You cannot stop the hurricane/storm from coming as it is Mother Nature’s bidding. However, you can still have significant control by ensuring that your building is not adversely affected by its effects.
Investing in top-quality hurricane protection is important for this reason. To this end, many people are caught between getting metal hurricane shutters or hurricane-impact windows. Well, opting for the latter over the former is strongly recommended for several reasons. Read on as some of these reasons will be disclosed in this article.
Reasons Why Hurricane Impact Windows Are Better than Metal Hurricane Shutters
There is a long list of benefits associated with using hurricane-impact windows for hurricane protection. Furthermore, some of these benefits also double as reasons why they are a better choice compared to metal hurricane shutters. Some of the benefits in question include the following:
1. Stress-Free & All-Year Protection
The way it works in most cases is that these metal shutters are installed in preparation for when a storm is coming. So, it is a seasonal thing at best, which implies that there is a need to set them up and take them down continuously.
Going through this cycle is stressful and a reason some people eventually go for the better choice – impact windows. They on the other hand are a once-and-for-all installation. The fact that they do not need to be continuously set up and taken down adds to their cost-effectiveness.
2. More than Just Hurricane Protection
These metal shutters are designed solely for protection during a storm. However, impact windows offer a lot more than this, especially if top-quality options are purchased and installed. Some of the other forms of protection that it affords its users include protection against:
- Windborne Debris
- Exterior Noise
- UV (Ultraviolet) Rays
- Intruders
So, you do more than just protect yourself during a storm with this protective solution. By the way, some of the aforementioned make up the subsequent point starting with…
3. Noise Reduction
There is no doubt that metal shutters can be very effective at protecting your building during a storm. However, the process can be very annoying considering how noisy it can get.
Impact windows on the other hand can help you have a quiet indoor environment, even during a storm. By the way, this is without compromising on the major task of protection during a storm.
4. Aesthetic Appeal
Have you ever thought about the connection between beauty and light?
You would most likely agree that there is no beauty without light if you have done a good job at it. The reason is that you can only determine beauty after you have seen it. Well, it takes light to see and determine whatever you consider beautiful.
The point is that metal shutters are not a great option when it comes to aesthetic appeal. This is because they do not only keep the storm off. They also keep natural lighting off, which negatively affects the look of (particularly) your indoor space.
For this reason, impact windows are to be seriously considered by people who are concerned about aesthetic appeal when choosing hurricane protection options. You can see this article for insight into why aesthetic appeal matters when making decisions regarding a building.
5. No Storage Issues
You already know by now that most metal hurricane shutters are not a long-term installation since they need to be set up and taken off at some point. So, there is a need for safe storage.
By the way, safe storage does not only imply having them out of the reach of thieves. It is also that the storage space should be ideal enough so that it does not get damaged.
There could also be the issue of limited space, necessitating storage in secondary facilities like commercial storage warehouses. The point is that you will not have such issues with hurricane-impact windows in the first place. This is because they are installed once and for all.
6. Energy Efficiency
The properties that make up hurricane-impact windows are designed to ensure energy efficiency. For instance, most of the options are double-paned and also filled with gas for insulation effects. As a result, indoor spaces where they are used are very likely to be warm during winters and cool during summers.
This is far from the reality with metal shutters. They even trap heat in most cases, leading to an increased need for additional indoor heating or cooling solutions, as the case may be.
7. Increased Property Value
Having certain installations in a building increases its value. A hurricane impact window is one such.
This is especially true in locations that are well known to experience heavy storms. The point for increasing a property’s value is down to the hurricane impact window’s enhancement of the property’s safety during a storm, its energy efficiency, and even security.
8. Improved Offers from Insurers’
Insurance companies determine an insured party’s obligation after determining the risk involved in offering liability coverage to the concerned party. In this context, having features such as hurricane-impact windows present your property as less of a risk.
As a result, they should be willing to offer better terms in the form of premium rates, discounts, and more. The good thing is that it is a once-and-for-all purchase and installation. Yet it is capable of getting you the best deals with insurers.’
9. Low Maintenance
Very little maintenance is required to keep impact windows in the right state and shape. Usually, it is no more than routine clean-ups.
However, maintenance is way more than this with metal shutters. This is because of the material used to make them, which is susceptible to rust, corrosion, and other forms of damage requiring mild to serious repairs or even replacement.
10. Uninterrupted Visibility
Metal shutters obstruct your line of vision during a storm. This is even though they offer protection. The concern of poor natural illumination is the first issue. Furthermore, it affects your chances of properly monitoring the outdoor situation since visibility is affected.
Conclusion
Metal hurricane shutters can be very effective at keeping your indoors safe during a hurricane/heavy storm. However, are they your best bet for hurricane protection?
This is why 10 reasons hurricane-impact windows are a better choice have been discussed here. So, it is left to you to make a very informed choice when the need for either arises.
