If you’re looking to protect your home from hurricane damage, you may be tempted to try some cheap solutions. After all, who doesn’t want to save money? However, using cheap hurricane window protection options can quickly prove a regrettable choice.
Investing in high-quality hurricane protection can ensure that your home’s interior and your valued possessions inside remain as safe as possible from severe storms. Today, we are going to cover some common drawbacks of cheap hurricane protection and why you should consider upgrading to a more robust alternative.
1: Lengthy Setup Process
Making an X out of blue tape on your windows is almost useless. For anything else you will find that, one of the biggest disadvantages of cheap hurricane protection options, is that they usually require a lengthy setup process and often still provide inadequate protection. For example, some people may choose to use plywood boards as window protectors.
While this may seem like an effective way to shield your windows from flying debris, it’s important to remember that plywood is not hurricane rated. Also, installing plywood panels takes a lot of time and effort. You will also have to spend money each time on new boards and nails to secure them to your home’s exterior. That is assuming stores have plywood in stock.
Other options like shutters or plastic panels also require enough preparation time to secure over the windows. If you are anticipating a severe storm and need to evacuate, the last task you want to worry about is making sure you have enough time to set up these protective measures.
2: Incomplete Protection
Another issue with cheap hurricane protection is that it often doesn’t provide complete coverage. For example, if you only use plywood boards to cover your windows, wind and rain can still get inside your home through the spaces between the panels.
Also, testing has shown that plywood cannot protect against windborne debris. Even worse, hurricane force winds can cause incredibly strong negative air pressure that can, and has sucked the plywood right off the side of people’s houses.
Plywood boards can also cause additional damage to your home when it comes time to remove them. You will have to fill over the holes created by the nails to restore the exterior’s appearance.
Plastic panels and tarps and fabric are other examples of options that offer limited protection. You can risk your home, belongings, and safety when choosing insufficient hurricane protection.
3: Continuous Maintenance
Solutions like hurricane shutters require continuous, time-consuming maintenance to keep them in pristine working condition. For example, metal pieces may rust or erode over time, thus requiring replacement parts. You also need a sufficient place to store them in the off-season.
4: Impacts on Energy Efficiency
Boards and shutters block out sunlight. If you are sheltering in place, these options will require you to use more electricity to light your home or will place a greater strain on a generator’s resources. This can create additional expenses when your utility bills arrive.
5: Unappealing Aesthetic
Shutters, panels, boards, fabric – all of these options obstruct the beauty of your home instead of enhancing it. They can also make your home look like a fortress, which may not be the image you desire for your living space.
Hurricane Impact Windows: The Solution to These Issues
Hurricane impact windows provide the most complete solution to protecting your home from severe storms. Some key advantages include:
Superior Protection from Wind, Water, and Debris
Hurricane impact windows are made of high-quality materials that can withstand significant force. They will not shatter like traditional glass windows and they will keep the wind, rain, and debris out of your home.
Permanent, Year-Round Installation
Unlike plywood boards or fabric, hurricane impact windows are a permanent installation. This means you will not have to spend time setting them up before a storm and there is no danger of them being blown away in high winds.
No Maintenance Required
As long as your hurricane impact windows are installed correctly, they will require no additional maintenance. You will not have to worry about rust, erosion, or any other damage. Instead, just polish them like you would any other glass window when cleaning your home.
Additional Home Security
In addition to protecting your home from the elements, hurricane impact windows also provide an extra layer of security against burglars. They are difficult to break and once they are installed, they cannot be removed without significant damage being done to the window frame. This additional defense can disincentivize individuals from trying to enter your home during or after a hurricane when you are not home – providing peace of mind that your belongings will remain as safe as possible.
Complementary Aesthetics
Hurricane impact windows come in a variety of styles, sizes, and colors to complement the look of your home. You can find a style that will enhance your property rather than detract from it. They can also be custom-sized to the existing openings to retain the original aesthetic as faithfully as possible.
Greater Energy Efficiency
In addition to the protection and security benefits, hurricane impact windows also offer superior energy efficiency. This means you will be able to keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, leading to significant savings on your utility bills.
Upgrade to Better Window Protection Today
Paradise Exteriors is the proud exclusive installer of Paradise Platinum hurricane impact windows – the only ones both Energy Star-awarded and endorsed by the National Crime Prevention Council. For more information about installation, financing, and warranties, contact us online anytime or request a free estimate for your home.
