January 20th, 2012
Clear hurricane panels bring at least one very apparent advantage of other hurricane shutter types. These panels are clear; they don’t block your view and allow sunlight to come in. They don’t give you the feeling of being trapped inside a place to sit out a hurricane. The shutter glass won’t yellow with age and you get 100% UV protection as well.
These shutters, usually made of high grade polycarbonate sheets, cover the external façade of a structure. They don’t splinter or warp like wood and they sure don’t look like eyesores that many metal hurricane shutters appear to be. These shutters are easy to install. They won’t envelope your property in darkness and you don’t need difficult to manage accessories when you are putting up these shutters. In other words, these shutters are easy to install.
If you are using twin wall polycarbonate sheet plastic then you are assured of hurricane protection because this material is two hundred times stronger than glass and very durable. It is very light; in fact it is five times lighter than plywood. But the lightness in no way compromises on the strength of the material. These shutters are more expensive than metal shutters but they add to the value of your house, apart from the undeniable protection they offer.
Look up between the different types of clear hurricane panel shutters. Lexan and protexan are two types you can choose from. It is easy to get price quotes online. Compare quotes and check for adherence to your state hurricane building codes.
Check if the sheets are made from recycled plastic, these will work out cheaper. Your county and your insurance company might extend you benefits in one form or the other for using recycled plastic. Do you want the panels corrugated? Corrugated sheets will be stronger but may affect visibility. Does the manufacturer take requests for custom sizes and styles? What is the best way to install the shutters? Stapling, nailing, folding, drilling, stitching, etc are some of the techniques used.
What are the different thicknesses in which these shutters are available? Does the installer have a thickness ideal for your use? Ultimately you should, for the money you spend, get complete protection from hurricane winds and airborne debris.
Tags: clear hurricane panels
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January 18th, 2012
Window rolling shutters offer the dual benefits of security and protection from hurricanes. These shutters offer solid protection which is not always the case with other shutter types. If made of aluminum composite then depending upon the inner core, which is very often polyurethane, you can get excellent thermal insulation as well. You save on energy costs in this manner.
Window rolling shutters are best installed at the time of construction though these can be retrofitted as well. Roller shutters of any type cannot compare with Bahama shutters when it comes to beauty and elegance but they outscore all shutter types for sturdy protection against the elements and against theft.
Moreover these shutters can be installed on almost any opening. You can operate them manually or have them operated via motor. Security thus provided not only gives you peace of mind but also helps you bring down the cost of insurance for your property. Window roller shutters are unique also because they can be installed on windows in commercial settings such as box office windows, ice cream parlor windows, windows on vans selling stuff. They provide security and can be operated from inside as well as outside. You can get quotes for these shutters online. Compare quotes for the sizes of the openings that have to be covered. Compare installers for the cost of installation and after-sales services. You always have the option of installing these yourself if you fancy yourself as a bit of a handyman.
Tags: window rolling shutters
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January 17th, 2012
Aluminum Bahama shutters take the traditional wood Bahama shutters to a new level. Bahama shutters, as you may know, are the most aesthetically pleasing shutters out there for windows. They add to the charm of bungalows or basically any property. Although wood Bahama shutters are pleasing to look at and have their own advantages such as protection against wind, rain, sun, and dust they are not truly hurricane proof. Moreover, in a coastal environment or even otherwise wood suffers from rot, chipping, warping, and attacks from insects that can bore holes in the wood and compromise its ability to withstand hurricane force winds. The installation and maintenance costs for wood Bahama shutters is increasing with time and even historical districts in many of America’s coastal towns have okayed the use of aluminum Bahama shutters.
Aluminum bahama shutters come with a three year warranty with most manufacturers. They can be powder coated in 100 colors or more. These shutters have the advantage of a low initial cost and low maintenance expenses. Aluminum metal Bahama shutters do not rot in cold, the paint does not flake, they don’t warp in the heat, or crack with extreme cold. The metal is not attacked by insects and salty air is tolerated fairly easily with a coat of protective paint. Many manufacturers will also make the side support and framing of aluminum so that there is no corrosion because of difference in metal bodies. The arms manipulating the shutters can be of fixed or variable length. You may wish to choose shutters with movable slats that allow the sunlight to come in. Most shutters can be opened from the inside in the range of a 45 degree – 60 degree angle.
You can get a costing for aluminum shutters from an online seller. Compare prices before committing to an installer. Or you may wish to go for a do-it-yourself job and have these fitted yourself.
Tags: aluminum, Bahama shutters
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January 16th, 2012
Accordion shutters are made of extruded aluminum and offer certain advantages unique to this type of hurricane protection product. For example they can be placed around curved surfaces and can be used for any height. You can operate them from inside or outside. They can be secured from inside and can easily be retrofitted to a construction.
These shutters are not removable and they stay in place once fitted. The advantages that these shutters bring, the materials used, and labor are factors that influence the cost of hurricane shutters. The shutters are sold on a per square foot basis. So you need to first get the area right. The cost of the shutter per opening into the number of same openings will give you the total cost. If you should decide to do the installation as a DIY job then you can save a fair bit of the cost but for this you need to know what you’re doing and try your best to get it right the first time. There are many online price comparison and price calculation sites that will give you prices once you feed in the size and dimension details. Be sure to talk to customer service representatives of the company if you have a large or a difficult to cover space.
Accordion shutters are amongst the least expensive shutter options; but ensure that the shutters you put up are hurricane-proof and meet the building codes of your county. Rolling shutters, Bahama shutters, and colonial shutters are invariably more expensive than accordion shutters. You can compare prices from suppliers before making a decision on whom to go with. Basically, be prepared to pay between $15 – $25 per square foot for accordion shutters.
Tags: Accordion shutters
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January 11th, 2012
If put in a nutshell, then the answer to the question of the popularity of wood Bahama shutters would be that these shutters are a perfect combination of beauty and functionality. These have been around for a long time and old time Florida had its landscape dotted with bungalows with beautiful wood Bahama shutters.
It is a known fact that shutters rarely elevate the aesthetics of their surroundings. These are more like a necessity to prevent your property from getting damaged during the hurricane season. This is one of the reasons why many shutter types are removable and not fixed. But this is definitely not the case with Bahama shutters and to some extent colonial shutters. This shutter type looks great on any window. Mahogany, maple, poplar, cedar are just some of the wood types that you can choose from for your shutters. A big advantage with wood Bahama shutters is that they not only protect against hurricanes but also against the elements for the rest of the year. With these shutters in place you don’t need to worry about heat damaging paint and upholstery colors. There won’t be any dust settling anywhere inside and during the cold season you can protect yourself from cold winds with these shutters. By opening the shutter slats you can regulate the amount of sunlight you wish to let in.
These shutters are usually top hinged and open from the inside. This is an advantage because it saves you the bother of having to step out of the house to manage the shutters. You can open them forty-five degrees or with a telescopic arm these can be opened ninety degrees. The arm is usually made of a light aluminum alloy. Bahama shutters can be retrofitted which is an advantage.
Of course, you cannot install these on doors. When installing these shutters try your best to have those shutters that are storm rated.
Many online stores will allow for a great deal of customization of your shutters before you place an order with them. You can choose the wood type, shutter width, inch fraction, and color. Wood Bahama shutters can be installed as a DIY procedure. Or you can approach a contractor to do the job for you.
With proper primer, paint, and chemical treatment wood Bahama shutters can easily withstand the vagaries of nature, sea air, heat and cold. Find out from the manufacturer about the product’s resistance to warping, chipping, and splitting. These are problems associated with wood shutters.
Tags: wood bahama shutters
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January 10th, 2012
Rolling shutters prices are on the higher side than almost all other types because of the tremendous advantages they offer. Let us enumerate the factors that make these shutters such a good choice and also the points that can affect rolling shutters prices. Rolling shutters can cost $16-$40 per square foot. That’s expensive compared to what a plywood shutter or even a Bahama shutter would cost you, but then roll-up or roll-down shutters have many positives and money spent on these shutters is money well-spent.
The big advantage with these shutters is that they can be operated from within and without. You can manage them manually or with a motor. So this makes them suitable for old-age homes or large homes. You can even have them centrally operated. Once installed at a difficult-to-access opening, these shutters offer great ease of manipulation not afforded by other shutter types. Rolling shutters are made from aluminum or polymer, they are lightweight and have been favored in Europe for longer than they have been popular in North America. You also offer your property excellent secondary protection with these shutters; they can prevent break-ins. Lower your home insurance and hurricane insurance premiums by having these shutters in place. They can be built to cover huge widths and heights; although in such cases it is better to use multiple shutters across the width in order to maintain shutter strength.
You need just one person to have the house storm-ready with these shutters. Keep in mind though that motorized roll-down shutters will require battery backup for them to be operated during a hurricane. These shutters take little space and are excellent value for the money you put in.
Tags: Rolling Shutters
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January 10th, 2012
Aluminum panel or more correctly aluminum composite panel or aluminum composite material are phrases describing flat panels made of aluminum that are used as cladding for building exteriors. Aluminum sheets have a non-aluminum core, often an insulating material, between them and this composite forms the panel. Such panels come in different sizes with varying insulation properties and find use in the construction industry. These panels can also be used for signage purposes.
Aluminum composite panels can easily maintain their shape as they are very rigid and extremely strong. They are also very light in weight. These are essential properties that add to their usefulness. They can easily be hauled up heights and fitted without any problem. The material is easy to paint and can take on metallic as well as non-metallic textures.
These panels are also excellent for placing false ceilings because they are easy to install and have insulation properties. Because they are light and can hold paint easily, they form an excellent substrate for hoardings. LDPE or low density polyurethane is the most commonly used insulation core. Even plywood can serve as a core. These claddings can be used for canopies and soffits as well. Their low cost and resilience are their main advantages. Fabricating these panels is easy. You can install them as a DIY exercise if you so wish. Panels available for home use do not rot and are weather resistant. You choose panels that mimic cedar shingles and wood clapboard. Keep in mind that metal expands and contracts with heat, so remember to keep allowance for this when installing aluminum cladding. The cladding should be watertight and airtight. You will have to trim the panels at places so that they fit tight, particularly at the door and window sides so that door and window trims do not get damaged. You will have to put gutter seal adhesives on the panels under the window sill. Decide in advance whether you wish to install vertical or horizontal panels.
The type of installation can be made to suit your requirements and so can the core filling depending upon the extent of thermal insulation and heat retardation that you want. When used as partitions, the aluminum panel cladding can be installed quickly and can be removed just as fast.
A good thing with these panels is that they can actually be fabricated on-site so transportation costs are avoided.
Tags: aluminum panel cladding
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January 9th, 2012
If you’re looking for hurricane shutters that not only offer great protection but also add to the architectural beauty of your property then go for colonial shutters; along with Bahama shutters these shutters look good – the only two that actually increase the aesthetic appeal. You cannot say the same about accordion or any other panel-type shutters.
Colonial shutters offer the benefit of ease of use and durability. Moreover, these can be used to cover shapes such as arches, curves, and protruding surfaces. Colonial shutters will protect openings that are situated at awkward angles. You can get special sizes custom-made. Along with hurricane protection, these shutters are also useful in controlling wind, light, and dust that can damage wall paint and lead to grime accumulation on furniture. Colonial shutters are best installed in the construction phase itself. You can get to choose from a range of colors. Earlier, these shutters used to be made of wood. While wood has its own charm and texture, it is susceptible to rot and chipping. Aluminum and polymer shutters do not present these problems.
Plan for colonial shutters and leave enough space on either side of the opening not only for installation but also for the shutters to rest on the sides when open; these shutters can be placed on doors as well. They have to be opened and shut from the outside but are easier to operate than almost all other shutters. Once installed, these shutters will stay in place. Check the local building and construction codes before choosing a colonial shutter installation.
Colonial shutters are also known as traditional shutters or colonial blinds; at one time they were most popular in New England but can now be found all over America.
Tags: colonial hurricane shutters
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January 9th, 2012
Tucson rolling shutters are known all over America for their craftsmanship and durability. Rolling shutters are for many the best shutter type because of the advantages that they offer. Not only are these shutters excellent hurricane-grade protection for your residential and commercial property, they also protect property from theft. Moreover, in places where the cold can get extreme these shutters are used as a secondary level of insulation protection. The metal slats of these shutters will have an insulating core. This helps bring down heating costs. Basically these shutters are all-rounders and once installed provide valuable service for years to come. It is best to install these shutters during the construction time.
You can choose to have your rolling shutters with vents to allow for some light to stream in. These shutters provide a fair amount of sound insulation as well depending upon the kind of insulating core being used.
Tucson rolling shutters are invariably made of aluminum which is a lightweight yet very strong material. It resists degradation from corrosion because of special powder coating. These shutters have their aluminum slats filled with polyurethane core which acts as an insulator against heat, cold, sound, and light. The shutter housing and guide rails are also made of aluminum.
Tucson rolling shutters give you peace of mind; that is the simple truth. The very crucial air space between window and shutter provides excellent insulation against both cold and heat. The cost of cooling your homes in summer and heating them in winter are brought down significantly by using these shutters. These shutters are rated for hurricanes so if you are staying in a region susceptible to hurricanes then you can feel safe after installing these shutters. A house with proper security shutters installed fetches a higher price in the real estate market; these shutters also help bring down your insurance costs too. Tucson rolling shutters are no doubt a sound long-term investment and will repay their initial costs many times over during their lifetime.
These shutters lend themselves nicely to motorized use, thus making them an ideal choice for large homes. Choose from a wide range of color and size options.
Tags: Hurricane Shutters, tucson
Posted in Hurricane Shutters | View Comments
December 2nd, 2011
Bahama shutters have long attracted residents of coastal United States for a long time, mainly because they offer the best combination of aesthetic appeal and beauty. These are basically window shutters, call it a drawback if you will but most people have no issues with shuttering their windows with Bahama shutters and using another shutter type, mainly rolling shutters on the doors. Bahama shutters have traditionally been made of wood and that is the reason behind their beauty and elegance.
However; the drawback with wood is that it is not durable. It is susceptible to the elements, particularly the salty sea air. Fiberglass has emerged as a good alternative. You can have fiberglass hurricane shutters installed in almost any type; Bahama, colonial, accordion, etc. Bahama hurricane shutters made from fiberglass not only meet but exceed the strength requirements by various building codes across the nation. One thing that you may have to check with these shutters is that amount of opening that you get from between the slats. Fiberglass shutters are available in enough and more colors, that’s no problem. They are usually available in a smooth finish and a warranty of 20 years which is four times the warranty you can expect from aluminum Bahama shutters.
Usually the maximum opening size that these shutters can protect is 60.5 inches wide by 102.5 inches high. That should take care of most windows; if the windows are any larger you can install them in sequence or choose to have them custom-made. However; shaping fiberglass for Bahama shutters presents a limitation. Unlike aluminum that can be shaped for angles, arches, and curves, the fiberglass shutters are usually rectangular in shape.
With fiberglass you continue to enjoy all the positives associated with wood with the added security of strength and the knowledge that these shutters won’t chip, rot, or split as wood is wont to. And it won’t corrode like aluminum does. Of course, aluminum can be placed over larger openings. Fiberglass shutters are expansion proof and can withstand temperature changes without warping.
Tags: Bahama shutters, fiberglass
Posted in Bahama shutters | View Comments
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