Five Reasons To Install Hurricane Shutters
If you live in an area with a high hurricane risk, shutters are the perfect solution. The following are five of the biggest reasons you should consider investing in them today.
1. Last-Minute Protection
There's no need to worry about getting the plywood covers up in time or rushing home to take care of the windows when you are trying to prepare a million other things ahead of the storm. Hurricane shutters are quick to deploy, taking only minutes to provide full protection. There are even automatic varieties and types you can control remotely, so you don't even need to be home to protect your house.
2. Insurance Discounts
Many home insurance policies will provide you with a discount on your home insurance rates if you install hurricane shutters. Not only do the shutters guard the home against damage, but they also help protect the contents. Your insurance provider understands that you pay the expense of installation in an effort to lower your losses in the event of a major storm. Make sure to call your insurance company before purchasing, though, as there may be certain specifications that are required in order to qualify for a discount.
3. One-Time Expense
Although it's possible to use the same wood boards storm after storm to cover your windows, they must be replaced eventually because the wood will become damaged from the constant nailing or the untreated and unfinished wood will absorb moisture and begin to decay. Hurricane shutters may cost a bit more than a few sheets of plywood, but they will last for longer. This means you can simply purchase them once and then forget about them for a long time.
4. Aesthetically Acceptable
You likely don't care too much about the aesthetics of your home in the middle of a hurricane, but once the storm passes, you can quickly open the shutters. Depending on the design, they may fold away so that they are nearly invisible, or they may be painted in a color that complements your siding so that they look like part of the architecture. Regardless, you won't end up with stacks of ugly wood boards leaning against the garage or taking up space elsewhere.
5. Damage Avoidance
Hurricane shutters obviously allow you to avoid storm damage, but they also help you avoid the damage of prepping your home for a hurricane as well. Nailing boards across windows or affixing large anchors for plywood window coverings can leave a mosaic of nail and bolt holes in your siding. Not only is this unattractive, but these openings also allow in moisture, which can cause wood components of your home to rot. Permanently installed shutters won't have these problems.
Contact a hurricane shutter dealer to learn more about the options available for your home.