How To Cover Large Windows For Hurricane

Learn how to board your windows with clearview polycarbonate s.

How to cover large windows for hurricane.

Drill anchor holes around the edge. Newer windows don t require it and neither do the older ones. Make sure the panels are roughly 15 inches apart from each other. To minimize damage to your home during a hurricane windows and doors should be boarded up with 5 8 plywood or covered with approved storm shutters.

Your best options include everything from fabric and plywood to shutters and high end impact resistant windows also commonly known as hurricane windows. You ll want the plywood panels to overlap the window four inches to ensure your windows won t get blown out. Boarding windows is quick and easy if you follow these step by step instructions from lowe s. For windows 3 feet by 4 feet or smaller installed on a masonry house.

Make sure to drill holes into the studs of your home. Make sure the boards overlap the windows by about 4 inches on all sides. First place your plywood piece inside of your window frame. Pick plywood sheets that are at least 5 8 inch 1 6 cm thick.

Brace the panels together using 2 x 4s. For larger windows use 3 8 inch lag screws that penetrate the wall and frame surrounding the window at least 2 1 2 inches. Cut your boards to size. As you read through the options we ve also rated them for you on a scale of one to ten with one being the least effective and ten being the most effective.

Install the plywood covers before a storm with bolts screws window clips or barrel bolts every 12 inches 30 cm. Measure the perimeter of all your windows. Since hurricane shutters are hard to find and boarding up all the windows might be difficult taping them up was often used as an alternative. However putting up plywood or storm shutters is time consuming and may require more than one person to lift heavy panels into place.

Using 4 inch barrel bolts secure your panels to the frame. Even so here is the dire reality about this age old practice. Windows with vinyl siding for homes with vinyl siding make sure to measure the space you need to cover.