Hurricane Shutters

[Rita]

We're starting to research permanent hurricane shutters for our 2-story Florida cottage style home and would appreciate any input from those of you who have experience and/or knowledge.

One specific question I have is - Do the "Bahama Shutters" ("Key West Shutters") block out too much light :?: and do they work well in hurricanes :?:

[kurt]

The Bahamas block out a good bit of light - sometimes desireable. You might want a combination of Bahama and hinged, depending on where on the house they are.

Either type can be hurricane rated if built and installed properly. Most are not.

[Buckhead Rick]

My wife has spent quite sometime trying to get shutters installed on the back porch of our Watercolor cottage, but the arrival of Ivan made availability hard to come by. Who provides quality product, a wide range of type, both movabable and non, good installation and at a fair price.

[GVM]

If you're looking for wood shutters, try Mark Moody with Coastal Millwork Services.He's out of the Atlanta area...but works in the Panhandle area. 850 699-2671. We were very pleased with the product and service.

[Rita]

Any chance he has a website?

[GVM]

Don't think so.

[Buckhead Rick]

My wife spoke with Mark today, she said he was very nice, but go figure, we're from Atlanta, she's at the beach, and he's here in Atlanta, where I am ,still working, until Thurs when I get to "go to the beach".
Mark will be back down next week.

[Buckhead Rick]

our follow up, Mark backed away from the job, said he'de come but then said he could not make it. I can only guess too busy.

[GVM]

I noticed a "Hurricane Shutters" banner on one of the commercial buildings on the south side of Hwy 98 today...somewhere between the west end of 30-A and 395...I'm thinking it wasn't too far past the DoNut Hole.

[Smiling JOe]

That would be Hogan Lumber.

[drsvelte]

We've purchased Bahama-type shutters from A Shade Above on 83 just south off of 98. Made from aluminum with a variety of different colors available. Custom fitted and installed - not off-the-shelf. Responsive owners and quality work. Not cheap.

As you'd expect they're pretty busy right now and you need to anticipate a wait.

[Donna]

We just received two estimates for hurricane shutters, ranging from $30 to $50 per sq. ft. of area covered, depending upon what type you get. The Colonial shutters are more expensive, but look a lot better. We have so many French doors and windows that we decided to stick with plywood and local labor when things look bad.

[Philip_Atlanta]

anyone tried or looked at the 3M Ultra film as an alternative?

[Smiling JOe]

anyone tried or looked at the 3M Ultra film as an alternative?
Tell me about it. I have not heard of such a thing.

[Philip_Atlanta]

SJ -


3M Safety and Security Window Film helps hold your glass in place during destructive weather conditions, bomb blasts, explosions, or smash and grab burglaries. It helps maintain the integrity of a structure's outer shell to keep wind, rain and flying glass fragments from wreaking havoc inside the structure. Our films can also reject harmful UV rays, which cause fading and lower energy costs.

http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/en001/architecture_construction/window_film/node_GS2G54PG5Sbe/root_GST1T4S9TCgv/vroot_CV0K6WBQN6ge/gvel_Z6NLR34JMTgl/theme_en_US_windowfilms/command_AbcPageHandler/output_html

[Camp Creek Kid]

This product is not a substitute for shutters. It is a step up from the "masking tape" method. It stops shattered glass from flying across the room, but it doesn't prevent it from being shattered in the first place. The new building code requires that builders provide each new home with hurricane rated window protection. This includes hurricane wind rated windows, shutters, or plywood and screws.

Its too bad this won't work--it is an inexpensive and relatively easy "fix" but it just won't do the job.

[Smiling JOe]

The new building code requires that builders provide each new home with hurricane rated window protection. This includes hurricane wind rated windows, shutters, or plywood and screws.

Of course I am not in the building industry so I do not know. Is this something new? I thought if they built the house to handle the wind load, that hurricane rated 140mph wind resistant windows were not necessary.

[Philip_Atlanta]

I agree, it isn't as good as the shutters as windows would still break. However; once they break it still stops rain, wind, etc coming in. For me the pro's to it would be its always "on" so to speak and, I assume, less expensive. The con, you nailed, you still receive damaged windows.

[SGB]

After Ivan we hired a shutter company and installed a combination of accordian shutters and lexan panels on our Seagrove house. We used the accordians on the 2nd and 3rd floors and lexan panels on the first floor. When Dennis arrived we were able to button up the house by ourselves in less than 2 hours. Almost more importantly, we were able to open the house back up by ourselves in less than 2 hours. To us it was well worth the cost of the shutters (they were expensive!) to not have to go through the stress of deciding what to do when Dennis headed our way. We plan to own the house forever, so the cost of the shutters seemed worth the peace of mind.

We boarded up the house last year when Ivan headed our way and we had to hire a crew (that was expensive too!). To get to the 2nd and 3rd floor windows was very difficult. Then after the hurricane, we had to get all the plywood off before our next guests arrived, for which we hired another crew. The patching and painting was a pain.

[Rita]

The new building code requires that builders provide each new home with hurricane rated window protection. This includes hurricane wind rated windows, shutters, or plywood and screws.


Construction started after what date would fall under the new building code requirements?

[tominbham]

Hi, we have house at Seacrest and would like to know who did your shutters.

Thanks.

[Camp Creek Kid]

Of course I am not in the building industry so I do not know. Is this something new? I thought if they built the house to handle the wind load, that hurricane rated 140mph wind resistant windows were not necessary.

The new building code went into effect in the summer of 2003. The code was a result of research done after Hurricane Andrew.

Wind rated windows are part of the new building code and REQUIRED if the house is three or more stories. If a house is three or more stories, all windows and doors in the house on all levels have to be wind rated to 130 mph. A builder may substitute hurricane shutters for the wind rated windows, but it is less expensive and easier to install the windows. This includes glass and frames and the contractor must show proof of wind resistance (provided by the window companies in the form of testing results) in order to pass building inspections.

According to the new building code, a contractor must also provide hurricane window protection for two and one story houses in the form of shutters or plywood and screws that are stored at the homesite.

The wind rated windows are a very important part of making a house wind resistant, but it is to 130 mph, not 140. It would be impossible for a house to handle the wind load without the proper windows. The purpose of the windows (or shutters/plywood) is not to prevent water damage from broken glass. The purpose is to prevent the windows from breaking and causing a pressure drop in the house which can in turn cause the roof to blow off or curtain walls to fail.

[SGB]

Hi, we have house at Seacrest and would like to know who did your shutters.

Thanks.

Call Charlie of Panhandle Hurricane Shutters. His cell is 850-596-7861. Very honest, great construction knowledge, oversees the installation himself, best prices we found. He said it was ok to put his number on here, but I do have to warn you that he currently has more business than he can handle!

[tistheseason]

We have the wind rated windows on our house. However, we still board up. Are we crazy? Our thinking is that the windows might not protect against flying debris. (And there will probably be a lot of it, due to construction)

[Linda]

We have the wind rated windows on our house. However, we still board up. Are we crazy? Our thinking is that the windows might not protect against flying debris. (And there will probably be a lot of it, due to construction)


We have been meeting with builders and architects as we are planning on building a house in Watercolor. We were told that the high impact windows and doors were required by code. They are going to be alot more expensive but we were told we would not have to worry about boarding up.

[GVM]

Our house was built a year ago according to the more stringent building code. The windows are hurricane resistant (they won't blow out or break in exceptionally high winds)...but they're not 'impact' resistant. A two by four will still go through them. My window and door guy told me the impact resistant glass is about an inch thick...and extremely expensive, but not required by code.

[monique]

Has anyone used these new hurricane screens made of kevlar or a similar material? See www.stormscreens.com and or google in "hurricane screens" for more scoop. During Dennis a lady in a beachfront condo was on the phone with CNN saying she had her hurricane screens up and could sit on her porch during the storm without any wind passing through the screen. She said they were rated to 140 mph. I thought it was interesting. Since I have searched the internet for info, wondered if anyone had tried using them in the area.

[wintersbk]

Anyone look at these:

http://www.disappearingscreens.com/hurricane_shutters

Would these meet building codes?

They look like they would be very easy to put down/take up. And they are almost invisible when not in use.

[wintersbk]

Has anyone used these new hurricane screens made of kevlar or a similar material? See www.stormscreens.com and or google in "hurricane screens" for more scoop. During Dennis a lady in a beachfront condo was on the phone with CNN saying she had her hurricane screens up and could sit on her porch during the storm without any wind passing through the screen. She said they were rated to 140 mph. I thought it was interesting. Since I have searched the internet for info, wondered if anyone had tried using them in the area.

Monique, looks like we were thinking alike this morning :biggrin:

[monique]

Another web site with more photos is www.stormshutters.com. It just seemed interesting to check out as an alternative.

[Smiling JOe]

We have been meeting with builders and architects as we are planning on building a house in Watercolor. We were told that the high impact windows and doors were required by code. They are going to be alot more expensive but we were told we would not have to worry about boarding up.

I do not believe the hurricane windows are required by code. You can either have the hurricane resistant windows and doors, or build your house to handle the pressure loads, which includes things like having plywood installed on the interior of the studs as well as the outside on certain walls. I am not in the construction business, but I think I correctly understand this.

Hurricane resistant windows is much like stainless steel. Stainless Steel will rust under the right conditions and hurricane resistant windows will not resist everything. I think those windows are rated for wind pressure up to 140mph. What happens if a strong Cat 5 hits? They will give. Also, these windows' strength is directly affected by the installation process. When improperly installed, they can fail. Furthermore, these windows and doors are not puncture proof. They will resist much force, but they will give at some point.

As for boarding, if your windows are busted, yet not broken through, how expensive is the replacement cost? I thought so -- the boarding is cheaper.

If any construction gurus out there see any faults in my statements above, please correct me.

[monique]

Oh your web site looked good! Somebody needs to start a franchise of this business in the Panhandle. I have Phantom retractable screen doors here in Atlanta and they work great. How do you think the hurricane screens would do with flying debris?

[wintersbk]

Oh your web site looked good! Somebody needs to start a franchise of this business in the Panhandle. I have Phantom retractable screen doors here in Atlanta and they work great. How do you think the hurricane screens would do with flying debris?


Not sure about flying debris, but the video on the website shows a 2X4 bouncing off of it.

[monique]

I think you'd have to start talking to some of these business people in south Florida to get the scoop. Wonder if the windows would still break or what. Just seemed like something new that not many people even knew existed.

[kurt]

SJ,

There is no accurate or helpful rating that uses only wind speed. Check out design pressure (DP) ratings which include several factors.

A design pressure rating is a measure of the amount of pressure a window or door is designed to withstand when closed and locked. Each DP rating also establishes other performance factors such as structural pressure, water penetration and air infiltration. The higher a DP number a window or door has, the better the performance. As a frame of reference: DP 40 means that a window or door is tested to 60 pounds per square foot equal to a 155 m.p.h. (250 km/hr) wind and must withstand water penetration under conditions equal to 8 inches (20cm) of rain per hour driven by 50 m.p.h. (80 km/hr) winds.

If your product is not installed properly, your DP rating will mean nothing if the window ends up in your living room.

[Camp Creek Kid]

Hurricane rated windows will break when hit with debris. The rating is for wind only. The glass in the windows is the same type of glass used for car windshields.

[Smiling JOe]

Hurricane rated windows will break when hit with debris. The rating is for wind only. The glass in the windows is the same type of glass used for car windshields.

Correct, it has a plastic sheeting between the layers of glass to make it "shatter" proof, but the glass will break.

[thekid]

We hear Lexan & or crinkled aluminun shutters were an alternative. Does anyone know who handles or installs these? We have a place in Seagrove. I also heard Home Depot has something along these lines.

[Miss Kitty]

I remember talk of the condos above Beach Java having some of these screens in place. Anyone else? I can't recall which thread.

[Beach Runner]

I remember talk of the condos above Beach Java having some of these screens in place. Anyone else? I can't recall which thread.
http://www.sowal.com/bb/showpost.php?p=8915&postcount=14

Okay, I'll admit. I'm addicted to this message board.

[Miss Kitty]

http://www.sowal.com/bb/showpost.php?p=8915&postcount=14

Okay, I'll admit. I'm addicted to this message board.

Okay, I can't stop giggling at this!!!! BR...you can be healed...recognition of a problem is 90% of the cure!!!! Naaaa...never mind!

[Beach Runner]

Okay, I can't stop giggling at this!!!! BR...you can be healed...recognition of a problem is 90% of the cure!!!! Naaaa...never mind!
:floor:

[SGB]

We hear Lexan & or crinkled aluminun shutters were an alternative. Does anyone know who handles or installs these? We have a place in Seagrove. I also heard Home Depot has something along these lines.

We have the Lexan panels for the 1st floor and front of our house in Seagrove. They work well and are easier to install than plywood. The bonus is that they aren't as heavy as plywood and they're clear so that you can put them up and not feel like you're living in a cave. We used them on the front and 1st floor of the house because of cost and because you can't see the channels they install into when the panels aren't up. On the rest of the house (2nd and 3rd floors) we did accordian shutters. After now installing/closing up the house twice, I wish we had forsaken looks and gone with the accordians everywhere. They are much easier and don't require storage or strength.

I did see the metal panels at HD a few weeks ago. They don't seem as beefy as the ones my neighbor has.

[tistheseason]

Thanks for all of the information. . . now I don't feel so silly for still boarding up. It certainly makes me feel safer!

[Camp Creek Kid]

I do not believe the hurricane windows are required by code. You can either have the hurricane resistant windows and doors, or build your house to handle the pressure loads, which includes things like having plywood installed on the interior of the studs as well as the outside on certain walls. I am not in the construction business, but I think I correctly understand this.

Hurricane resistant windows is much like stainless steel. Stainless Steel will rust under the right conditions and hurricane resistant windows will not resist everything. I think those windows are rated for wind pressure up to 140mph. What happens if a strong Cat 5 hits? They will give. Also, these windows' strength is directly affected by the installation process. When improperly installed, they can fail. Furthermore, these windows and doors are not puncture proof. They will resist much force, but they will give at some point.

As for boarding, if your windows are busted, yet not broken through, how expensive is the replacement cost? I thought so -- the boarding is cheaper.

If any construction gurus out there see any faults in my statements above, please correct me.


Hurricane resistant windows OR installed permanant hurricane shutters of metal or wood (not plywood) are required by code for all windows on all levels of a home/building that is three stories or greater. That wind rating is to 130 mph.

The code requires one and two story home to have precut plywood for each window and door and screws to attach the plywood. (The reasoning is that most people cannot safely lift and secure plywood to the third story.)

What happens in a Cat 5? Structural failure of all buildings except those of reinforced concrete so why bother making windows that can withstand Cat 5 wind speeds?

[Seasider]

The code requires windows and doors to be storm rated to 130 mph 3 second gusts. If the structure is designed to withstand internal pressure, impact glass or shutters are not necessary.

[GVM]

SGB--- were the metal panels at the Home Depot in Panama City Beach?

[Smiling JOe]

The code requires windows and doors to be storm rated to 130 mph 3 second gusts. If the structure is designed to withstand internal pressure, impact glass or shutters are not necessary.

That is what I have been told by builders and tried to convey in my message.

[Seasider]

Agreed. The impact glass is designed to withstand the impact of a 2x4 shot at 100 mph. Standard storm rated windows and glass will not do that. If a window is busted out by a flying object, the structure itself must be designed to withstand the internal pressure introduced by the hurricane. That is accomplished with lots of steel strapping to hold the house down and 3/4" plywood sheathing and decking to hold it together. The houses built in SoWal these days are built like fortresses, but let's hope we don't experience a Cat 4 or 5 to test them out.

[SGB]

SGB--- were the metal panels at the Home Depot in Panama City Beach?

I saw them in the HD in Destin about 2 weeks ago.

[SGB]

Thanks for all of the information. . . now I don't feel so silly for still boarding up. It certainly makes me feel safer!

We have 2 houses to take care of, so we can't wait until the last minute to do it. We purchased the shutters just so we could easily make the decision to close up the house. We no longer have to go thru the stress of "should we board or not", since it's now not so hard and doesn't require outside help or more $$$. Reducing stress is a major motivator for us. Close up the house and don't worrry. BTW - Watercolor has boarded up most of their buildings, so don't feel silly.

[wetwilly]

Our house just completed in May 2005, has Hurricane resistant windows (rated to 130mph) and 6 sets of double french doors that the builder/supplier claims are 'Hurricane proof" and rated at 250mph. The glass is impact resistant too. But as the supplier rep indicated the Friday before Dennis came ashore, "....the Hurrican resistant doors may survive very high winds (200+mph) but if a strong Cat 5 rolls thru, the doors and the glass in them will be fine but the house will likely be flattened...". Not what I needed to hear as we were packing the Suburban to head north on the evacuation route.

[thekid]

SGB--I am coming down ASAP to try to find panels for our house in Seagrove. Did you install yours yourself? I am going the Lexan + aluminum route. Hoping to find out where I can get these materials. What do you guys suggest???

[SGB]

SGB--I am coming down ASAP to try to find panels for our house in Seagrove. Did you install yours yourself? I am going the Lexan + aluminum route. Hoping to find out where I can get these materials. What do you guys suggest???

TheKid - We purchased all the Lexan shutters and accordians through Charlie of Panhandle Shutters. They installed it and took care of everything. I don't know where you can get the Lexan panels and install them yourselves. We didn't want to take on that job and risk screwing up our house. We're handy, but not that handy! Charlie's number is 850-596-7861. He is a wealth of information, and would give you the straight scoop on what would work best for you. I don't think he sells the lexan panels unless they install them. He has to order the panels and they are usually on backorder. He might be able to tell you where to get the Lexan panels yourself. He doesn't sell the metal panels.

[thekid]

Thanks SGB, will give him a call for sure.

[GVM]

Try this for lexan and alum shutters

http://www.stormshutters.com/storm-panels/installation_photos.html