| Hurricane windows are designed to protect the | | | | provide shade from the sun when they are in this |
| feature of your home that is the most vulnerable | | | | position. If a storm threatens, they are lowered and |
| during a storm: your windows. The high winds of | | | | secured to the wall beneath the window. This is also |
| hurricanes hurl objects through the windows. This | | | | an easy, one-man job. |
| breaks the window and builds pressure up in the | | | | Roll Down Shutters are rolled up in a box which is |
| house that can break the rest of the windows and | | | | fixed to the wall above the window. When needed, |
| blow the roof off. | | | | you push a button to lower them, then they are |
| To prevent this from happening to your home, you | | | | locked in place. This is an expensive solution but offer |
| need to take protective measures. Hurricane window | | | | the most protection of any shutter system. |
| protection can offer some of this protection. When | | | | However, some peope do not like they way look on |
| choosing hurricane window protection, you need to | | | | a house, and you have to make sure the motor is in |
| think about how the product will be installed. | | | | good working order with a backup battery system. |
| Will you need to hire a contractor, or is this a project | | | | Having the system is useless if you cannot lower the |
| that you can do? What is the cost involved in | | | | shutters when you most need to, and if electricity is |
| installing hurricane windows? Obviously, you can | | | | lost, as often happens in a storm, they will not work |
| reduce that cost if you do the installation yourself. If | | | | without batteries. Storm Panels are aluminum or steel |
| you do not have hurricane windows, what are you | | | | panels that are attached to the outside of the |
| going to do to protect your home? Can you quickly | | | | window on tracks. These need to be put in place as |
| get ready for a storm if you have to hang shutters? | | | | a storm approaches. The panels slide into place in the |
| If your windows are protected, you also have to | | | | tracks, overlapping one another. This a difficult |
| think about protecting doors, including garage doors. | | | | system to operate alone. Windows made of hurrican |
| There are different shutters for hurricane window | | | | glass are made of impact resistant glass. This is a |
| protection. Accordion shutters, which come in one or | | | | new product that is being used more and more in |
| two pieces, are permanently attached the the house, | | | | new construction in hurricane zones. The windows |
| just outside of the windows. They do not have to | | | | are always in place, so no additional work is involved. |
| be hung if a storm is approaching, you just have to | | | | They can also be installed in existing homes, but they |
| fold them in over the windows. They are the easiest | | | | can be expensive. |
| to use for one person, and can be locked. Bahama | | | | They must be installed professionally in order to |
| Shutters are attached to the house above the | | | | make sure they will protect properly. These kinds of |
| window. They also stay in place all the time and are | | | | new hurricane windows do meet the proper codes in |
| propped open when not needed for protection. They | | | | Florida for hurricane protection. |