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Hurricane Shutters should be purchased from a company that specializes in this type of product. For your own safety we strongly discourage homeowner installed systems. The day before a storm approaches is not the time to find out you made a small error. The small amount of money you save is not worth the lives of you and your loved ones. Also, remember to make sure your shutter is Dade County Approved: that insures it's gone through some of the toughest testing there is.

If you would like to see selected pictures of the various shutter hardware, you may do so in our photo gallery.

If you are reading this because a storm is approaching and you are not prepared, there is a section at the end of this document explaining how to use plywood to make shutters. Once again, you must read the italicized disclaimer above.

If you've visiting our site because you are under a Hurricane Watch or Hurricane Warning, or if there is an active storm in the vicinity, please view this window as it will have special announcements! (This is our pop-up window from our main page and during other times, it will contain advertising instead of storm related news.)

The best protection is usually storm panels. While these are the most work to install, they are generally stronger than many of the other systems available. They are also the simplest for a homeowner to install, thought not the easiest. Many kinds of fasteners will work, however some are better than others. We suggest using a product called PanelMate® or TapconSG®-- accept no substitutes; insist on PanelMate® brand or TapconSG® -- to install these panels. You drill a hole with the special PanelMate® or TapconSG® bit (0.234" diameter) and install the fastener as instructed. You also need a Washer Based Wing Nut and an optional vinyl cap to protect the threads when not in use. The PanelMate® and TapconSG® provide a concrete screw on one end and a threaded stud on the other. When a storm is not threatening, a special nylon or vinyl cap is suggested to protect the threads. When a storm does threaten, remove the cap, and hang the panels on the studs, being sure to overlap the end of one panel onto the next. On each stud, tighten a Washer Based Wing Nut until it is tight -- you may wish to use a Wing Nut Driver. Some homeowners use a silicone based sealant to make the holes watertight. If you do, be sure to avoid letting the sealant get on to the externally threaded stud.

• COLONIAL STYLE SHUTTERS: If well-built they may adequately protect you. They are also some of the most decorative available.
• BAHAMA STYLE SHUTTERS: Like the colonial style shutters, they are decorative and may adequately protect you.
• ROLL-UP SHUTTERS: These are the easiest to use, and some of the very most expensive shutters you can buy. They can cost two to five times as much as the other types. These shutters should adequately protect you if manufactured to current Dade County approval requirements. Older models were known to fail during Hurricane Andrew, usually due to improper installation. These shutters require annual lubrication. Keep in mind that without electricity these shutters will remain stuck in their current position.
• ACCORDION DOOR SHUTTERS: These are by far the easiest to install, though they can be cost prohibitive for large windows. These shutters should adequately protect you if manufactured to current Dade County approval requirements. These shutters require annual lubrication.
• STORM PANELS: These provide some of the best protection when installed properly. They are also relatively inexpensive, though installing them is a chore requiring more than one person.
• PLYWOOD SHUTTERS: Use only in an emergency when there is no other alternative.

EMERGENCY
Plywood As Shutter Installation

In an emergency, you will have to use plywood. This is a re-useable system and we suggest this over the use of Tapcons® because you will be able to use the same holes and the same plywood for future storms. The thicker, the better. 5/8" or thicker plywood is the best with 1/2" being barely adequate. 3/8" plywood will not sufficiently protect you. The plywood must be cut to a size larger than your window on all four sides. There should be at least a three to four inch overlap. When drilling holes, be at least one full inch away from the edge of the plywood but no more than two inches..

You will need a Combination Masonry Bit, a wood bit (also known as a spade or paddle bit), Tampin® brand anchors -- accept no substitutes; insist on Tampin® brand -- two lengths of 1/4 diameter Sidewalk Bolts, and/or Truss Phillips Machine Screws. You probably also want some Fender Washers. Always be sure to use 18-8 stainless steel for the screws and washers!

Using a wood bit, drill holes (about 9/32" but no more than 5/16" diameter) into the four corners of the plywood heeding the instructions earlier in this section. We also suggest at least two more holes on the top, bottom, and sides as well -- spaced at least 12 inches apart. Use this as a template to mark where you will drill your holes in the concrete. This insures your holes line up properly. Using the Combination Bit, and being extraordinarily careful to keep the small bit centered in the hole mark you made, drill all of the holes.

The Tampin® anchor should be inserted -- cone to the bottom of the hole -- and set with the tool. Full installation instructions for the Tampin® are available here. Please note that Tampin® anchors -- like all machine screw anchors including Calk-Ins®, Solid-Set®, and all other brands -- were never really designed to be used in hollow block applications; they may not hold your shutter in place during a storm. The stronger the storm, the more likely the anchor will fail. This is not the fault of the anchor; when the original Tampin® was designed it was not designed for use with storm panels. Tampin® anchors are designed to be installed into poured, solid concrete and not hollow blocks or brick. Further, knock-off anchors may not hold as well as genuine Tampin® brand anchors: do you really want to risk your life? There are some anchors of this type that have raised lettering on them and these are not safe for use in a shutter application as they are not perfectly round and do not make full contact with the hole. Anchors with indented lettering are safer because full hole contact is maintained.

Take your plywood and label it with a unique name, also putting an "up" arrow so you know which sheet goes on which window and in what direction. Store your plywood properly so it doesn't warp. In absence of the storm, use a 1/4-20 x 1/2" sidewalk bolt to keep the Tampin® and its hole from being filled with dirt -- you may substitute a Truss Machine Screw instead.

When a storm approaches, the plywood should then be attached, using the 1/4-20 x 1" Sidewalk Bolt; you may need to use a longer Sidewalk Bolt depending on the total thickness of your material combined with the depth of your hole. The use of a Fender Washer under the head of the screw will help spread any vibratory forces over a larger surface and help prevent the wood from cracking under the screw head and slipping off.

(As an alternative in short notice situations, you may always just anchor the plywood to your wall using a Tapcon® or TapconSG® anchor following the instructions on the Tapcon® box using a Tapcon® brand drill bit to be sure the hole is the proper size. We strongly suggest using a fender washer under the head of the anchor when attaching plywood to distribute the force over a wider area. Make sure you insist upon Tapcon® brand. Other brands may be grossly inferior and could cost you your life. A real Tapcon® has a "BX" mark on the head -- if there's no BX, it's not a Tapcon®. If the fastener has no head mark, do not use it in your shutter.)

Ask about the all-new ReadyAmerica® Emergency-Kit for your home which includes food, water, light-stick, poncho, gloves, whistle, survival blanket, dust mask, first-aid kit, and more. Available in one, two, and four person models.

All Hurricane Information provided on this page is provided as a courtesy to the public. NO WARRANTY IS MADE AS TO THE ACCURACY OF THIS INFORMATION. This information is used at your own risk. Your safety is your responsibility. We cannot be responsible for any errors on this page. You should consult a specialist if you have specific questions. We do not represent ourselves as experts in this field. By using this information you indicate your acceptance and understanding of this disclaimer.

These instructions are not designed to be more than a brief guide. We'd like to reiterate that these are for conceptual understanding only. No homeowner installed shutter system will be as good as a shutter installed properly by a professional. For legal reasons we cannot recommend a specific shutter company. We suggest your local yellow pages.

Tampin® and Star Tampin® are registered trademarks of Interstate Screw Corporation. Tampin® brand machine screw anchors may only be purchased from us. Counterfeit products endanger lives!