Hurricane Safety Zone

Shutters

When you hear the word shutters, you either think of the kind you put outside of your windows to make your house look nice or you think of safety shutters like hurricane shutters. It really depends on where you live.

Shutters that Beautify

If you live in the midwest, shutters are usually put on a house around windows in the front to make your house more attractive. They are usually painted the same color as your house's trim, and they add a lot of character to what otherwise might have been a very plain looking house. They serve as sort of a frame for your windows and add to them much like a picture frame can complement a picture.

There are also plantation shutters you can use on the inside of your house to cover windows no matter where you live. They are attractive and easy to use, but they are also a bit pricey. If you're in the market for plantation shutters, be prepared for sticker shock.

Shutters that Save

If you live in coastal states, the kind of shutters you probably think of the most are hurricane shutters. With hurricanes becoming more and more active all the time, hurricane shutters are becoming a necessary hurricane safety item. They will protect your home from hurricane force winds whether you decide to ride the storm out at home or evacuate. If you can't afford to buy hurricane shutters, you can make them out of 1/2"-3/4" thick plywood. This will only work, however, if they are installed properly. To do that, you want to use three or four inch barrel bolts and space them two feet apart. You also want to be sure the plywood fits the window or door that it's covering. You don't want leave spaces big enough for wind to get in. This will make the plywood ineffective.

To learn more about hurricane shutters, see our page on hurricane shutters. And to learn more on preventing fires, see our fire safety and safety products pages.