7 Ways to Prepare Your Windows for Hurricane Season

Hurricane season has arrived here in Houston, and that means most homeowners are working hard to batten down the hatches and keep their house safe from wind, water, and debris.

Are you unsure of how to prepare your windows for hurricane season? Are you looking for guidance on how to secure your home?

Listed below are seven steps you can take to safeguard your home and protect your windows starting today.

1. Check the Seals

When it comes to preparing your windows and your home for hurricane season, this is one of the most important first steps to take. Check the seals on your windows and doors carefully to ensure they don’t let any air or water in.

Remember, it’s normal for seals to weaken over time, especially when the weather starts to heat up. If you take the time to reseal your doors and windows, you can prevent water from seeping into your home and causing expensive damage when a storm hits.

2. Skip the Tape

A lot of people believe the myth that putting tape on your windows in an “X” shape is a good way to prepare them for hurricane season.

This isn’t actually the case, though.

It’s true that applying tape to your windows can help to prevent the glass from shattering into tiny shards.

However, this isn’t necessarily a good thing.

The glass on your windows will still likely break even after the tape has been applied, it’ll just break into larger pieces. These large pieces can be more dangerous than small pieces, especially if they get sent flying during a storm.

3. Keep Windows Closed

Some folks are also under the impression that cracking their windows open during a hurricane is a good idea. There’s a pervasive myth out there that this helps to relieve pressure and prevent damage. The opposite is true, though, which is why the first tip we listed was to check all of the seals throughout your home.

Once your windows have been breached, the pressure will build up in your home. This can result in even worse damage to your roof, walls, and the rest of your house than what you would have experienced if the windows, doors, and other openings were sealed tightly.

4. Get Rid of Potential Projectiles

Nobody wants to see their beautiful bay window shattered after a storm. One way to prepare your windows and prevent this from happening is to get rid of potential projectiles around your home.

Bring outdoor furniture inside, clear up branches and loose foliage, and trim your trees. The fewer objects there are in your yard, there less likely it is that something will become airborne and smash through your windows (or any of your neighbors’ windows).

5. Install Storm Shutters

Installing storm shutters can be an effective option when it comes to preparing your windows and protecting them from hurricane damage. Storm shutters are permanently attached to the house and just have to be pulled into place when a storm is approaching.

These shutters are a fairly simple solution, but they’re also very expensive. Some people might not like the look of them once they’ve been added to their house, either.

6. Apply Plywood

You can also apply plywood to your windows before a storm. Nailing pieces of plywood to the windows is helps to protect the glass and may minimize damage in a fairly inexpensive way.

The problem, though, is that this takes a lot of work and has to be done at the last minute since you won’t want plywood on your windows all year round. Plywood blocks light from coming into your house, too, which means it’ll be extra-dark if you lose power.

7. Install Hurricane-Rated Windows

Perhaps the best step you can take to prepare your windows for hurricane season is to invest in hurricane-rated windows.

Unlike storm shutters and plywood, hurricane-rated windows won’t detract from the appearance of your house. They’re also already in place when you need them, so there’s no need to take any extra steps when you know a storm is approaching. You’ll have done the work already and will be able to rest easy knowing your house is secure.

Hurricane-rated windows are specially designed to withstand strong winds, high levels of pressure, and projectiles. They’re available in a wide range of styles, too, so it’s easy to choose ones that work with your house and enhance its exterior while also keeping you, your family, and your belongings safe.

Prepare Your Windows For Hurricane Season Today

It’s easy to feel anxious when hurricane season rolls around. Luckily, though, there are steps you can take to secure your home and minimize the damage these storms caused.

Now that you know how to prepare your windows for hurricane season, it’s time to take action.

Contact us today at Paul Ryan Windows to learn more about our hurricane-rated windows package. These tested, expertly made windows will keep wind, debris, and water out of your house, and you won’t have to worry about installing secondary shutters or nailing in plywood when a storm is approaching.