Most people never give hurricane shutters a second thought (much less a first thought). Given the recent history of disastrous hurricanes, not to mention the extensive damage that ensued, it makes sense to at least consider them if you live in a geographic region where hurricanes are a very real possibility.
These types of shutters are easy to install yourself, or you can hire a professional to do it. They offer protection against the high winds that break windows and cause property damage. Since storm windows are the weaker areas of a home structure, they need the extra protection that these shutters can provide.
The best shutters for you are the ones that fit your needs. If they weren’t installed during the home building process, they’re easy to install later. If you’re on a budget, you can make simple shades from plywood. These are not optimal, but they can work in a pinch. They consist of a simple piece of plywood, with brackets that secure them to a window frame. If you’re unable to manage the opening and closing of the shutters, you can get accordion type shutters or those with an automatic closing mechanism. Generally, the best type would be the ones constructed of steel panels. These offer better protection than plywood, for instance, but they’re considerably more expensive.
Installing the storm panels of a steel shutter requires the installation of c-shaped tracks around the window that the panels slide into. The great feature is the protection they provide. A con is that they need to be stored when they’re not in use. Accordion shutters are permanently installed on the window, and store right next to the window, when it’s not in use. Some shutters roll down over the window, and store in an boxed enclosure above the window when they’re not being used.
When a hurricane strikes, it does not discriminate. It sends debris flying everywhere, across entire towns, which usually breaks windows and inflicts devastating property damage on everything in its path. Once windows are broken, a structure becomes pressurized. Once the pressure rises inside, from the wind blowing through it, the outside wind rushes over the top of the house, and creates a suction which can tear the roof off a home. Generally, after this point, the structure collapses completely.
Whatever your choice, once you have shutters installed, you’ll have that added comfort and security that comes with knowing that you’ve taken steps to protect your home from possible future damage.