Storm Shutters - Keeping Your Home Secure

Storm shutters can help to protect your home from the powerful wind force and the flying debris associated with gales, hurricanes and tornadoes. Storm shutter types can range from the fixing of temporary and removable storm panels of plywood, aluminum, clear polycarbonate or other materials - to the permanent installation of storm shutters. Any operable shutter will give a bit of protection against smaller storms, but for full hurricane protection the shutter must meet the latest and highest government standards.

These permanently installed security and hurricane shutters can range from the colonial style (side hinged) or Bahama (top hinged) styles. Alternative choices of hurricane shutters include roller shutters that close down like a garage door and can either be driven by handles or motorized. And accordion shutters that can be folded across horizontally with interlocking slats.

Any of these hurricane shutters can be chosen for providing strong protection to windows when a storm is approaching or for other security purposes. But don't fall into the trap of thinking they only need to be present on one side of a house to protect from real hurricanes. Their swirling winds and associated pressure change means that all windows should be made secure.

Aluminum v Fiberglass

Each style of shutter needs to conform to the latest hurricane standards and most of these storm type shutters are now made from aluminum, though fiberglass is also an option. Fiberglass shutters can come with a longer guarantee and do look more natural for traditionalists, but aluminum can be very attractive too.

Aluminum also has the advantage of being able to keep much larger size windows secure from storms than fiberglass can. Aluminum also has advantages where it comes to shape as well as size.

Aluminum shutters for storm and hurricane protection can be designed in virtually any custom shapes for windows like curves and arches. They can be so whilst still meeting or exceeding the strictest standards. Fiberglass though, can only meet hurricane standards in a regular rectangular shape.

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Author Notes:

Anthony Lee contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.replacement-windows-n-shutters.com. Find everything you need to know about replacement windows, shutters, tinting, basement, fiberglass windows and more.