Gale-force winds can wreak havoc or destroy homes during severe thunderstorms or hurricanes. Debris in the air can damage doors and windows, letting heavy winds enter the house.
Generally, the best way to protect your small home from strong winds and flying debris is to install custom windows. But what is a custom window? Generally, it provides impact resistance, which helps prevent broken glass from littering the inside of your home when a hurricane strikes.
Keep reading to learn about your tiny home’s top storm protection options.
Hurricane Shutters
These are either fiberglass or stainless steel and are designed specifically for high-wind areas like Florida or Texas, where hurricanes regularly hit. They come in different sizes depending on how much glass you want to be covered by your shutter system;
The size of each one depends on the type of window it covers (single pane versus double pane). When measuring them, you’ll need about three feet between panels so they don’t overlap too much once installed. There won’t be any gaps between them where an object could enter. So, you and your family are safe.
Bahama Shutters
Bahama shutters are a great way to protect your home from the harsh winds of storms and hurricanes. They provide easy-to-use protection from storms and hurricanes while being durable enough to withstand strong winds.
These shutters are made with a heavy-duty extruded aluminum construction designed to withstand up to 180 mph winds. Generally, the best time to install these shutters is during construction or renovation so they can be positioned at optimal height near the roof line for maximum protection against storms.
If you have existing windows, ensure enough room between them and their opening on the outside wall of your house (as well as from any siding). It will ensure that no water enters through small gaps between those areas when heavy rains occur.
Storm Panels
Storm panels are a simple, low-cost way to protect your small home from the elements. These storm protection devices can be installed in your attic or your house’s exterior, depending on where you live and how much money you can spend.
Storm panels come in two main varieties: rigid and flexible. Both types have their benefits and drawbacks, but they serve a similar purpose: keeping rainwater out of your living space during heavy storms. As with any other type of roofing material (i.e., tile), if it’s not installed correctly or maintained over time, it will deteriorate faster than expected. This could lead to mold problems.
Storm panels are typically made from aluminum, steel, or fiberglass materials. Several storm panels are available today, with varying quality and price points. The most common type of storm panel is the rigid panel, which comes in widths ranging from one foot up to four feet.
Impact Windows
Impact windows are designed to withstand hurricane winds and other severe weather conditions. They’re made of polycarbonate, a plastic that can be molded into any shape using machines that mix and melt the material. This technology makes impact windows extremely easy to clean and energy efficient.
Impact windows are different from frameless or double-pane glass. They have an impact-absorbing core (the same kind used in Teflon) with a shatterproof outer shell made of polycarbonate or acrylic glass. This design allows maximum protection against flying debris during storms and easy cleaning when needed!
Helps Reduce Noise
You are probably well aware of how annoying and distracting outside noise may be if you live close to a busy crossroads or freeway. Installing impact windows is a simple technique to lessen the amount of outside noise entering.
It is due to extra-thick, laminated glass and tightly sealed framing that keeps noise from the interior contained and noise from the street or your neighbors kept outside. This may come in handy if you want a peaceful environment.
Lowers your Insurance Prices
Impact windows and doors are effective windstorm protective systems acknowledged by many insurance companies, so installing them can result in lower insurance premiums. It is wise to build these up for precautions and insurance purposes.
Additional Information about Storm Protection
When hurricane shutters are installed, they must be disengaged or removed after each hurricane. When not in use, some permanently attached shutters, such as accordions, fold up neatly into a protective housing, but others, such as Bahama shutters, remain in place all year.
Unless you choose storm panels, your windows will have some exterior treatment, whether folded up or not. With these comes the added maintenance of putting them on and taking them off before and after each storm.
Don’t ignore that when you use storm shutters, you’re frequently left in the dark throughout the hurricane when all of your windows are covered. Additionally, you may not have electricity, so you may need to stumble around with lamps or candles for a few days.
Because impact windows do not need to be covered, you can see outside during a massive storm and benefit from natural light when the power goes out.
Additionally, impact windows have the appearance of regular windows but have the added benefit of being resistant to solid and destructive storms. Often homeowners prefer aluminum hurricane shutters for their clean, unobtrusive appearance.
Conclusion
Protect your small home from storms by ensuring that your windows are adequately sized, weatherstripping is installed between the frame and the glass, and impact-resistant glass is used. Working with a contractor who knows what they’re doing regarding hurricane shutters or plywood windows is also essential.
Contact Muhler today to learn more about their storm protection services and products. They make sure that their materials are well-constructed and robust. Customers can expect a simple encounter when they use their assistance. They can save you money and time by taking precautions for an impending storm.
