![]() ![]() Storm shutters: Roll-up or accordion shutters are permanently attached to a house, which makes them easier to deploy than plywood. More expensive than plywood are panels made from steel, aluminum, plastic, reinforced fabric, or composite materials. Pre-installing screw anchors around openings speeds up installation. Plywood also blocks light coming into a home, so it'll be very dark inside if power is lost. The downside to plywood is that it must be put up at the last minute, when a hurricane is approaching. Use heavy-duty screws and anchors (in wood) or expansion bolts (in masonry) to attach the plywood to the home's walls (not the window frames). Select boards that are 5/8-inch thick and approximately eight inches larger on each side than the opening you're covering. Set aside a weekend to measure, cut, and pre-install all the plywood for a typical house. A contractor might charge between $3-$5/sq. ![]() Plywood: An effective and inexpensive option for covering windows, figure you'll spend $1-$2/sq. That's why most insurance companies don't offer discounts for hurricane film. ![]() The downside to film - and it's a big one - is that while it may keep glass shards from becoming dangerous missiles, it does nothing to prevent wind from blowing in the entire window frame. DIYers can install peel-and-stick hurricane film for about $25/linear foot. Many homeowners also like the fact that film blocks ultraviolet light that can fade carpets and fabric. Hurricane film: Clear plastic film is popular because it's unobtrusive and can be left in place year-round. Others require the services of a qualified contractor, and the price tag can reach the tens of thousands of dollars. Some improvements cost little, and you can do the work yourself. Taping windows is ineffective against hurricanes, but there are a number of other ways to prepare windows for wind and rain. With improvements, such as storm shutters or high-impact glass, the same home would cost between $1,000-$3,500 to insure. In Florida's Miami-Dade County, for example, the annual insurance premium on an older home insured for $150,000 runs between $3,000-$8,000, assuming no hurricane-mitigation improvements. To encourage homeowners to take steps to minimize damage, many insurers offer discounts for hurricane-mitigation improvements. Wind coming in through compromised window and door openings can create dangerous pressure inside a home that can destabilize the walls and roof. A mere inch of floodwater can cause $7,800 in damage. When windows and doors blow out or are broken by wind-borne debris, they also allow water into your home. Keeping your windows and doors intact during a storm prevents injuries from flying glass. Now imagine that rock driven by hurricane-force winds in excess of 155 mph. You know the damage an errant rock can do to a home's unprotected windows or sliding glass doors. Not only can these improvements pay off during a hurricane, but they might even lower your insurance premiums. There are steps you can take to protect your windows and doors from hurricanes. Windows and doors are especially susceptible to wind damage, and water can infiltrate your home quickly if these openings are breached. ![]()
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