The Benefits of Articulating Bahama Shutters: Protect Your Home in Style
Protect your home in style with articulating Bahama shutters. These shutters not only add a touch of elegance to your windows, but they also provide practical benefits such as protection from harsh weather conditions and added security. In this post, we will dive deeper into the advantages of articulating Bahama shutters for homeowners looking to upgrade their window treatments.
What are Articulating Bahama Shutters?
Bahama shutters are known for their stylish and tropical look while providing protection to homes against harsh weather conditions. Articulating Bahama shutters, on the other hand, offer more flexibility as they can be adjusted in different angles depending on the sunlight or wind direction. The articulating blade design allows homeowners to adjust each individual slat according to their preference.
The benefits of using articulating Bahama shutters over other types include their ability to provide better ventilation and natural light control. They also add an extra layer of security by preventing intruders from breaking into your home through the windows. Moreover, these shutters are durable and low-maintenance, giving you peace of mind knowing that your investment will last for years without needing frequent repairs or replacements.
Benefits of Articulating Bahama Shutters
Articulating Bahama shutters offer several advantages that make them a worthwhile investment for homeowners in Florida. Firstly, these shutters provide a stylish and aesthetic addition to your home’s exterior design while also protecting against high velocity winds during hurricane season. Secondly, they act as an energy-efficient closure system that helps save on electricity bills by blocking out sunlight and reducing the amount of heat entering your home.
In addition to these benefits, articulating blade Bahama shutters increase privacy and security by acting as a barrier between your home and potential intruders. They are also low-maintenance, require minimal cleaning or upkeep after installation, which prolongs their lifespan ensuring long-term cost savings for homeowners who choose this option over traditional window coverings like curtains or blinds.
1. Style and Aesthetics
Articulating Bahama shutters are an excellent way to enhance the style and aesthetics of your home while also adding protection. These shutters have a unique design that allows for adjustable blades, providing a custom look that can match any architectural design. They come in various colors and styles, so you’re sure to find one that complements your home’s exterior design seamlessly.
The high-velocity winds during hurricane season may cause severe damage to windows, doors, and roofs. However, articulating Bahama shutters provide closure over the entire window area. This coverage ensures maximum protection from hurricane force winds and debris impact. With these robust shutters in place on your windows, you can relax knowing they will protect your property from storm damage all year round – without sacrificing style or appearance!
2. Protection from Hurricane and Storm Damage
Articulating Bahama shutters are an excellent choice for homeowners in North and South Carolina seeking protection from hurricane and storm damage. These shutters not only provide a stylish and elegant look to your home but also protect it from high-velocity winds, debris, and rain.
Most homeowners do not recognize the importance of a design pressure rating for shutters. On fixed-blade bahamas, in order to have this, they need to have a near-solid backing plate. This means there is almost no light penetration, and you are staring at the back of a metal sheet rather than your beautiful view. Since the articulating blades can close fully, they are pressure rated while also allowing for an unobstructed view when open.
Fixed blade shutters with open louver styles also do not prevent small missile impacts (such as smaller rocks and debris). The articulating blade style fully protects against this as well as the typical large missile impact.
The first thing most homeowners think of when it comes to hurricane shutters is that of impact resistance. Hurricane shutters act as a physical barrier, protecting windows and doors from flying debris propelled by strong winds during a hurricane. By preventing these projectiles from breaching the home’s envelope, storm shutters significantly reduce the risk of structural damage.
The high winds and heavy rainfall associated with hurricanes can lead to water infiltration through vulnerable entry points like windows and doors. Hurricane shutters provide a mechanical barrier, minimizing the risk of water damage from wind driven rain to the interior of the home. While not water tight, studies have shown that accordion shutters reduce water intrusion by 77-87% and our articulating blade Bahamas actually close flatter, so may provide even more protection!
3. Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings
Articulating Bahama shutters not only provide protection from hurricanes and storms, but they also offer energy efficiency and cost savings. The adjustable blades allow homeowners to control the amount of sunlight entering their homes, reducing the need for air conditioning during hot summers. Additionally, these shutters provide insulation during colder months, lowering heating costs.
With high velocity winds common in hurricane-prone areas like Florida and the Carolinas, traditional closures may fail to withstand the force. However, articulating Bahama shutters have been specifically designed to resist strong winds without compromising safety or aesthetics. By investing in these shutters, homeowners can protect their property while enjoying long-term cost savings on utility bills.
4. Increased Privacy and Security
Articulating Bahama shutters provide not only a stylish addition to your home’s exterior, but they also offer increased privacy and security. The adjustable blades allow for customizable levels of visibility from the outside while still providing ample protection against unwanted entry.
Additionally, these shutters can be secured tightly with a closure system, ensuring that they will stay in place even during high velocity wind events common during strong storms or hurricanes. With the added layer of protection provided by articulating Bahama shutters, homeowners can have peace of mind knowing their property is secure and safe from potential threats.
5. Low Maintenance and Longevity
Articulating Bahama shutters offer a unique combination of style and functionality, making them an ideal choice for homeowners in Florida or the Carolinas. These shutters are designed to withstand high-velocity winds and protect your home from hurricane and storm damage. Additionally, they provide increased privacy and security while also offering energy efficiency benefits that can save you money on utility bills.
One of the standout features of articulating Bahama shutters is their low maintenance requirements. They are made from durable materials that resist fading, cracking or peeling over time, ensuring longevity with minimal upkeep needed. We recommend cleaning them 1-2x a year and using them regularly. This makes them a practical investment for any homeowner looking to enhance the look and performance of their property without worrying about constant maintenance or replacement costs down the line.
6. Peace of Mind:
Whether a hurricane storm or normal weather event, the ability to close your shutters quickly in the event of an emergency ensures you won’t need to worry if the storm takes a last minute turn- something we are all accustomed to during every increasingly tumultuous hurricane season.
Investing in hurricane protection also contributes to overall home resilience, allowing homeowners to withstand the impact of violent weather events more effectively. This resilience is essential in the face of increasing climate-related risks, where damage to your home may be coupled with area-wide devastation- meaning it may be months or even years before your home can be repaired! Storm shutters can have you back in your home right after the storm or, at the very least, reduce the needed repairs by a vast amount.
Common Concerns Regarding Articulating Bahama Shutters
1. Cost
Some homeowners may be hesitant due to perceived costs associated with installing hurricane shutters. However, when compared to the potential costs of repairing or replacing windows and dealing with interior damage after a hurricane, the initial investment in shutters proves to be a cost effective and prudent choice.
Articulating blame shutters are one of our more expensive shutters due to their combination of curb appeal, ease of use, and strength.
Check out our Cost Calculator to see the approximate price of hurricane shutters on your property (prices are for our service area of North Carolina and South Carolina). This can help you determine the types of hurricane shutters you may want for your home, as cost, look, and ease of use are the main differentiating points between them.
2. Installation
Some homeowners may choose to DIY their hurricane shutters- either installing prefabricated storm shutters or constructing their own out of wood or another material. We would highly caution against that, as Mother Nature does not allow for any mistakes.
At American Hurricane Shutters of the Carolinas, we perform a custom site-specific design pressure analysis that ensures that the shutters will be constructed and installed to stand up to the expected winds at your location.
Furthermore, any homeowner who is buying storm shutters should ensure that the installation crew is using 18-8 stainless steel fasteners. Although coated carbon steel screws are allowable as per the Florida Building Codes (even Miami-Dade!) any compromise to the coating during or after installation can cause rust and reduce the strength and life of your shutters.
Sometimes shutters must be spaced a certain distance from the glass (glazing). In most applications outside of coastal Florida, this is not required by code, however Wind Zone 4 (coastal Florida, some other states) and Miami-Dade require the glazing to be a certain distance from the shutter face- as a projectile impacting the hurricane shutter can either burst through the aluminum to some degree or deflect polycarbonate/hurricane fabric and compromise the building envelope. This is especially important on larger openings such as glass doors (French/Sliders), garage doors, and large windows.
Conclusion
As climate change continues to progress, hurricane protection becomes ever more vital for those living in coastal areas. Installing them well in advance of hurricane season is advised, as most will take months to manufacture and install. Don’t DIY! Ensure your shutters meet FBC (and Miami-Dade if desired). Whether you want these excellent articulating bahama awnings or another style Call American Hurricane Shutters of the Carolinas today at (910) 256-1288 to request a free estimate and consultation. Our 7 year warranty and guaranteed future service ensures your shutters will be ready and have peace of mind when hurricane season rolls around!