Showing posts with label storm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label storm. Show all posts
Saturday, 10 January 2009

Storm Windows and Hurricane Shutters

Have you wondered why there are so many more hurricanes now than there were when we were kids? This seems to be a massive change in the weather conditions, and this change has dictated a need for storm windows and hurricane shutters to help protect your home from winds and weather. If you happen to live in a hurricane prone area, then you are sure to know the importance of adding hurricane shutters and storm windows in your home building plan. This can help to protect your investment from hurricanes and other severe weather. To learn more about hurricane shutters and storm windows for your home, read on.

You first need to completely understand how these hurricane shutters can work for you. These shutters help to protect the glass in your home, so that your home will not be opened up due to flying debris. Installing hurricane shutters can help to protect the inside of your home from wind, rain, and debris. Installation is simple and they simply close over your windows to help keep them secure from wind, rain, and debris that may be flying around due to the high winds and severe weather.

When a hurricane occurs, the doors and windows of your home are the areas that are most likely to open up your home to damage. These openings to the home are not strong enough to protect your home during a hurricane or severe weather. These openings into your home are very susceptible to severe wind and flying debris during a hurricane, which is why it is important to protect these areas in order to keep your home safe. The glass in windows and the design of doors makes it difficult to keep the home secure during severe weather without storm windows and hurricane shutters.

When glass breaks in your home due to things flying around, the house quickly becomes pressurized. This causes an increase in pressure and this pressure and the wind outside begins to create a suction, which rips off the roof of your home and causes further damage. If your roof is ripped off, then your home is more likely to suffer tremendous damage. In most cases, the structure will collapse, causing the home to be completely destroyed.

After learning about all of this, you are probably considering getting hurricane shutters, especially if you live in a hurricane prone area. If you can protect the vulnerable areas of your doors and window, you can help to protect your home from severe weather. This can help to protect a substantial investment that you have made in your home. Your home depends upon the installation of your hurricane shutters and your life may depend upon it as well. Purchasing these hurricane shutters before you are faced with bad weather can give you the additional protection that your home needs to withstand the storm, which will be well worth the investment in them. Home building with protection in mind can help protect this very big investment-your home.

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Rolling hurricane shutters are the most popular and convenient type of hurricane storm shutter on the market. The reason for its success is mainly do to the fact that they are not noticeable unless you have them closed.

Another benefit of rolling storm shutters is the ability to be installed on just about any building, regardless of the way you want it setup.

To open or close rolling shutters, you can have an electric motor, hand operated crankshaft or a pull tape system.

Roll down hurricane shutters can be closed or opened from inside or outside, whichever you prefer.

If you wanted to get the best use out of the system, your rolling shutters can have a central control system which will open and close them automatically on a schedule, when winds get to high or at the flick of a switch when you want them to.

The way rolling hurricane shutters work, is with a series of slats that roll up into a housing case for compact storage. When opening or closing the slats, they slide on a track at both sides.

The tracks and hood are the only parts that take up space, so usually 3 inches of space is needed for the tracks, and six to twelve inches for the hood at top.

Some Considerations When Buying

If you are still in the building process of a home or business that you need roll down hurricane shutters for, you can have them built in right along with the windows and doors so there will be no large part visible to the naked eye.

You should also consider the impact ability of your windows, because you might be able to just get some impact glass to protect them depending on the severity of storms at the location.

Another important reminder about rolling hurricane shutters is the fact that you can not have any custom shapes likes angles or arches for certain situations.

You need to also consider obstructions like exterior lights or other things that might get in the way of the installation.

Overall, you need to remember that rolling hurricane shutters have the highest initial cost, but provide the best protection available on the market.

In places where storms are frequent, hurricane shutters are essential. These devices work to protect your homes. Hurricane shutters are usually placed on windows, especially in a house that is not built with hurricane proof glass.

To help you decide which hurricane shutter is best for your house, let's discuss the different hurricane shutters available on the market. These are:

1. Storm Panel Hurricane Shutter. These are shutters usually made of aluminum or steel. The storm panel shutter type is attached to the walls and doors. It is placed around it and is bolted in. Usually, they come in corrugated style, with each piece overlapping the other for optimum strength.

Usually storm panel shutters come with the houses that are up for sale. And if they do, check every piece properly so you can do the proper adjustment to it. If you find out too late that the panels are too heavy to mount by yourself or there are several pieces missing, the results will not be pleasant.

This is also the cheapest type of hurricane shutters for sale. It is strong enough to provide the proper protection for windows and doors. But since it is removable, it needs a storage area. It may also have sharp edges making it hard to install.

2. Roll Down Hurricane Shutter. This type of shutter is attached just above the window. When in use, you roll it down. Else, you can put it up. It acts just like a metal horizontal blind, only better. It can be installed either with automatic or manual operation.

Roll down shutters will not only protect your house from hurricanes, but from burglary and theft as well. But unfortunately, these are the most expensive type of hurricane shutter, especially if you wanted the automatic one. This type needs backup batteries so they can function even if the power is out.

3. Accordion-Type Hurricane Shutter. This type of shutter can come either in a two-piece or a one-piece deal. It folds and unfolds just like an accordion. Like the roll down, it is fixed in the window. Some models provide the ability to be locked with a key.

Although these shutters are highly functional, it may look hulking outside and does not go well with some of the houses. And because its function relies greatly on the glide wheels, without proper maintenance, it can be stuck and break easily than the other types.

4. Bahama-style Hurricane Shutter. This is a single-piece shutter attached above the windows. It is lowered during the storm and is raised after. Aside from protection, it adds privacy and shade to your homes.

But because of their slanting position, it can block some light from entering the house. Low-end Bahama hurricane shutters are light and weak. If left opened during a storm, it will surely be broken by the strong wind.

5. Colonial Hurricane Shutter. Unlike the other types, this one always comes in pairs. It is attached vertically on the sides of the window and is folded together to protect it. These types can be highly decorative. It can add accent to your windows, especially if you have a colonial type of house.

Although it looks good on a window, it cannot be used on a door. Finding a match for it for your door maybe a hard task. It may also require a storm bar or a center rod so that it can be locked in place.

These are the most common types of hurricane shutters. Choose one style today and protect your homes and your families from uncontrollable natural disasters like storms, hurricanes, and typhoons.

Matthew runs a site dedicated to the latest news and developments in Hurricane Shutters and wood shutters