Comparing Your Options - Hurricane Protection For Your Home
Mike Sanicky
Protecting your Property, Protecting Yourself
In the recent years, Florida building code has toughened its
requirements for hurricane protection on homes as a pre-emptive strategy to
reduce future damage caused to residents during hurricanes. Coastal areas
typically have higher wind-load building codes as they have a higher possibility
of facing a hurricane. While most builders and engineers should be aware of the code requirement, but to insure your product meets code, ask to see the products’ certification documents for windows, doors and shutters to verify with your city’s local building department for acceptance.
Comparing Hurricane Protection Options For Your Home
The number one objective for planning for hurricane
protection is to keep wind and water out of your home. Hurricane protection
should be a planned tactic of any vulnerable home. Plywood should be a
last-minute alternative, and if used, properly fastened to your home. It should
be noted, plywood may get more expensive over time as it does not qualify for
insurance discounts and is periodically replaced. When choosing a product, you
should ask yourself the following:
Am I capable of installing shutters alone? If not, you may want to consider installing permeant protection, such as impact windows and doors.
What are my physical limitations? Are you able to handle lightweight aluminum?
Will I be comfortable with the look of permanent products, such as roll-down or accordion shutters style?
HOW WIND CAN AFFECT YOUR HOME
Hurricane winds are responsible for majority of homeowner’s
property loss. High winds do more damage to homes then you may know. With high winds bring wind-borne debris, picking up objects (such as tree limbs, street
signs, roof tiles, etc.) Debris can penetrate windows and doors, allowing wind
to enter your home. This creates unwanted pressure inside your house which can
be the detrimental factor to your homes structure, kicking out the walls, lifting
the roof, destroying your home.