With the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season fast approaching, now is the perfect time to make sure you understand the different types of hurricane mitigation barriers available for your windows.
Terms like hurricane shutters and security screens can be used to refer to a variety of different commercial storm damage prevention products on the market. So, it’s important to make sure you know the differences to help you decide on the best protection for your home or business.
Understanding Hurricane Shutters and Hurricane Screens for Windows
What Are Hurricane Shutters?
Hurricane shutters is a term that can be used to refer to any type of shutter or panel system that you put in place over your windows before a hurricane or tropical storm.
Types of Hurricane Shutters:
- Storm panels
- Accordion shutters
- Roll-down shutters
- Colonial-style shutters
- Bahama shutters
Storm panels are typically corrugated metal or plastic panels that are custom-cut to fit over your windows. They are often referred to as shutters, but they are more similar to plywood because they are single pieces of material that you have to secure over your windows before a storm.
Accordion shutters are a type of hurricane shutter that roll horizontally over your window glass to protect it. They can be one- or two-piece systems that get permanently mounted beside your windows and glide sideways with the help of wheels.
Roll-down hurricane shutters are mounted above windows and roll down vertically over the glass at the push of a button or with the help of a hand crank. These are one of the most effective and popular varieties of hurricane shutter because of their strength and ease of use.
Colonial hurricane shutters, also known as Bermuda shutters, are a two-piece louvered shutter system. The shutters are mounted on either side of a window and you just flip them over the glass and lock them in place to protect your windows from storm damage.
Bahama shutters are similar to Colonial-style shutters in that they are louvered, but they are just one piece that gets mounted above a window and props open when not in use. When a storm is on the way, you lower and lock them over the windows to protect the glass.
What Is a Storm Screen?
Storm screen is a term that can be used to refer to a couple different types of screen systems that can be used to mitigate storm damage.
Types of Hurricane Screens:
- Hurricane fabric
- Security screens
Hurricane fabric is a type of high-tech fabric screen that is strong enough to protect glass against wind and rain as well as bounce away storm debris.
Some varieties of hurricane fabric stretch over your windows, like the fabric of a trampoline, and are anchored in place before a storm with a system of grommets or buckles and straps.
Other types of hurricane fabric are permanently mounted to the side of a building and roll down or slide into place over the windows.
When it comes to hurricane fabric vs shutters, shutters win in a battle of strength and durability, but fabric has the advantage that it still lets some natural light in and doesn’t completely block your visibility. Both these products are easy to use and can effectively protect your glass.
Security screens, on the other hand, are more similar to your standard windows screens that you use to keep bugs out while your windows and doors are open. However, the mesh of these screens is metal, making it highly resistant to impacts and tearing.
These screens are a popular and effective way to secure windows and doors against forced entry attempts, but their strength means they can also be used to help protect glass against flying storm debris and wind damage.
If you compare security screens vs hurricane shutters, they’re similar in that they both create a physical barrier over your doors and windows that can protect against storm damage.
However, hurricane shutters are specifically designed for use in storms, whereas security screens are meant to protect against a variety of threats and provide additional benefits.
Benefits of Security Screens:
- Protect from storm debris impacts and wind damage
- Security framing makes doors and windows even more impact resistant
- Create a barrier to forced entry (resist slashing, prying, kicking, and more)
- Keep out bugs and other pests
- Prevent small children and pets from wandering off
- Allow you to safely leave doors and windows open on hot days
Choose Campbell Security Screens for Storm Protection and More
We are proud to offer our proprietary line of Campbell Security Screens to clients for protection against storm damage, forced entry, and more. These security and storm screens are much more durable and impact resistant than other screens you can find on the market.
Advantages of Campbell Security Screens:
- Completely custom-made to fit your property perfectly
- Screens and heavy-duty mounts adapt to any door or window
- Fine stainless steel mesh lets air in while still remaining a barrier
- Resist forced entry attempts using knives, crowbars, and other tools
- Paw-, claw-, and teeth-proof
- Equipped with a three-point, jimmy-proof locking system
- Premium materials for maximum aesthetic value and security
- Easy-release mechanisms available for emergency evacuation
Does Campbell Offer Any Other Storm Damage Mitigation Barriers?
In addition to security screens, we can also provide you with other glass protection including safety and security window film and impact windows.
Though security film is not rated for hurricanes, it can be used as a last line of defense to help hold broken glass in place, rather than leaving your home or business totally exposed to the elements.
Impact windows, such as polycarbonate panels, can be retrofitted over your existing glass to create a virtually unbreakable barrier for the highest level of security.
Either one of these types of glass protection can be used in tandem with security screens to provide a very high level of security. You can rest easy knowing your property is protected against tropical storms, hurricanes, forced entry, and other threats.
Contact us today for more information about Campbell Security Screens and the other storm damage mitigation solutions we can provide you.
