If you live in hurricane zones, window storm protectors such as hurricane shutters are a must-have. Once your windows are broken, they allow wind, rain, and debris to enter your house. Hurricane shutters are specifically built to withstand strong winds and prevent home damage. Besides ensuring better protection for the most vulnerable parts of your home, they also look way better than plywood.
Consider These Factors When Choosing Hurricane Shutters
Strength
You’ll want shutters made from the strongest materials to defend your windows when a hurricane warning comes through. For this reason, it’s best to invest in tough and durable materials that are built to resist heavy impacts. Aluminum, steel, and polycarbonate materials, such as Lexan, are among the most popular choices for this application.
Longevity
You’ll want to install high-performance shutters designed to stand the test of time. It’s important to note that their life expectancy largely depends on the type of shutter, quality of manufacture, and whether they’re primarily installed for decorative or functional purposes. While exterior shutters made from vinyl plastic, wood, or composite typically last for 10 to 20 years, aluminum, steel, and polycarbonate ones last more than 25 years.
Ease of Use
Operating hurricane shutters shouldn’t take too much time and effort. One person should get the shutters ready to face severe weather conditions within minutes. While roll-down shutters that require a hand crank to operate are great, people looking to deploy their shutters with just a push of a button choose those that run on a motor.
Aesthetic Appeal
Although hurricane window shutters are the first line of defense between your home and the outside elements, they can also complement your home’s architectural design. Since they come in various styles and materials, you’ll have plenty of options.
For example, Bahama shutters work best for standard window treatments because they’re hinged at the top of the window and prop outward like awnings. Since these shutters come in all colors, they’re a popular choice among residential and commercial property owners looking to match them to their building’s exterior design.
Workmanship
If you’re looking to find hurricane shutters manufactured and installed to the highest product engineering requirements, it’s best to work with a certified professional. These people know all aspects of the hurricane protection industry, including product testing, measuring, design, customer service, and business operations.
It would be best to do your research to ensure that your prospective contractor is licensed, certified, insured, and has a proven track record of quality and seamless installations in your area. Unless you find a company with these qualities, you can’t expect to get hurricane shutters that stand up to the strictest inspection codes and quality control.
Shopping for High-Quality Window Storm Protectors?
At Port City Hurricane Shutters, we offer high-quality hurricane shutters at fair prices across the board. Since we believe that hurricane protection is more than just a quality product, we demonstrate strong business ethics and meet even higher standards than those dictated by local codes.
Moreover, we don’t take customer service lightly. You can turn to us when other companies don’t service the shutters they installed. Even if we didn’t install your shutters, expect us to take a look and remedy the problem. Contact us today to learn more about our products, get a free quote, or make an appointment.