Installing Plywood Window Tempest Shutters

Winter tempest domicile protection is no longer simply a word topic–it'south a necessity. Practice you live near the water in the Northeastern U.s.a.? In recent years we've faced some surprisingly devastating hurricanes, reminding us what's possible, and the need to set.

When it comes to wintertime storm home protection, the weakest, about exposed entry point for damage are windows and sliding glass doors.

Installing Plywood Window Storm Shutters: Better than tape.

"Don't bother taping your windows" says Paul Craig, owner of Shade & Shutter Systems,

"That's a waste of time," he cautions. "It may keep glass from flying beyond the room, just it won't end tree limbs and other objects from crashing through the window equally winds hit 80 miles per hour and college."

Installing Plywood Window Storm Shutters: One broken window tin bring the house down!

A cleaved window tin can mean more than water and wind damage in a item room. Once your windows are breached, the current of air can create upward force per unit area on the roof, which might be enough to send it flying. If this happens, y'all are likely facing a full loss.

If this reality motivates you to protect your domicile, the options are plywood, shutters constructed from metals or new lighter technologies such equally VuSafe, a come across-through polycarbonate hurricane tempest panel.

Installing plywood Storm Window Shutters: Plan Ahead

Plywood covers are relatively cheap and can adequately protect a domicile. Boards should exist five-eighths to iii-quarters inch thick and 8 inches wider than the area existence covered. Credits: Protecting Your Windows and Sliding Doors in a Storm | Luxx Cape …

One obvious advantage of planning now is unproblematic availability of materials. When a storm is already on its manner and everyone is frantically trying to prepare, the normal supply system is rapidly overloaded. You may not exist quick enough to buy the materials you need, you may non become enough material to do the job properly and, quite possibly, you lot may end up paying far more the standard price.

Taking the time to start ownership plywood now offers many advantages: y'all tin spread your purchases out to brand them more affordable and convenient, take advantage of whatever lumberyard sales, and ensure that, if you don't already own a pickup truck or similar vehicle, yous can borrow one to ship your materials. Obviously, information technology likewise ensures that you can actually become the materials you demand.

Buying ahead likewise means that y'all can piece of work ahead. One of the many furnishings of major storms (and other potential disasters) is their consequence on electrical power. And since the operative word in "power tool" is power, cutting plywood to fit your windows properly is a task all-time done well in advance of a disaster.

 Credits: Installing Improvised Window Shutters | American Handgunner

Installing Plywood Window Storm Shutters: All-time Blazon of Plywood

Installing Plywood Window Storm ShuttersTo brand plywood hurricane shutters, outset make sure that you purchase exterior-grade plywood that is at least 5/eight″ thick. Then, take a close await at the windows of your home and determine the best style to install the shutters. If you're lucky, the windows will be set in from the surface of the exterior wall at least 2″. If so, you can cut your shutters to fit inside the window recess. This keeps the high winds from getting under the edges of the plywood and vehement it off the business firm.

Installing Plywood Window Storm Shutters: Cutting Plywood to Fit

To cutting your plywood to fit, measure both the pinnacle and bottom and both sides of the window recess and bank check the corners with a carpenter's square. Most windows are not perfectly square, so adjust accordingly to replicate its actual shape. Transfer that shape to your plywood and cut it out with a table saw or jigsaw.

Installing Plywood Window Storm Shutters: Bolting the Plywood

Installing Plywood Window Storm ShuttersWith the panel cut to size, the next footstep is to install butt bolts (the latch hardware that operates like the bolt of a rifle) about every 18″ around each panel. The ends of the bolts should be flush with the edges and the protruding end of the bolt facing outboard. Place the panel in the window, marker the spots where the barrel bolts touch the window recess, and then drill holes into the recess to let the bolts to extend into them. If the wall around your window is brick, concrete, or stucco, you'll need a masonry bit to do this — and a fair corporeality of time. That'south another reason to offset now.

Installing Plywood Window Storm Shutters: Mounting the Plywood

If you don't take recessed windows, y'all'll have to mount your plywood shutters affluent to the surface of the outer wall. You'll too have to anchor them very securely into the framework of the wall to proceed them from being torn off by the wind. To do this, it's best to cut the panels at least 8″ larger than the size of the window and then you'll have four″ overlap on all 4 sides. Drill a series of holes 2″ from every edge about 18″ apart. Then, center the shutter over the window and mark through the holes onto the wall. Installing Plywood Window Storm ShuttersWith those marks as guides, drill holes into the wall to receive lag bolts. For windows three×4′ or smaller installed on a woods frame house, use 1/4″ lag bolts and plastic-coated permanent anchors. The lag bolts must penetrate the siding and frame surrounding the window at least 1-3/iv″. For larger windows, apply iii/8″ lag bolts that penetrate the wall and surrounding frame at least 2-i/2″.

Installing Plywood Window Storm Shutters: Finishing Touches

Installing Plywood Window Storm Shutters To finish your panel, drill 4 small holes in the center of the console to equalize air force per unit area and, if necessary, attach handles to information technology to make it easier to maneuver. You lot'll as well want to waterproof it with exterior pigment or weatherproof sealant. Finally, practice a basic sketch of your business firm and number every window that receives a shutter. And so, as you complete each panel, number them to match to forestall defoliation when installing them.  Credits: Installing Improvised Window Shutters | American Handgunner

Installing Plywood Window Storm Shutters: Condom Plywood Storage

Safely storing all this plywood you're prepared against a potential hurricane brings to mind the event of termites. Imagine in those frantic moments of hurricane preparation that yous go to the plywood, all carefully pre-cut and staced, only to observe information technology discintegrating and useless due to termite action!

Installing Plywood Window Storm ShuttersAvoid this potential disaster past…

Calling ApolloX Pest Command

(888) 499-7378

We'll brand sure your plywood shutters, and additionally all the wooden structure of your habitation is protected against termite invasion!