Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Due Diligence When Installing Hurricane Shutters

Thursday, September 29th, 2011

Almost any type of hurricane shutter can be installed at home by yourself in a DIY exercise. Unless of course, the opening is a little dangerous to reach, like a second floor window, where the shutters have to be installed from the outside.

The easiest types of shutters that you can install are plywood boards that are at least 5/8th of an inch thick. The only due diligence that you need to exercise here to see that you don’t bang a tack on your thumb when putting up the board.

If it is a rolling shutter then you should ideally install them during construction when you can apportion adequate space for the housing at top; similarly for accordion shutters there has to be space at the sides and firm foundation for the tracks down.

If you wish to install Bahama shutters, then see that they fit nicely into the window frame; use hinges that can support the weight of these shutters. You can also attach a latch to the shutters to keep them down in closed condition. When you order a shutter kit, it arrives with all the parts and detailed instructions. You need to be ready with the tools and an understanding of how to do it. Look on the internet for further instructions; if you are a newbie take time to understand what an “H” bracket is and where it fits; where the sprocket goes, etc.

Before you install shutters, check for building code requirements; these vary with the state and some even require professionally installed shutters.

Hurricane Shutters South Florida

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

South Florida comes under the hurricane zone. If you are a resident of South Florida then right now you are in the midst of the hurricane season. And if you are the prudent sort then you have hurricane shutters installed. If not, then please do. A hurricane does not have to be one like Andrew or Katrina to cause damage. You can lose your home and hearth to hurricane winds blowing at 200mph. And if you are negligent about putting up protection and have house insurance, then you are giving the insurance companies a perfect excuse for refusing a claim.

There are many hurricane shutter protection companies in South Florida and many are rated very highly by the Better Business Bureau. Choose a company that promises you good after-sales service that includes not just replacement but also repairs. An installer that is also a product manufacturer means that you can get the product at a discounted rate. You can look up such companies online and request a free quote. You should check out the product warranties. A house with proper hurricane shutter protection increases the resale value of your home. Do not forget to get your garage protected because vehicle damage is a costly expense and it does not take much for vehicle damage to happen.

South Bay Florida Impact Hurricane windows

Friday, April 15th, 2011

In South Bay, Florida, sunny weather and water activities are the norm. But do you know what else is normal for this beautiful city? Hurricanes and tropical storms are normal for Florida. Hurricane season comes every year, and Florida is the state most hit by hurricanes in the United States, and residents know that it is best to well prepared in the event of a hurricane strike. Even an indirect hit or brush by a tropical storm or hurricane can cause devastating damage. Have you ever seen photos of a hurricane aftermath, and notice one or two homes standing in amongst those all destroyed? Chances are, those homes were well protected against hurricanes, and their owners were more prepared than those whose homes were destroyed.
One of the best things that you can do to protect your home is to install impact hurricane windows. They are insulating, they keep out wind borne debris thrown by storms, and they keep pressure changes that happen during hurricanes from destroying your home or damaging its structure.
Impact hurricane windows have two panes of glass, strengthened by an inner layer between the two panes. This is a major factor in reducing energy loss and heat and cold transfer from the windows. Reduced energy loss equals insulating effect, giving you the added benefit of saving money on your utility bills. They are also heavily framed with strong aluminum, and they fit tightly, reducing air loss around the windows, as well. This is another insulating factor, and another reason for installing these kinds of windows. You know what the Florida summers are like – hot, muggy, and with daily rain showers that only make it more humid. Keeping your house cool with no extra effort and with less money is a great bonus.
Impact resistant windows resist breakage, and they don’t shatter when they do break. They can’t fall out of the frame when broken, and they don’t rain down shards of sharp glass during a storm, like standard or regular windows can. They’re wind rated and missile impact tested to the most stringent standards that Florida puts out. Because they don’t shatter, and because they’re three layers of strong material, when the pressure outside your house is much higher than the pressure inside, it has no way to enter and rip apart your home. Pressure changes that happen abruptly during hurricanes can damage the structure of your home, rip off entire roofs or walls, and leave you exposed to the elements.
All these benefits are the reason that smart South Bay residents install impact hurricane windows on their homes. They’re smart protection that can save you money, and keep you safe from the storms.

Hurricane Impact Windows in Plantation Florida for Energy Efficiency

Saturday, April 9th, 2011

If you live in Plantation, Florida, or you’re thinking of moving there, hats off to you. Plantation is a gorgeous city, and its beauty and landscaping is unrivaled by other South Florida cities. For the past 28 years in a row, it’s been called “Tree City USA” and is one of only a few cities in the United States to be chosen as a “Sterling Tree City USA,” and a National Wildlife Federation “Community Wildlife Habitat.” They take their environment seriously there, and the city is full of trees, safe neighborhoods, and a great, secure business community with three distinct business districts. It’s an ideal place to live.

But nearly paradise or not, if you live in Plantation you must be aware of the hurricane season and the storms that plague the area every year. They’re the snake in the garden of Eden, if you will, and you must be prepared. If you’re looking for a good, environmentally friendly way to hurricane proof your home, look no further than hurricane impact windows.
Hurricane impact windows are uniquely manufactured to be energy efficient, making them the best choice for green renovation or installation. They have a heavy aluminum frame that fits tightly, with no air leaks around the windows. This is important, because air loss through windows is the number one cause of high utility bills. They are also double paned glass, specially coated with a silicon finish for strength, with an inner liner inserted between the two layers. This makes the heat or cold transfer from the outside or inside of the house negligible, making them even more energy efficient. You won’t lose heat or cold air, and the inside of your house won’t heat up from the rays of the sun. The special coating also blocks out ninety nine percent of the harmful UV rays of the sun, making sun damage to the furnishings and curtains inside your home a thing of the past.

This energy efficiency of hurricane impact windows is so good, the government offers a special tax credit to homeowners who install them on their homes. Up to $500 can be taken off your taxes when these kinds of windows or doors are installed.

Not only do hurricane impact windows protect your home, they will save you money and protect the environment at the same time. You couldn’t find a better choice for your Plantation home, and they’re the best way to prepare for hurricanes.

Hollywood, Florida Impact Hurricane Windows

Friday, April 8th, 2011

If you live in Hollywood, you’ve got it made. Hollywood, Florida, that is. It’s a city in South Florida in Broward County with a population of about 150,000, and it’s fun in the sun. There are beaches with the accompanying water activities – jet skis, cruiseboats and charter rentals, fishing, and sunbathing. There are golf courses, museums and parks, nightclubs, and many other things to do. Hollywood life is fun in the sun, but if you live there or are thinking of moving there, you should know one thing: Sooner or later, you’re going to be hit or brushed by a hurricane or tropical storm. Preparing for hurricanes is just part of Florida life.

The state of Florida recommends that every Florida resident have a hurricane plan. Part of that plan is, of course, preparing and protecting your home. One of things you can do to protect your Hollywood home is install hurricane impact windows. In fact, in some cities in Florida, when you replace windows you are required by local ordinance to replace them with impact hurricane windows. Impact resistant windows are some of the best protection money can buy, and they can save you money in surprising ways.

Insurance companies often give you a premium reduction when these windows are installed. Contact your insurance provider to find out the amount your monthly premiums will go down; the average savings on wind protection with installed impact resistant windows on Florida insurance is about 20%.

They can make your utility bills go down; because of the heavy duty aluminum framing, tight seal, and double paned specially coated glass with an inner layer sandwiched between them, the heat and cold transfer from inside and outside your home is reduced significantly. That means you use less energy in heating and cooling your home, and not only does it mean that your energy efficiency is good for the environment, that means less money for you in utility bills every month. That’s invaluable in the hot, humid weather of South Florida.
There’s a tax credit available for replacing your current windows or doors with impact hurricane windows. You can take up to $500 dollars off your taxes, just for making your home safer from the storm. That is a win-win for you – not only do you protect your Hollywood home, you get paid for doing so.

Impact hurricane windows make your home safer, and save you money. The initial cost of the windows can be weighed against the savings and protection that you receive, and they’ll come out the winner.

Impact Hurricane Windows in Coral Springs

Thursday, April 7th, 2011

Coral Springs, Florida is a great place to live. In fact, Money magazine just published an article called the 100 Best Places to Live across the United States and Coral Springs ranked first in Florida and 44th on the entire list. It’s the second time in a row that Coral Springs has been the number one city in Florida, and the third time in a row that it made it into the top 100 list. Cities were graded on income, job growth, opportunity, quality of life, levels of crime, school quality, and many more things. There’s no doubt about it, Coral Springs is a lovely place to live.

Except during hurricane season. It’s a fact of Florida life – hurricane season starts the first day of June and ends the last day of November. And every one of those days, your home and your family could be in danger from storms. It’s best to have a plan, and part of that plan is storm proofing your home.

Replacing your windows with impact hurricane windows could be an essential part of that storm proofing, and provide your home and family with the protection that they need.

Impact hurricane windows are specially made – they are coated with a special layer of silicon glazing that keeps them from shattering, even if they break. It’s the same kind of glazing that is on windshields of cars, and it keeps the glass in the frame. No flying shards of glass, no dangerous debris thrown into your house by the storm, ever again. But impact hurricane windows go even further than windshields do – there are not one, but two layers of glass. And if that wasn’t enough to protect you, there’s a special inner layer that gives the window even more strength, so the wind or debris would have to go through three layers to even enter your home. These windows meet stringent Florida building codes, the even more stringent Miami-Dade building codes, and International Building Codes. The windows are strong, and are the only windows that aren’t required by Florida law to be covered by hurricane shutters in order to be covered by your insurance policy.

And there’s even better news regarding your insurance – if you install impact hurricane windows on your Coral Springs home, your insurance company may give you a break on your premiums. Check with your insurance company to see how much you will save – some companies will give you up to a 40% break on that part of your policy, with the average savings being 20%.

Impact Hurricane Windows in Cooper City, Florida

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

Cooper City in South Florida is a thriving community and has a strong sense of community, lots of outstanding parks and recreational facilities and a wonderful school system. It’s a great place to raise children, retire, or live in all year round – with the exception of hurricane season. Living in South Florida, you must be aware and have a hurricane plan, and it is crucial that you protect your home and family.

One of the best things that you can do to protect your home is replace your current windows with impact hurricane windows. The impact resistant glass, double paned with a special inner layer, is coated with a specially designed silicone finish that resists shattering and breakage. It’s the same kind of glass that is found on car windshields. Just imagine that same car windshield in a double layer, with another inner layer that protects as well, along with a heavy duty, strong aluminum frame. Can you see why these windows are so strong, and how they will protect your Cooper City home? Even if the first layer of the glass breaks – and impact hurricane windows are very resistant to breakage – the reinforcing inner layer keeps the glass intact in the frame, keeping dangerous daggers of flying glass shards from being flung through the air and harming either your home or family. No matter the wind speed – even if it’s a Category Four hurricane with winds of 150 miles per hour, your home will stay safe and your windows will stay intact. Impact hurricane windows are designed to keep out the most severe weather, protect you against missile impacts and debris thrown by the storm, and are approved by the stringent Miami-Dade County building codes, Florida Building Codes, and International Building Codes. You can’t get much safer than that.

Knowing your home and family is safe during a storm is beyond price – hurricane impact windows can take the worry from your mind and let you concentrate on your Cooper City lifestyle. You can enjoy the South Florida sun and lovely weather and reduce the anxiety that an imminent storm brings. And because they’re so strong and because of their near impossibility to break, they take another worry from your mind as well – vandals or burglars find it nearly impossible to breach your home through these windows, making your home safer in that way, too. With all the benefits of hurricane impact windows, installing them in your Cooper City home is a great idea and a good investment.