Miami Hurricane Shutter Designs
As your home is likely your biggest purchase, if you are in a place where hurricanes are common you should do your best to protect it. Hurricane shutters are a common way of doing this. Hurricane shutters will protect your windows as well as keep out wind and rain as a result of smashed windows. Every home in the Miami area should definitely have window protection of some type. Here are a few of the most common Miami hurricane shutters.
Typical Varieties of Hurricane Shutters
Accordian Shutters
Accordian hurricane shuters are normally stored beside the window when not deployed and are attached there permanently. These shutters pull across the window and unfold in the style of an accordian when in use. A single person can fairly easily set them up and they usually have a locking mechanism to prevent theft. The downside to these shutters is they often detract from the beauty of the home.
Colonial Hurricane Shutters
These shutters come together to cover the window from beside the wall where they are attached. These can actually make the home look beautiful unlike the accordian shutters. They can’t, though, protect doors so you need to use another variety of shutter system for doors. A metal bar runs through the middle of colonial shutters to keep them shut.
Bahama Hurricane Shutters
This type of shutter is propped open above the window when not in use. They can both add to the beauty of the home and provide shade. One person can fairly easily drop them down into place. You should check on the strength of this type of shutter as it can often be weaker than other types. They also can’t be used to protect doors, similar to the colonisal stye shutters.
Roll-Down Hurricane Shutters
This type of hurricane shutter attaches above the window. The shutter rolls up into a housing when not needed. Either an electric motor or a hand crank can be used to lower them. Electric roll-down shutters are very easy for one person to lower, but you should have a battery back-up system to ensure that you can roll them up and down if the electricity goes out. Roll-down shutters are more costly than some other kinds of hurricane shutters.
Storm Panels
These shutters are generally made of metal and attach with brackets to the walls, covering the windows. When not in use, these shutters are totally removed so they don’t detract from the beauty of the home. It can be difficult for a single person to deploy these shutters because of this, however. They are quite strong and can protect both windows and doors. You’ll need a place to store the panels when not in use and you should periodically inspect the panels to ensure that they are all present and in good condition.
No matter which variety you choose, be sure to get a reputable and professional installer to make sure that your house is properly protected. Your installer can discuss the different varieties of shutters and help you choose the best variety for your particular home.
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