6 Ways to Prepare Your Windows for Hurricane Season

For both snowbirds and lifelong natives, hurricane season is a fact of life in Florida. Preparing your home and property is almost a rite of passage for all those who call the Sunshine State home. Even inland cities like Weston, Plantation, Pembroke Pines, and Miramar need to make sure they’re ready if a storm comes their way.

As we enter hurricane season once again, it’s important to revisit your most vulnerable asset: windows. From plywood to impact resistant windows, there are a variety of options when it comes to protecting your windows from strong winds and debris. And there’s more than just broken glass on the line.

Windows that break during hurricanes allow the wind to rush through your home. This can compromise the entire structure. Houses with open or broken windows have a greater risk of having the roof torn off!

Consider Impact Resistant Windows

The best option for hurricane preparedness is impact resistant windows, otherwise known as high-impact windows. These sturdy panes of glass are actually two sheets of glass separated by a layer of vinyl. Like car windshields, impact resistant windows are made to take a beating without shattering. If they do take a direct hit from an object at high speeds, the glass will crack but the vinyl layer will keep the window intact, keeping wind and rain out.

This option also means you don’t have to put up shutters or plywood when a storm is around the corner, you can continue to let natural light in throughout hurricane season, and you don’t have anything blocking your exit if there is a fire.

At American Hurricane Solutions, we use WindGaurd Impact windows that offer more than just hurricane protection. These windows block harmful UV rays that can fade furniture. They also reduce outside noise.

After Impact Resistant Windows, Shutters Are the Next Best Thing

If a hurricane is around the corner and you haven’t had time to consider or install impact resistant windows, aluminum or accordion shutters are the next best thing. They will keep debris from coming into your home and can take a lot of abuse without losing integrity.

However, this robust option comes with a few drawbacks. They keep light out when they are installed. If you have accordion shutters, you’ll have an unsightly box above your windows all throughout the year. If you choose the manual option, you have to store them in the offseason and put them up with a storm just around the corner. They can also be expensive, especially if your home has large picture windows.

Plywood

Plywood is a cheap option and can get the job done in most circumstances. However, they carry the same drawbacks as aluminum shutters without the durability. They need to be stored throughout the year, they keep out light, and extremely high impacts may cause them to break or bend in towards the windows.

Don’t Tape Windows

There is a common myth that says taping your windows during a hurricane can prevent shattering but this isn’t true at all. A taped window can still break and, instead of breaking into tiny pieces, the tape can cause the glass to break into larger, more dangerous shards.

Clear Potential Projectiles

Florida yards are often a treasure trove of objects that can potentially be thrown by a hurricane. Anything from coconuts to propane tanks can be lifted by hurricane-force winds and flung towards windows. Bring lawn furniture indoors, clear away branches and loose foliage, and trim trees. A clear yard means fewer objects that can potentially cause damage to your home or your neighbor’s home.

Get Help Around the Neighborhood

Sometimes a tropical depression can turn into more powerful hurricane quickly and that’s when everyone scrambles to prepare with just a few days before landfall. For those instances, it’s helpful to have a group of people to help prepare. Trimming trees, putting up shutters, and moving in lawn furniture all goes a lot faster with help.

Ask your neighbors to form a group that will be ready with a plan to help each other prepare when a storm is on the horizon. This will also encourage your neighbors to allow you to help them clear their yards of debris that could potentially damage your property.

 

Modern Window Design Trends for 2017

American Hurricane Solutions is number one in windows here in South Florida! We are the most trusted name in storm protection, which makes sense, given where we work. However, it’s not all about the hurricanes down here. Today, we’re going to be talking about the top window trends of 2017.

Making Windows Energy Efficient and Sustainable

Going Green means different things to different people, but the window industry has tended to focus on energy-efficiency improvements: better insulation, innovative glazing, and energy star products. We’re expecting to see a stronger push from window companies towards high-performing, efficient windows. Going green isn’t just a trend, it’s here to stay and we’re here to help you save with it.

The desire to save money on heating and cooling and the demand for sustainable construction methods drives many decisions on window and door treatments. While wood framed windows are usually the best choice, except for rainy climates, vinyl can also be an attractive window treatment solution. Double-paned windows made with Low-E glass, with a vacuum-sealed argon fill are the most requested type of window for energy efficiency. As for window treatments, shutters give the best savings on energy costs.

Natural Light

Natural light continues to be a big deal in homes, with wider windows and doors and open plan housing taking on a supersized focus in the coming year. Lighting with the natural sun has always been a popular method for greening up homes, but this year, building professionals are taking a more technical approach. Trendsetting homeowners have been adopting a new technique called “daylight harvesting.” In these homes, automated systems monitor daylight levels in interiors, dimming or shutting off lighting when there’s enough natural light that it’s not necessary to offset lighting requirements with artificial bulbs. Homeowners have been eager to achieve not just the convenience of automation, but also a sense of innovation, green living, and natural harmony—and thankfully, these window trends strike that very balance.

Bolder is Better

Doors and windows are getting bigger, which ties into our previous section on natural light. Choose floor-to-ceiling windows to let in maximum light and give your home an open, welcoming feel. Are you remodeling? Consider replacing an entire wall with glass, or update older windows with bigger panes of glass. Go, bold people. Liven up your space with jewel tones, metallic fabrics, and geometric patterns. Adorn simple window treatments with a texture like beads, metal accents, and eye-catching tiebacks. Be sure to layer your draperies with sheer and opaque fabrics to allow for both light and privacy. Window treatments in jewel tones, which range from deep reds to subtle blues, are sophisticated and create the atmosphere of luxury in any space. Clean lines, thin profiles, and custom designs have dominated the industry in 2017, giving homes a sleek but time-honored appearance. We’re still all about maintaining those clean lines, but with a bolder pop out feel when it comes to color.

Modern Window Design Trends for 2017 - American Hurricane Solutions, Inc.