together with a rod that is centrally placed on the window. This can make for a much longer time for readiness for the hurricane - time that can be used for other preparations.

The Bahama hurricane shutters are almost exactly like the colonial style, except they come in one piece instead of two. They are installed as permanent fixtures on the home and come in various decorative styles. Some homeowners will not work with the Bahama style, as they feel that they are not effective enough as alternate versions. They are not designed to be as rugged and sturdy as the older models and their counterparts, which worries many homeowners.

Roll-down hurricane shutters are perhaps the best liked of the shutter systems, although it is also the most expensive. This style can be engaged for window protection at the push of a button. These shutter systems are installed at the top of the windows, and there is a permanent metal receptacle that houses the shutters. Once a centralized button is pushed, the roll-down shutters will drop from their homes and cover the windows. This is the best feature of the shutters, as it is easy on those that live on their own, or who may have a difficult time installing shutters by themselves. On the other hand, the shutters can fail if there is not a battery to back up the controls, leading to unprotected windows.

Protecting one's home is the most important goal when selecting hurricane shutters. It is important to know which ones work well with the homeowner's budget, as well as, if they want to invest in long-term shutters. Above all, selecting shutters that will be for the betterment of one's safety is the best purchase to make.