After the recent experiences of people with Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Wilma, hurricane shutters are once again at the center stage. Now the ability to build to one’s own hurricane shutters is a topic that is being asked. True, it has become an essential requirement for people to be able to overcome the fury and intensity of the hurricanes. Self-build hurricane shutter is easy to fix.



The recommendation of FEMA is to install professionally made storm shutters. Even if they are self-build hurricane shutters, they should be able to withstand winds of more than 120 mph or more. The hurricane shutters should cover all the windows, doors, sliding glass doors and others. If you are installing manufactured shutters, you have to follow their instructions carefully. First, find if you have to obtain permit a building permit from a building official. Then keep the shutters ready so that they can be installed easily.





If you cannot either afford manufactured shutters or not interested in them, you can self-build hurricane shutters. One of them is a plywood shutter. If they are installed carefully, they last long. They also provide very high level of protection during a hurricane. Thus they turn out to be very effective. To build the shutter with plywood, buy wood during winter when the prices are low. You can install home made plywood shutters over all the openings in the house. To build these shutters at home, measure the windows and doors and add 6 inches to the height and width. This provides a 4-inch overlap on either side of the window or door. Tell the supplier the size and number of openings you have to cover to determine the number of sheets you have to buy. Marine plywood is good for building these shutters but is expensive. Standard plywood with exterior grade paint will withstand the rigors of time. It will also cost less to make shutters this way.





To install the self-build plywood shutters, you need bolts, wood anchors, large washers and 5/8-inch exterior grade plywood. For windows of ¾ feet size or smaller that is to be installed on a wood frame house, use ¼ inch lag bolts and permanent anchors with plastic coat. Use larger size anchors for larger windows. For those to be installed on masonry house use ¼ expansion bolts and galvanized expansion anchors.



The shutters build with plywood should overlap the window by 4 inches or more on either side. For that you need, a circular or handsaw, a drill with bits, a hammer and a wrench to fix the bolts. Place the self-build hurricane shutter plywood over the opening and mark each position on the wall outside. Install the anchors, the plywood and the bolts to ensure that they fit properly. Thus it is essential to ensure that the shutter is fixed right.