Protect Windows And Doors With Covers
Protect Windows and Doors
with Covers
PROTECTING YOUR PROPERTY FROM HIGH WINDS
High winds and windblown debris can easily
break unprotected windows and cause doors to
fail. Once wind enters a structure the likelihood of
severe structural damage increases, and the
contents of the building will be exposed to the
elements. The most reliable method of protecting
windows and doors is installing permanent storm
shutters. Alternatives include using temporary
plywood covers, replacing existing glass with
impact-resistant glass, and covering existing
glass with a protective film.
Permanent storm shutters are usually made of
aluminum or steel and are attached to a building
in such a way that they can be closed quickly
before a storm arrives. One type is the “rolldown”
shutter (see figure on this page), which is
contained in a housing mounted above the
window and lowered when necessary. Manually
operated and motor-driven models are available.
While permanent storm shutters can usually be
closed quickly and easily, temporary covers can be an economical alternative and can be installed fairly quickly
if the necessary preparations are made. Plywood covers can also be used to protect sliding glass doors and
French doors (see figure on page 2).
BENEFITS OF UTILIZING THIS MITIGATION STRATEGY
Helps to prevent damage to a structure and its contents
Helps to prevent injuries to occupants
TIPS
Keep these points in mind when you install shutters or use temporary plywood covers to protect your windows
and doors:
Always consider using permanent storm shutters if you live in an area where you know you will need to act
quickly to protect your windows. If your property is in an area where you will have little warning of high
winds, permanent shutters that can be closed quickly, such as the rolldown shutter, are better than
temporary plywood covers, which must be retrieved from storage and mounted with bolts or screws.
If you decide to buy permanent shutters, look for models that meet the wind load and impact standards
established for your area. These standards can be obtained from your local building official. If you have any
questions about the strength of a specific model, check with the manufacturer. Permanent shutters are
available in a wide range of sizes, so you can use them to protect many types of windows and doors, as
well as large areas of glass.
Protect Windows and Doors
April 2008
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If you decide to use temporary plywood
covers, you may want to hire a contractor or
handyman to make them for you. If you do
the work yourself, you will need to cut the
plywood and drill holes for screws or lag bolts
in each cover and in the wall around each
window. The screws or lag bolts should be
placed along the top, bottom, and sides of
each cover, and they should be long enough
to penetrate the wall studs around the
window, not just the siding or wall covering.
Don’t wait until a hurricane or tornado
warning is issued to make temporary covers;
you probably won’t have time. Make them
during the “off season” so that you’l be ready
to install them at any time. Store the mounting
screws or lag bolts with the covers, in a place
where they are readily accessible – don’t
stack heavy boxes or other hard-to-move
materials on top of or around the covers. Use
a numbering or lettering system that shows
which cover goes with which window.
If you buy motor-driven shutters, make sure
they also can be operated manually if the
power fails.
If you are constructing a new building in an area subject to high winds, avoid designs that include large
areas of glass, windows with multiple panels, and double entry doors. The widths of individual doors and
windows should not exceed 3 feet.
Check local code requirements for windborne debris in your area.
ESTIMATED COST
Storm shutters can cost $50 to $60 per square foot of window. A set of shutters for a 3-foot by 4-foot window
will cost approximately $600 to $720. The cost of a plywood cover will also depend on the size of the window.
If you do the work yourself, you can expect plywood to cost about $0.60 per square foot. Screws or lag bolts,
including washers, will cost about $0.10 to $0.15 each. For example, protecting a window that is 3 feet wide
and 4 feet high will cost about $10. This figure covers only the materials you will have to buy and excludes the
cost of any tools you use and the value of your time. If you hire a contractor or handyman to do the work, you
will have to pay for time as well as materials.
OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), http://www.disastersafety.org.
The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), http://www.flash.org.
FEMA 247, Against the Wind: Protecting Your Home from Hurricane Wind Damage, December 1993,
http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1641.
FEMA 488, Hurricane Charley in Florida: Mitigation Assessment Team Report, Observations,
Recommendations and Technical Guidance, “Hurricane Recovery Advisories,” April 2005,
http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1444.
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FEMA 489, Hurricane Ivan in Alabama and Florida: Mitigation Assessment Team Report, Observations,
Recommendations and Technical Guidance, August 2005,
http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1569.
FEMA 499, Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction, Technical Fact Sheet No. 26, August 2005,
http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1570.
FEMA 549, Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast: Mitigation Assessment Team Report, Building Performance
Observations, Recommendations, and Technical Guidance, July 2006,
http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1857.
International Residential Code® (IRC®) for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, Section R301.2.1, Wind
Limitations, 2006.
To obtain copies of FEMA documents, call the FEMA Publications Warehouse at 1-800-480-2520 or visit
FEMA’s Library online at http://www.fema.gov/library.
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