By Jim Wheeler
The four hurricanes and one tropical storm that hit my area in Florida last year (Tampa) has certainly raised the awareness for the need for storm shutters here. In fact, orders for powered and mechanical aluminum shutters are backlogged with most companies for at least six months to a year–well beyond the end of this year's hurricane season.
More dealers and manufacturers enter this booming market every day, but the memory of last year's unusually bad hurricane season–not to mention the considerable amount of repair work that still needs to be done–has local residents worried. So for the time being, the demand is far outstripping the supply, no matter where you live. (We Floridians are buying all the shutters.)
If you build in the eastern half of the United States, you probably have the threat of some sort of high winds, be it a hurricane, tornado, or "nor'easter." Perhaps you ought to think about offering storm shutters as an option. Now you just have to figure out what kind.
As I've already pointed out, the heavy-duty types probably won't be available in your market this year. But there are other options you can offer to ease the minds of nervous homeowners and homebuyers. No storm shutter can withstand all hurricane or tornado damage, but all well-made and properly installed shutters can greatly decrease the possibility of damage from flying debris and strong winds. And once the wind gets into the home, water damage and the loss of a roof can soon follow.
Here are some ideas that might help you offer an upgrade to your customers or ease the minds of those already asking about window protection:
- Plywood panels probably can be fabricated by your current carpentry or cabinet trade contractor. They are just solid, weatherproof plywood panels that can be stored away until they are needed. Of course, they have to be properly designed so they don't blow off. For details on such a design, check out www.stormsurvival.homestead.com.
- Colonial hinged shutters (see photo) are a good option, and they do add a charm to the look of almost any home. If they are securely) installed and well-built, they can offer substantial window protection. They look much nicer than the rollaway shutters, and there are those who believe that if you're going to put shutters on your house, make them look like they work. So why not go all the way and offer shutters that are both decorative and functional?
- Metal awnings, a popular choice here in Florida, can be closed during high winds to offer some protection. However, they may be less aesthetically pleasing to younger home buyers, and if they are left up during a storm, they can do more harm than good. The awnings should cover the windows completely and have some sort of sturdy lock to be of any value.
By the way, another storm-vulnerable area is the garage door, which has a large area. And most of them are lightly built. Offering heavy-duty garage doors is an option, but there also are storm doors specifically for garage doors.
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