In Southwest Florida, the risk of hurricanes and extreme weather conditions is very real and can cause devastating damage. From Port Charlotte to Naples, Hurricane Ian turned this risk into a reality and many homes suffered catastrophic damage as a result.
During Hurricane Ian, many of the homes that were severely harmed didn’t have the proper hurricane protection and had plywood as their only line of defense.
Is plywood a viable hurricane shutter? Are roll-down hurricane shutters more effective and less time-consuming? We answer these questions and more below.
Is Plywood an Effective Hurricane Shutter?
Once news breaks of an incoming hurricane, many homeowners rush to their local hardware stores for plywood so they can cover their windows and doors. However, the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) has proven that plywood is less effective for hurricane protection than alternatives.
When plywood gets wet, it warps and doesn’t hold up against severe weather conditions, such as wind, rain, and projectiles. One of the best alternatives that won’t suffer from the same issues and will truly protect your home from inclement weather are hurricane shutters.
A Better Alternative to Plywood: Roll-Down Hurricane Shutters
Roll-down hurricane shutters are one of the best hurricane protection options available. Made of high-quality metal polycarbonate, these shutters are designed to offer top-of-the-line defense against both severe storms and hurricanes and they also meet all of Florida’s building codes.
One great feature of roll-down shutters for homeowners is their ease of operation. They simply roll down over windows, doors, patios, balconies, porches, lanais, and even second-story openings. This versatility makes them very popular with homeowners, as many are switching from plywood shutters to hurricane roll-down shutters.
How Do Roll-Down Shutters Work?
Hurricane shutters that roll up and down can be deployed much quicker than plywood, saving you time when a hurricane is on the horizon. Although roll-down shutters are fixed to the exterior of your home, they can easily be stored in the box they come with so you don’t have to worry about making room to store them. Plywood, on the other hand, involves a lot more work to acquire, put up, and take down.
Roll-down hurricane shutters have two types: motorized and manual. Motorized shutters can be deployed with the push of a button. If you have several motorized roll-down shutters, you can set a timer for all of them to close or open at one time or manually set each one.
Manual or “hand crank” shutters are still easy to deploy, though they require more prep time than their motorized counterparts. It’s best to get familiar with the manual operation of this type of roll-down shutter before a hurricane makes landfall so you’re familiar with how it functions.
Either option will save you a lot more time, money, and energy compared to plywood boards.
Additionally, homeowners can use hurricane roll-down shutters for insulation, added privacy, and theft protection— features that available alternatives, like hurricane plywood shutters, don’t offer.
Invest in the Right Hurricane Shutters With Storm Solutions
Protecting your home from hurricanes and extreme weather conditions is a necessary action Floridians need to take to prevent catastrophic home damage. Instead of relying on plywood, make the proper investment in reliable, durable, and easy hurricane protection with roll-down shutters.
Storm Solutions can work with you to find the roll-down hurricane shutters that match your home style and install them to give your home the defense it needs against severe storms and hurricanes.
Contact us today to learn more about hurricane roll-down shutters to protect your home.
