I want to move a comment made to an earlier post up to the main blog. Since I made those comments, I have decided to install metal storm shutters on my house. My aluminum storm panels will be more durable and offer greater protection. Concerning plywood shutters, Richard lives in Ft. Walton Beach, FL and wrote the following. (I have made minor editorial edits.)
Mark, saw your barrel bolt comment and thought I would write. I have the barrel bolt system (1963 Tampa builder suggestion) on my house and it works very well. The 1/2-inch plywood theory is it is designed to allow penetration but seal with the projectile. I have never had to test that theory and hope I never do. The 3/4-inch plywood is supposed to stop penetration. Backside of my 1/2-inch plywood shutters are framed with 1x4s, glued with Liquid Nails and screwed. Barrel bolts are typically 4 each on the left and right frame. B arrel holes are drilled (a pain) into the brick and lined with copper tube, which is drilled for the bolt size. The 1x4 also keeps your plywood off the glass. It takes 45 minutes to shutter the house. My dad has a pulley system to lift his, which are very large.
I have lived 1990 to date in Ft. Walton Beach (I can't even remember all the storms) and the system is worth the trouble. It works. Drilling a 2-inch hole in the bottom as a handhold to put them up helps.
But I am going to try the Plylox because the barrel bolts are very expensive now and hard to find in the correct size. I am going to frame the backside, leaving a gap or indentation for the clip. I will let you know after the build how it works. It’s on a 6-foot wide by 9-foot tall all-glass front door area and will require 2ea 4x6, 1ea 1x6 sheets, five clips, and some type of face brace which I will design after I put this up.
Thanks for your tips.
I have a couple of comments on Robert's installation. His problem with barrel bolts is the same one I ran into --- current barrel bolts are expensive and not available in the larger size I needed for the installation. I envisioned needing one with a long throw distance, but was not able to locate any.
The point about lining the window sill hole with copper is a good one since it will be a point of wear during both installation and during a storm.. Concrete is brittle and will wear away.
Do this barrel bolt solution if it works for your house.
There is more! Read my posts on installation tools, installation tips, aluminum panels, panel costs, or scan all hurricane posts.
Update 1: As noted in the comments below, the Storm Stoppers product is not a better alternative to plywood. You essentially get similar protection for a much higher price. The “convenient” attachment method would very likely not hold up under real storm winds. I still recommend metal storm panels, over wood or plastic.
Update 2: Sigh. Just when you hope people won't get juvenile. With comment #100, I am closing public comments. This has gone on long enough. Some day, I'll take the time to go through everything and clean all the crap out. In the meanwhile, please complain elsewhere about other's perceived faults.
Update 3: The new blog software has finally let me display the comments, but to also not allow new ones.
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