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III. How can I have hurricane shutters installed?

Hurricane shutters can be professionally installed or can be installed as a do-it-yourself project. Many types of hurricane shutters require professionals to effectively install the hurricane protection product. Dealers can be found through the Internet and Yellow Pages. Today, even Home Depot and Lowe's provides many hurricane protection products for do-it-yourself-ers and dealers alike. It is critically important to ensure that dealer is properly licensed and insured. Consumers may also consult the Better Business Bureau in the United States to verify a business' reputation for quality work.

IV. What are the alternatives to hurricane shutters?

Hurricane shutters are only one of many forms of hurricane protection. New technologies have emerged to replace steel and aluminum hurricane shutters with protective fabrics. New technologies have also been developed to reinforce doors and windows themselves.

a. Hurricane screen or hurricane fabric

One of the newest hurricane protection technologies are hurricane protection fabrics. These fabrics are based on the trampoline material. The fabric is light weight and when used to cover windows and doors, the materials protective strength is comparable if not more effective than steel or aluminum hurricane shutters.

The lightweight hurricane fabric makes it easy for home and business owners to deploy their hurricane protection system quickly and safely. When stored, the fabric can be folded into many shapes maximizing size and area for storage.

Hurricane fabrics are usually installed by the same dealers who install hurricane shutters. Ask your hurricane protection dealer about the differences in storage, cost, and effectiveness of hurricane shutters and hurricane fabric.

b. Hurricane glass

This type of hurricane store protection is a permanent fixture on the outside of house. The hurricane shutters fold out like an accordion and stored on the side of the window or door.

Hurricane protection technology has helped improve the strength of windows in homes and buildings, especially the windows of high rise buildings in hurricane prone areas. The technology behind hurricane window glass allow objects to be propelled at the glass at high speeds without shattering the glass, thus allowing hurricane force winds to enter the building. Typically two transparent panels will have a glass center reinforcing the overall strength and durability of the window. Hurricane glass is often used right at construction for many new homes and businesses. Older homes can easily be retrofitted with hurricane window glass.

Click Here to review the Comparison of hurricane protection technology

I. What is a hurricane shutter?

A hurricane shutter is a type of hurricane protection over doors and windows of homes and businesses. Hurricane shutters are typically made from steel and can be manually or automatically deployed in the event of a hurricane. Currently, hurricane shutters are the most commonly used method of hurricane protection.

II. What kinds of hurricane shutters are there?

a. Storm panel hurricane shutters

Storm panel hurricane shutters are typically composed of steel or aluminum. This type of hurricane protection is attached to the home or business by bolts or tracks. Shutters are corrugated and can overlap adjacent shutters for maximum effectiveness. Steel and aluminum hurricane shutters can be very heavy and difficult to install, especially on higher floors of a building. Hurricane shutters also require longer installation and take-down times as well as require more storage space when not in use. Storm panel hurricane shutters come in three main varieties: track and bolt, C-shaped tracks, and permanent bolts.

1. Track and bolt

Track and bolt hurricane shutters attach to a permanently installed track above a window. The bottom of the shutter is attached to permanent bolts beneath the window or door.

2. C-shaped tracks

This type of hurricane shutter is secured over windows and doors using C-shaped tracks above and below the window. The threads of the bolts point outward and the holes on the top and bottom of the hurricane shutter must be aligned with the bolts in the C-shaped track.

3. Bolts permanently set

Permanently set bolts are very common and the hurricane shutters are bolted directly into the home or business. If bolts are not put back into the walls of the building after shutters are removed, the holes can fill with dirt and debris and make it more difficult for future hurricane shutter installations.

Home hurricane protection for windows and doors is a large and growing industry. Consumers can choose from several forms of hurricane protection, such as hurricane protection screens, shutters, hurricane glass, and plywood boards.

b. Accordion hurricane shutters

This type of hurricane store protection is a permanent fixture on the outside of house. The hurricane shutters fold out like an accordion and stored on the side of the window or door.

c. Colonial hurricane shutters

Colonial hurricane shutters affixed to the sides of the windows. They fold out and attach in the middle. These hurricane shutters are decorative and easy to deploy in the event of a hurricane. Some types of colonial hurricane shutters require a bar that locks the protective shutters in place.

d. Bahama hurricane shutters

Bahama hurricane shutters are permanent fixtures attached to the home or business year-round. These storm panels are attached to the top of a window and act as a shade when not in use. When preparing for a hurricane the shutters are pulled down enclosing the window and protecting the home or business in the event of a hurricane.

e. Roll-down hurricane shutters

Roll-down hurricane shutters are another type of permanently installed hurricane protection system. This type of hurricane shutter is one of the most expensive options for hurricane protection. Shutters are installed above a window or door and can be motorized as well.