2025 hurricane season prep: How to safely install shutters, tips on maintenance
The key to getting through storm season is being prepared.
Here are some important tips on hurricane shutters:
Do a trial run now to make sure your shutter system is functioning properly.
If you have removable panels, get them out to see if any are missing or bent.
Make sure you have enough mounting fasteners. If not, hardware stores often carry extras. Make sure mounting tracks are clean and debris-free.
Apply some light machine oil to lubricate parts and deter rust.
Permanently applied shutter systems, such as roll-up, Bahama or accordion shutters should be serviced yearly (twice yearly, if you live on the beach) by a professional, especially if the system is motorized. If rollers are accessible, they can be sprayed with aerosol 'white grease,' according to Bill Feeley, president of the International Hurricane Protection Association. All motors should be professionally serviced.
Owners of newly built homes with shutter systems should make sure their builder demonstrates how to use the system and that all parts are provided before moving in. Missing or wrong-sized components are common, according to Feeley. 'The homeowner assumes they fit and then when the storm is bearing down, they find out they don't,' he said.
International Hurricane Protection Association: (844) 516-4472, www.inthpa.com
American Shutter Systems Association: (800) 432-2204, www.amshutter.org
Shutter orders and backlogs rise near the height of storm season. So the time to choose your coverings, if you haven't already, is now. The least expensive option is plywood.
Plywood does not meet Florida Building Code specifications unless it's installed according to code; however, plywood does not meet building codes in most Palm Beach County jurisdictions.
However, if a storm is close and survival is the goal, follow instructions in the accompanying graphic for correct installation.
Plywood comes in 4-by-8-foot sheets. Measure windows and doors, adding 8 inches to each measurement for a 4-inch overhang. (If your window has an exterior sill, rest the plywood on the sill and add 4 inches to the other 3 sides.)
Make your shutters now, before a storm approaches. Label them, for example 'east dining room' and waterproof with sealant or paint.
Store plywood off the ground.
Kimberly Miller is a journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers weather, real estate and how growth affects South Florida's environment. Subscribe to The Dirt for a weekly real estate roundup. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@pbpost.com. Help support our local journalism; subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Hurricane season 2025: Tips installing shutters, accordion on windows
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