People who live on the East Coast and Gulf Coast regions of the United States don’t generally begin to think about hurricanes until around Memorial Day. However, the earliest hurricane to hit the United States was during the Month of May, so you would be doing yourself a great service if you began to prepare much earlier for the season.
If you live in this region, and if you are only beginning to think about hurricanes at the end of the month of May, the first storm may catch you unprepared. That’s when people begin to panic, look for plywood or some other way to secure their windows and doors against the coming storm, and they run and try to get supplies to get them through while the storm passes and things get back to normal.
However, plywood does not offer the protection your windows and doors will need during a hurricane. Wind-driven debris can crash straight through plywood with enough force to cause very serious damage inside the home.
Therefore, the best thing you can do is to prepare for hurricane season before the first storm strikes, and even before the start of the season, rather than waiting until the storm warning is sounded to begin taking precautions. Among the basics that you should have on hand to get though a storm are: water, food, a well-stocked first-aid kit and flashlights, just to name a few.
However, those are personal preparations to get you and the ones you love through the worst of the storm, but what precautions can you take to secure your home, especially your windows and doors?
Among the best products that are available to protect your windows and doors from the storm are hurricane shutters. You can find all different types of hurricane shutters, including:
Storm Panel Hurricane Shutters
Storm panel hurricane shutters:
These are the least expensive of the permanent shutters that you can add to your window. They are removable, and they tend to be sturdy. However, they require storage, can be difficult to handle, can require more than one person to hang, can sometimes not line up correctly, and they have sharp edges.
Accordion Hurrican Shutters
Accordion hurricane shutters:
These are permanently affixed, so they do not require additional storage. They can be prepared by one person without much trouble, and some can even be locked with a key, providing additional security and a theft deterrent. On the other hand, they can affect the aesthetics of the home, seeming bulky and out-of-place. They also glide on wheels, so there is a tendency for these shutters to break more easily than other shutter systems.
Colonial Hurricane Shutters
Colonial hurricane shutters:
These are also permanently affixed, and do not need extra storage space. They can be handled and made ready by one person, and they are decorative, so they can add to the beauty of your home. Then again, some colonial shutters require a center rod or storm bar to lock them in place, which can increase the time it takes to get them ready. Additionally, these cannot be used to protect doors, so they must be used with other shutter systems to provide complete home protection.
Bahama Hurricane Shutters
Bahama hurricane shutters:
Like the two previous types of shutters, these do not require extra storage since they are permanently affixed. They can be made ready by one person, and they provide privacy and shade, even when they are open. Nevertheless, they are traditionally weaker than other shutter systems, even though some newer models do protect well. There have been complaints that they block out too much light, and their design places a limit on their use.
Rolling Hurricane Shutters
These are also permanently affixed, but these are placed above the window, rather than beside the window like the other models. They are easily made ready by one person since all it takes is the touch of a button. These can also be used on doors, and they provide some of the best protection available, as well as providing a great theft deterrent. They can also add great beauty since they can be made to fit the color, look, and feel of the home.
Skandic has been providing custom shutter solutions since 1978, and we recommend roll-down or rolling shutters to protect your home against hurricanes. Skandic offers a low-impact solution that is available at the push of a button, and this solution will protect your home against the worst of the storm.
If you have to evacuate the area because of the coming storm, you can have peace of mind, knowing that your home will be protected against hurricane winds, airborne debris, and any potential vandals. Hurricane season runs from June 1st to October 31st, but you can use your rolling shutters year round to provide safety, reduce energy loss, and save money on your cooling and heating bills.
If you are considering other types of shutters because of the cost, think about the safety that rolling shutters will provide, first and foremost, and then consider t he additional savings that rolling shutters can provide. You will see that the savings will offset your rolling shutter purchase, but the peace of mind that you will have really has no price. Call Skandic and inquire about our hurricane shutters, and we will be more than happy to provide the perfect solution for your needs.