Storm Shutters Cause for Celebration

Brevard County, FL – Storm shutters for most people mean protection from damage during severe weather. For Bill Steenson who lives in Vierra, Florida, getting ready for a serious weather event by mounting storm shutters has its rewards.

Steenson and his neighbors have enjoyed a number of “shutter” parties in the last few years as Florida has had more than its share of “wet weather.”

“We [the neighborhood] get together to help everyone get their shutters up, then we have a party when we get done,” Steenson says. One of his neighbors is an 80-year-old widow. Neighbors surround her home to ensure her storm shutters are properly put in place.

Mounting storm shutters is not an easy task. Steenson and his neighbors must work fast to follow the “24-hour rule” – the shutters may not put up more than 24 hours before a hurricane and must be removed within 24 hours after the storm passes.

When severe weather is looming, Steenson gets the galvanized steel shutters out of his garage and divides them accordingly. They are numbered to match the various windows of his house. Steenson must unscrew the bolts next to the windows, hang the shutter on the bolts and tighten them.

“It takes about an hour,” Steenson says.

When Steenson built his house in 2003, he was required by state law to install the shutters. Since then, he has come to realize that storm shutters are one of the most effective ways to protect your home. Shutters are needed for all windows, sliding glass doors, and skylights. Manufactured shutters are available in wood, aluminum, or steel.

Steenson admits to feeling a little claustrophobic when the shutters are up and blocking the natural light, but he knows that his home is safer from wind damage and flying debris. Having storm shutters also increases the value of his house and saved him over $60 on his homeowner’s insurance.