Are you living in an area prone to hurricanes? Then you already understand the importance of hurricane protection for your home. But you may be wondering how you can swing it on a budget.
Hurricane shutters are the most economical means of hurricane protection available. Depending on your budget and your needs, you have several styles of shutters to choose from for hurricane protection.
Steel/Aluminum Storm Panel Hurricane Shutters
Coming in at about $7 to $9 per square foot, these are the most popular and least expensive option for hurricane protection. They attach to the exterior wall with bolts or on tracks that are set around windows and doors. The corrugated panels overlap to provide the best hurricane protection.
There are three styles of storm panels, and they include the following:
- Tracks and bolts – The top of the panel runs on the track above the window, and the bottom is secured to bolts attached below the window.
- Bolts only – The bolts are permanently set into the wall beside the windows and doors and are loosened to hang the panels and tightened to secure them.
These are all removable and require storage. They are heavy but stack together compactly when storing. It may require two people to prepare the panels for installation and removal.
Accordion Hurricane Shutters
Averaging between $16 to $18 per square foot, these are the next most popular style of shutters for hurricane protection. They come in one-piece or two-piece hangings that are housed permanently beside your doors and windows. As their name implies, they unfold like an accordion to protect your windows and doors during a storm.
These shutters are in place permanently and do not need to be removed or stored. They are lightweight and can be prepared by one person. Since accordion shutters are permanent fixtures on your home, they are designed with aesthetics in mind and can add to the beauty of your home.
Colonial Hurricane Shutters
Colonial shutters cost an average of $18 to $35 per square foot and are another popular choice for hurricane protection. They use a two-piece louvered shutter that permanently attaches to the wall beside the window and folds together to protect the glass during a storm.
Installation can be handled by one person and requires the setting of a storm bar to lock the shutter in place, adding an hour to your prep time. They cannot be used for doors, so you must find another method of hurricane protection for those openings. Colonial shutters are also aesthetically pleasing and add to the design of your home.
These are the most expensive option, averaging $30 to $55 per square foot. Roll-down shutters attach above the window and can be removed and rolled up for storage. You can either lower the shutters manually by a hand crank or automatically with a push button, making them fast and easy for one person to manage.
In order to shield your family and home from raging winds, rain, and flying debris, you have to invest in some form of hurricane protection. Hurricane shutters are the most economical option!
