Are
Your Windows & Doors Ready for Hurricane Season?
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| Courtesy of NOAA news Online |
By
Gates Dearen
The
2017 Hurricane Season is upon us, with 15 named storms, including eight hurricanes predicted. With the
exception of Hurricane Matthew last year, many people living in Florida may
have gotten complacent, since the
Sunshine State had not seen a hurricane make
landfall since 2004 when the state
weathered four hurricanes in quick
succession.
It
has been 13 years since a hurricane scored a direct hit. Before Hurricane
Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 2005, many
residents thought they’d be able to weather the storm. As a result, Katrina
became the third most deadly storm in US history with more than 1,200 deaths
and $108 billion in damage, even though the hurricane was only a Category 3.
The
reason so much death and destruction occur
during and after a major storm like Katrina can be summed up in 2 words: Wind
and water. Most structures, especially
windows, are not designed to withstand wind speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour.
To make matters worse, high winds
tend to pick up debris which then becomes a projectile which can do significant
damage to all but the toughest windows.
Like it or not, a piece of half inch plywood is no match for a two by
four propelled as fast as a major league fastball. Even worse are those people who think that
packing tape is going to keep their windows in one piece during a hurricane.
While
wind presents its share of challenges
during a hurricane, by far the greatest proportion of damage and death results
from water. That’s because once a window has been blown
out, there is nothing to stop rain and debris from getting into a home. Even when compared with the fury of a
tornado, hurricanes produce far more death and destruction. Roger Edwards of the Storm Prediction Center
summed it up like this:
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| Courtesy of Pixabay |
“Even though winds from the strongest tornadoes far exceed that from the
strongest hurricanes, hurricanes typically cause much more damage individually
and over a season, and over far bigger areas. Economically, tornadoes cause
about a tenth as much damage per year, on average,
as hurricanes. Hurricanes tend to cause much more overall destruction
than tornadoes because of their much larger size, longer duration and their
greater variety of ways to damage property. The destructive core in hurricanes
can be tens of miles across, last many hours and damage structures through
storm surge and rainfall-caused flooding,
as well as from wind.”
How to Protect Your
Home from a Hurricane
The
reason that more damage occurs than necessary during hurricane season is
primarily due to the fact that most
people wait until the last minute to secure their homes. By then it is too late. If you are a homeowner in Florida, I strongly
urge you to take an hour or so this weekend to inspect your home to determine
where any vulnerabilities that a storm can exploit may exist. Below is a short checklist that identifies
key areas of concern.
1.
Inspect
your windows - Since these are the
softest target for a storm to exploit, you need to examine these first. Check for any gaps in caulking and weather
stripping. Open the window to determine
if any panes are loose. Then close the window and take a few steps
back before taking a hard look at your home and the surroundings. Imagine what would happen were the winds to
top 100 miles per hour. Do you have
trees nearby or a picket fence? Is there
anything in your yard or those of your neighbors that could likely come loose
during a windstorm? How old are your
windows? What kind of damage would occur
if one or more of the storm shutter were
to come off during a storm? What kind of
hurricane deductible does your homeowner’s policy have?
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| HomeRite Aluminum Impact Windows Read more about Impact windows |
2.
Defense
- What kind of protection have you procured for your windows in the event of a
storm. If you answer none, you need to
go back to item 1. If you plan on using
plywood or storm shutters, you need to understand that while wood can deflect
some debris, it will likely not deter flying tree limbs or two by fours. Also, unless they are professionally installed, plywood coverings may pop off right
when you need them most. They will also
turn your home into a dark bunker for the duration of the storm.
Corrugated steel or fabric panels, while better at handling
a direct hit, can be expensive to acquire and difficult to install once the
wind is up. Especially if your home is
more than one story tall, the last thing you want to be handling on a pitched
roof is a large panel that can quickly turn into a sail. Many people are injured or killed before the
storm hits by taking a tumble from their roof while trying to install storm
panels.
The best defense for a home is hurricane glass that
contains a sheet of transparent polymer sandwiched between two panes of
glass. Even when hit by windblown
debris, these windows are designed to keep the worst of wind and water from
entering your home.
3.
How
about your doors? – Does your home have sliding glass doors or wooden doors with glass insets? These also need to be protected in the event
of a hurricane. How does the weather stripping
look? Are there any missing screws in
the hinges on any exterior door? Do all
your exterior doors have deadbolt locks?
Deadbolts are better able to handle high winds. The last thing you want to have happen during a hurricane is a door to blow
open.
If you would like a professional evaluation of your home’s weather resistance – at no charge - please contact us at HomeRite Windows and Doors, and one of our specialists will happily assist you. We have years of experience when it comes to keeping out the worst that wind and weather can throw at you and we will be more than happy to give your home a free assessment. While it might cost a few dollars to shore up your home’s defenses against hurricanes, keeping you and yours safe during a storm is priceless.
HomeRite is a window and door dealer that specializes in energy efficient, quality products with warranties and service to match. The company has been in business since 2005. HomeRite is partnered with a manufacturer that has been producing high-quality products and providing excellent customer service for over 60 years. Windows and doors from HomeRite are some of the highest quality, most thermally efficient windows and doors on the market.
HomeRite products add substantial value to their clients’ properties. HomeRite is a member of the United States Green Building Council, a non-profit organization comprised of leaders across the industry working to advance environmentally responsible buildings.
Gates Dearen is the co-owner of HomeRite Windows and Doors in Jacksonville, Florida. He and Richard Walden have been serving the building products industry in Florida for over 25 years. They strive to match homeowners with the right windows and doors for their homes and budgets. They make the home improvement process pleasant with first-rate, energy-efficient products, affordable pricing, and award-winning installers who employ the best practices and who always treat customers and their property with the utmost respect.
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