SHUTTERS & SCREENS
Below is information on shutters -- how to decide whether to put up shutters (depending on hurricane strength & your particular windows); putting them up yourself; or hiring a contractor for installation. Vendor information was provided by Valencia Del Sol residents and is not considered an endorsement by the VDS Emergency Operations Club.
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Shutters & Window Strength Concerns
By Tonya Mull
VDS Emergency Operations Club (EOC)
Q: How do I know when to put up my shutters?
Q: How much wind pressure will our windows withstand in a weather event?
Q: What about High Impact Windows?
Due to many requests from residents, the VDS EOC Shuttering Committee has tackled these questions.
First, due to a window shortage when our neighborhoods were being built, there are several manufacturers of our windows and their strength varies.
If you’d like to know your windows’ strength or your insurance company is asking about your windows’ kind and strength, there is a way to find out.
First, Contact the VDS Shutter Installer
In VDS, Carollwood Window & Door (813.626.7676) installed all of our shutters when your home was being built. You will need to contact this business to find out what windows you have. They will tell you the name of your window manufacturer, their phone number, and your window order number.
Next, contact your window manufacturer. Provide them your VDS lot number, address, window order number and the original owner’s name. Simply ask them how much wind pressure your windows are designed to hold up to.
Alert!!! This is your house only. Your neighbor’s may be completely different.
VDS Residents’ Experience
In late summer 2023, a few EOC members called their window manufacturers and received information about their particular windows – and it was surprising.
A few VDS residents were told their front and back windows are designed to hold up to 110 MPH winds, however their side windows were much lower.
Other residents reported their entire windows are 85 MPH while some were told 110 MPH for the entire house.
Oh – and your sliders may also be different.
Also remember we are talking straight-line winds. Unless you have High Impact windows, flying objects will very possibly break your windows.
High Impact Windows
Strongly suggest you contact your window manufacturer for guidelines on High Impact Windows.
I checked with the manufacturer of our High Impact windows and was told they are designed to hold wind speeds of up to 140 MPH (mid Cat 4 hurricane).
Yours could vary.
Hurricane Wind Speeds
Cat 1: 74-95 MPH
Cat 2: 96-110 MPH
Cat 3: 111-129 MPH
Cat 4: 130-156 MPH
Cat 5: 157+ MPH
