ach year hurricane season drives home and business owners to search for the best ways to protect their
property.

Plywood is popular but the product and the means of attachment are not tested nor approved for winds of any real strength. And an airborne piece of plywood driven by hurricane strength winds can cause tremendous damage. Plywood also takes a lot of space and can warp during storage. And certainly it is a significant challenge to install while standing on an extension ladder!

Metal shutters are another common option in some geographic areas, but they close out light and air as well as wind. They’re extremely heavy and difficult to manage, and they create that “dark cave effect,” which concerns so many people.

Fortunately, thanks to the newest in technologies, there is an alternative. The nation’s largest manufacturer of hurricane protection systems has introduced Texas to a hurricane wind abatement system that has become a mainstay in Florida. It is a system and a collection of installation options that are actually practical to use.

Impact-resistant screens are made of a heavy-duty, geosynthetic polypropylene mesh, not unlike the heavy mesh material in a trampoline. The heavy duty screens block flying debris and 97 percent of wind and driving rain—all while allowing natural light into the building. Multiple installation systems range from those that are installed manually to fully automated roll down systems with remote control operators. All of the installations meet and exceed the strict requirements of the Florida Building Code as

well as the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. They are lightweight, easy to install, and allow light and air to filter through.

“We compare the system to a bullet-proof vest,” said Marketing Director Trent Dunn of StormSmart Industries, the largest manufacturer of hurricane protection systems in the United States. “It’s a flexible material that protects the envelope of your home, just as a bullet-proof vest protects a human body. Even though you may take a hit, the vest protects you and keeps you alive. The new storm protection systems are primarily based on that principal.”

The new systems are readily installed by a professional remodeling contractor and thereafter the pre-hurricane erection is quick and effective.

There are three ways to apply the screens: You can install them directly to an opening with a “Direct Mount” screen or with a roll-down system, which can be rolled either manually or with a remote control device.

With the direct mount application, a home or business owner puts the screens up when the storm approaches, and removes them after it passes. No specialized tools are required so virtually anyone can do it.

A large opening of approximately 12 feet by 9 feet only weighs a few pounds. This makes the system ideal for second-story windows because it’s much easier to carry a lightweight screen up a ladder than a sheet of plywood or a heavy metal shutter. The material is machine-cut and sewn by the manufacturer into any shape. That makes it perfect for curved or other geometrically-shaped windows. When the hurricane is over, the screens roll up and store conveniently in the attic or garage.

With a roll-down application, the screens are left permanently mounted in an aesthetically-pleasing hood system above the openings they are designed to protect. When a storm threatens, a home or business owner can lower them manually, or use a motorized system that puts them into place with the touch of a button.

Geosynthetic polypropylene hurricane screens are flexible so shock loads are distributed evenly throughout the attachments. With an adequate wind and debris protection system protecting your home, you’ll rest assured. The full range of installation systems and colors carry new products with their in-depth testing, engineering and code approval so they are ready to protect you and yours.

The screens have been manufactured and installed for many years, although they were principally distributed in Florida. As the eastern region of Texas has taken several hurricane hits in recent years, it is timely that the hurricane protection screens have been made available for Texas homes as well. They’ve been thoroughly tested during the recent past’s active and destructive hurricane seasons and delivered outstanding performance. Home and business owners love them both for their protective qualities, as well as their simplicity and ease-of-use.

Storm abatement screens are useful not only during hurricanes, but at other times serve to simply provide you some relief from the sun or annoying winds. When you want to entertain around the lanai or patio, simply deploy your hurricane protection screens. l

By Warren Clark

BMC SELECT Building Materials