Hurricane Shutters - Your Options

In recent years, hurricanes have become more frequent and more dangerous. Homes across the Gulf South and up the East Coast have been hit with extreme weather conditions that threaten their homes with high velocity winds and heavy rains. When you live in an area where there is a regular hurricane season, you probably have a number or precautionary tasks to complete before late summer rolls around. One of the most important investments you can make for your home this hurricane season is purchasing and installing hurricane shutters.

There are a variety of hurricane shutters to consider for your home, from the traditional and simple to advanced systems. Here are a few types of shutters to consider for your home:

Accordion Hurricane Shutters are a great option for people who do not want the hassle of installing and un-installing storm shutters every year when hurricane season comes and goes. They are designed to neatly pull to the side of the window when they are not needed. These permanently installed shutters will pull across your window, easy enough for anyone to use effectively to protect their homes. Some even have a locking option and can be used during long trips away from your house to prevent theft. Aside from their general lack of style, these are a trustworthy option.

Colonial Hurricane Shutters are what you would normally see on older homes. Today, most shutters are decorative but for very old houses and new homes that opt for this type of hurricane shutters, they can be both decorative and provide protection. On either side of the window, these shutters are attached in such a way that they can be closed together from the inside or the out. They do a fairly good job at protecting your home during a tropical storm or a Nor'easter. It is recommended that people with this type of protection consider a back up option in case these shutters do not provide enough protection for your home's windows. Make sure that each hurricane season, you inspect these types of shutters so that they are securely affixed to your home, otherwise you run the risk of them tearing off the side of your house during a storm.

Roll-Down Shutters are similar to accordion shutters. These types of hurricane shutters are installed above your windows to be rolled down. This can be less of an eyesore than accordion shutters, too. There are many strong options for people looking at this design type. Usually they are employed by using a hand crank or can be hooked up to electric motors, making preparing for a storm as easy as pushing a button. In case of a power failure, many of these designs come with backup generators, too! Although these are very popular, they are also one of the more expensive options.

Explore these options and others out there to be fully prepared this hurricane season.