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Hurricane
Shutters Steel Buildings
Hurricane
shutter Florida
Accordion Hurricane shutter
Clear hurricane shutter
Hurricane storm shutter
Aluminum hurricane shutter
Roll down hurricane shutter
Discount hurricane shutter
Hurricane shutter Miami
Prices of aluminum hurricane shutter
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Should
I put shutters over my doors ???
Obviously sliding glass doors, french doors or any door
with considerable glass in it should be protected. Some
double doors or garage doors should either be shuttered
or reinforced. In Hurricane Andrew many of these type doors
gave way.
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Why
should I get hurricane shutters ?
People who live in coastal counties from Texas to Maine,
and those in other hurricane prone areas, such as most of
the Florida peninsula, will find shutters an excellent investment
for protecting their lives and property. They protect against
wind and wind-borne debris. These shutters protect not only
the windows or doors they cover, but also possessions and
people inside the building. Once a window or door has been
breeched by hurricane winds tremendous pressure is brought
to bear on interior walls and upward pressure on the building's
roof. This can lead to roof failure which exposes the entire
contents of the building to the storm. Shutters are a first
line of defense against the hurricane. Much of the damage
and building failure in Hurricane Andrew could have been
prevented by well installed hurricane shutters over windows
and doors.
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Why should I bother with shutters if I live in an evacuation
zone?
Shutters will protect your house and possessions from wind
damage whether you are there or not. If the storm surge
should reach your home then the shutters won't protect against
the flood of water. But not every place in the evacuation
zone will flood. You should take every reasonable precaution
to protect your property.
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What kinds of shutters are available ?
Click here for a listing.
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Automatic
Rolldown Shutters-These are pre-installed, PVC or
metal louver shutters. They are housed in a box above
each window and roll down along a set of tracks on either
side and lock at the bottom. If they are motorized they
can be closed with the flick of a switch. For large
windows and doors reinforcing rods must be inserted
after deployment to insure shutter strength. They may
cost from $20 to $35 per square foot of window area.
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Accordion
Shutters-These are also pre-installed. They often
are housed in a box at the side of the widnow or door,
are pulled out to deploy them, and are locked either in
the middle to the other accordion panel. They may cost
from $15 to $25 per square foot.
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Bahama
Shutters-These are pre-installed and function as shade
when not used for protection. Installation is performed
by putting the supports out of the way then locking the
shutters down onto the building. Prices vary, but cheaper
units might not be substantial enough to protect against
flying debris. Expect prices from $15 to $20 per square
foot.
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Awning
Shutters-Similar to Bahama shutters, but instead of
a louvered shade there is an awning which provides shade
and will fold down and fasten to the wall when a hurricane
threatens. Prices are similar to the Bahama shutters,
$15 to $20 per square foot.
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Storm
Panel Shutters-These steel or aluminum shutters are
stored away when not in use. They usually require a steel
channel on the top and bottom of the window that must
be anchored prior to installation of the shutters. They
require some physical effort to install and may cost from
$7 to $15 per square foot of coverage.
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Plywood
Shutters-The least expensive alternative, but you
have to make them yourself and they can be heavy and awkward
to install. They should be made of at least 5/8 inch plywood
and are fastened to the building either with lag bolts
or barrel bolts. For more information on how to make them.
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What are the best kind of shutters ?
The best kind are those that are affordable, are easy
to install, and offer the greatest protection. Which of
these properties is most important to you depends on individual
circumstances. For a disabled or elderly person it may
be ease of installation with either an automatic closing
mechanism or accordion type shutters. For those with limited
incomes plywood shutters may be the only affordable option.
For most people the best compromise would be steel panels,
which offer good protection, but are expensive and take
effort to install. Aluminum panels are lighter and easier
to install, but offer less protection and may not meet
the building code for your area.
Which ever type you decide on it is important to remember
that shutters are only as good as the quality of their
installation. Ensure that the shutters or their anchors
are installed by qualified workmen and that quality materials
that meet the building code for your area are used.
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What about the plastic film and shatter resistant windows
I've heard about ?
Although these are remarkable products that are being
improved every year, they are no substitute for shutters.
If you have windows that for some reason, such as access,
can't be shuttered then you may wish to consider using
the film or installing the shatter resistant glass.
Remember that the film only protects the glass, and the
frame is still under pressure and the whole window could
fail. Windows with these treatments will still suffer
damage from the impact of debris and may have to be replaced
after a storm, whereas a shutter would take most or all
of the energy of such an impact. Films and special glasses
also might not meet the building code for your area.
Copyright ©2001 GTIP Holdings, LLC. All Rights Reserved
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