IMPACT WINDOWS VS HURRICANE SHUTTERS: WHICH TYPE SHOULD YOU BET ON?
Torn between hurricane-impact windows and hurricane shutters? Sure, while variety comes as an advantage for customers, it may sometimes leave some people stumped about what product they should purchase.
In hurricane-prone areas, for instance, residents are always confronted with the challenge of choosing between impact windows and hurricane shutters.
If you’re one among the many who are still confused about which window type should they get, then here is a brief rundown of what to expect from each of them.
Check them out and decide for yourself which among the two suits your needs:
Impact Windows – What to Expect
Living in a high-risk zone? If you were to ask home experts, there’s a big chance that most of them would recommend the use of hurricane-impact windows to shield your home from unforeseen weather disasters.
Carefully designed to withstand strong impact, these windows are installed to help protect houses from high winds and flying debris during calamities and even man-made emergencies.
Generally, there comes a ton of advantages associated with the use of hurricane-impact windows. Among these include:
Protection Against Storm
As its name implies, hurricane window’s main selling points involve its ability to add an extra layer of protection to your home during disasters. Since its glass and windowpanes are made with heavyweight materials that can withstand high wind and strong impacts, the windows are best to use during calamities as they can help keep your home intact during a severe storm and prevent the possibility of a major structural collapse.
Protection Against Intruders
Given its ability to withstand high impacts caused by flying debris during calamities, impact windows also promise additional security against intruders. Compared to normal home windows, impact windows are made with laminated glass that doesn’t break easily, and when it does, it only cracks into a spiderweb-like pattern instead of breaking into shreds. With this, intruders are likely to give up even before they can completely break the window and flee immediately to avoid possible jail time.
Noise Reduction
Since impact windows are made with heavyweight materials that are assembled solidly, installing them will help block off outside noise from entering your interior. This makes the product suitable for houses that are situated in a crowded neighborhood that is likely to be burdened by unbearable noise day-in and day-out.
Hurricane Shutters – What to Expect
Although described to be very similar to impact-resistant windows, hurricane shutters are different in a way that they are installed over the glass windows.
Generally, there comes a ton of advantages that come with this product as well. Among these include:
Easy Installation
One of the main advantages of having shutters over hurricane windows is the convenience it promises, especially in terms of installation. Unlike impact windows that are attached directly into a house, shutters are only fasted to windows and can be removed anytime when they aren’t needed anymore.
Affordable
Compared to hurricane windows, hurricane shutters are relatively more budget-friendly. Depending on the type, a typical shutter may range from a low price of $8 per square foot up to $30 or more per square foot. This makes the product a more suitable option for homeowners seeking money-smart hurricane-protection alternatives.
Variety
Since shutters are relatively easier to install and manufacture, tons of designs are now available in the market to suit the taste of any homeowner. This makes the product more flexible and versatile compared to hurricane-windows.
The Bottom Line
Is your home hurricane ready? Although hurricane shutters and hurricane-impact windows both promise protection and optimal convenience, there remain to be a few aspects in which they differ.
Have you decided which among them should you bet on? Contact us today.