How much does Hurricane Window Film Cost?

[DanKellFla]

I have shutters, but I would like to get something that keeps the glass together if the windows break. Does anybody have any idea of the cost of window film? Maybe a per square foot cost? A guess would be fine..
Thanks

[vbhoutex]

I have shutters, but I would like to get something that keeps the glass together if the windows break. Does anybody have any idea of the cost of window film? Maybe a per square foot cost? A guess would be fine..
Thanks

Is there a film that will keep glass together after it is broken? I would think that if the glass is broken by flying debris so would the film be pierced and probably useless.

[Alladin]

If your shutters and windows are properly constructed, you have no need for window film.

Bottom line is that hurricane window films are worthless. Spend that money on your shutters. If your shutters are properly made and installed , they will stand up to 155+ mph winds. All of my shutters are 1/2 inch plywood. They are reinforced with glued and screwed dimensional lumber on the outside of the shutter to preclude flexing that would break a window.

They are also water proof because I have painted them with three coats of spar urethane so they will not warp or delaminate when they are subjected to heavy wind driven rain. I have also filled all the voids in the plywood with Gorilla Glue to prevent water intrusion and to add strength.

My shutters press against the outside window frame, not the glass. The whole reason for shutters is to deflect and impede impact from flying objects. They will not prevent a total "blowout" of the window or door. You must make sure that your windows, doors and vents are properly installed, caulked and secure to withstand hurricane force winds. In other words, your windows should be able to withstand a 155+ mph wind without a shutter (assuming no wind driven impact objects).

Shutters only do one thing. They provide protection against high wind driven objects, not the wind itself.

[DanKellFla]

Is there a film that will keep glass together after it is broken? I would think that if the glass is broken by flying debris so would the film be pierced and probably useless.

Yes, there is:
http://www.stormgard.com/home.html

They even make stuff that will keep the glass together in case of an explosion.

Alladin, I have steel storm panels that are properly secured. I also had a window break behind the storm panel. The panels didn't have a mark on them and stayed in place for 20 minutes after the window broke. The offset was 3 inches. But my worry is for my sliding glass doors. During Wilma I watched the glass flex. So, what I want is that during a blowout that the glass would stay together and not be shards flying all over.

[HurriCat]

Yes, I'm betting that the air pressures and vibrations alone can shatter glass - especially if the window's been there a few years. Something that sounds doofy on the surface is to include those big plastic safety goggles in your hurricane kits. I got the ones that fit over eyeglasses and completely close off all around your eyes. The elastic strap will help keep them on in the wind and rain, and your eyes will be better defended against glass, flying debris, etc - which the air will be full of if the winds get in or you are forced outside. Oh yes - got the rubber/silicone ear-plugs, too - for noise suppression, help with pressure changes and to protect the ear canal, etc.

[Stormtrack]

[quote="DanKellFla But my worry is for my sliding glass doors. During Wilma I watched the glass flex. So, what I want is that during a blowout that the glass would stay together and not be shards flying all over.[/quote]

You don't want to be where you can see any windows or glass doors flex during a hurricane. You should be in an inner room such as a bathroom without windows or closet away from any possibility of flying glass.

[DanKellFla]

Stormtrack, That would be ideal, but I have a window in every room of the house. It makes for a beautiful house with a lot of light, but not so good in a hurricane. I have a walk in closet that I can use as my windowless room. But this isn't only for during the storm. This also will make any cleanup easier and safer. After the experience I had with Wilma, I have very little hope that my sliding doors will survive.

But, I do love French doors......

[Alladin]

Properly constructed windows and sliding glass doors do not break due to wind pressure or sonic booms. If the window frame or sliding glass door is defective or improperly installed, you will have glass breakage. Both tempered glass and annealed glass can easily withstand 155+ mph winds. Their resistance to pressure variances is tremendous.

Heck, a 300 mph wind produces about 400 psf pressure and all glass can handle more than twice that pressure without breakage. Wind pressure is not your problem.

However, impact resistance of glass is very low. You were wise to cover your windows with shutters. I would check the window frame for structural defects or improper installation. Proper frame support is vital. The bottom of the window must be level, stable and properly shimmed. Otherwise the glass will be stressed a break easily. The windows must be well caulked to prevent wind and water intrusion and allow for thermal expansion.

For a sliding glass door, you need to shim it tight in the track with a wooden wedge. Shim it at the top, not the bottom. The glass is tempered laminate and it will not break due to wind pressure (as you noted, it will indeed flex a great deal), but it might jump out of its track if you don't shim it in place!

[DanKellFla]

[quote="Alladin"]Properly constructed windows and sliding glass doors do not break due to wind pressure or sonic booms. If the window frame or sliding glass door is defective or improperly installed, you will have glass breakage. quote]

Well, I guess it wasn't properly installed. I had breakage. Actually, my entire street has had window problems for years. Whoever the sub-contractor was did a poor job.

I live in a developement and on my street three identical houses had the same window break durring Wilma.

As I do work around my house, I notice many problems. As far as I can tell, the foundation, walls and roof are well done. Everything else is a problem.

[Alladin]

My daughter bought a house located about two blocks from my house. She had a window pane break during Ivan and it was not struck by flying debris. I tore off the window trim and cut out some of the drywall and noticed that the window was not properly shimmed on the right side. The installer forced the window frame into an opening that was not square. As a result, the window frame had a small warp on the upper right side (the pane that broke).

I went down to Lowe's and bought a new frame and threw the old one away. I installed the new frame, shimmed it out and repaired and painted the trim. I caulked it inside and out with GE 50 year silicone sealant. That window is there to stay!

That was very clever of you to check with your neighbors. I too would agree that if three other houses suffered identical window damage, then the frames are not installed right. However, in a way, that's good to know. If you only have one problem window, you may just wish to live with it and take extra precautions to protect it. So, I see where you're coming from wanting to use the window film.

You might want to check out 3M "Scotchshield" Safety Film. It works very well to hold glass together in the event of breakage.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/e ... indowFilms

[Dionne]

Ron White....one of the blue collar comedians did a benefit in Jackson, MS. for Katrina victims/refugees.

His opening statement was really good. He mentioned that he felt it necessary to go see the destruction before doing the benefit.

He mentioned that he saw glass everywhere.......and that the broken pieces of glass had tape on them. He paused for a moment and then said....."For Gods sake people......Katrina blew trees into the next county....what did y'all think the tape was gonna do?"

There isn't much you can do for a storm the size of Katrina. It's more important to evacuate. We didn't and we paid the price.

[DanKellFla]

Dionne,
The window film I am refering too is very different from tape. Click on the link above and check it out.
The goal is not to prevent the window from breaking. The goal is to keep the shards of glass from flying around.

[Alladin]

There isn't much you can do for a storm the size of Katrina. It's more important to evacuate. We didn't and we paid the price.

Actually, there is a lot you can do, if you take the time to prepare and defend against major storms.

Evacuation is certainly one option, but some of us have decided to harden our houses against hurricane force winds, stockpile supplies and shelter in place. I own my house (no mortgage) and it's a strong house outside of the storm surge and flood prone areas. I have spent a lot of time making sure my house will survive a category 5 hurricane with extra bracing. I have a large stockpile of hurricane supplies to last me for over a month.

For me and my family, sheltering in place is the logical thing to do. I've lived in Florida for about 30 years and have evacuated for a number of major hurricanes. Evacuation was the pits every time we did it! I decided instead to study the problem and come up with a solution.

We are now fully prepared to weather and defend against the worst that mother nature (and our fellow man) might inflict upon us.

[Dionne]

Dan.....I don't understand how window film or tape can do any good whatsoever when the entire structure fails. Have you seen first hand what happened with Katrina? Homes were destroyed by treefall 160 miles inland.

Alladin....I've been a builder for 30 years. If you have built a residential home that can survive a cat 5 hurricane......your one of the first. I'd love to see the home and what you have integrated into the foundation and framing that will ride out sustained cat 5 winds.

Look folks.....all I'm saying is that there is no substitute for evacuation.

I sincerely hope you never have to find out the hard way.

[DanKellFla]

Dionne,
I don't have much hope for my house in a Cat 4 or 5 storm. I will stay in my house for a 1 or 2. Actually, I already have. I have steel storm panels for flying debris. All I want to do is prevent flying glass and make clean-up easier and safer.


"I don't understand how window film or tape can do any good whatsoever when the entire structure fails. Have you seen first hand what happened with Katrina? "
Then, as a builder, can you go into Home Depot and ask them what the point of a Cat 5 rated front door is?

[HurriCat]

Aw, c'mon guys. OF COURSE film or whatever won't do any good if the STRUCTURE is destroyed. And no, it isn't tree-proof, either. This is like saying, "Yeah, but seat belts and airbags won't help if you drive your car off into the Grand Canyon." And if I were 160 miles inland - no way would I evacuate unless in a mobile cracker-box or stupidly living in a known flood-plain.

[DanKellFla]

HurriCat, Ummmm, that is one way to say it.
I am 5 miles inland. According to local officials and experience, it would be more dangerous for me to evacuate for a Cat 1 or 2 storm than to ride it out in my house.

Dionne, have you ever looked at the NHC building in Miami. That is made to ride out a Cat 5 storm. It is a squat concrete bunker made out of concrete. Very interesting building is all ways except aesthtic. But I don't think it would pass in a residential community.

[Alladin]

I first moved to Florida in 1977 and lived in Homestead. In the event of a hurricane, my job required me to be available, so I could not evacuate. Therefore, I went shopping for a hurricane proof house. I checked the flood prone areas and storm surge areas to make sure I would be clear of them.

An old widow lady put her house up for sale. It was CBS construction with a concrete roof. Her husband had died earlier in the year and she wanted to move into an assisted living facility. I found out that her husband was a Pearl Harbor survivor and for the rest of his life suffered from "shell shock". He built that house to be bomb proof.

The slab, walls and roof were all tied together with rebar and everything was poured concrete. It looked just like other houses in the neighborhood, but it was much stronger and it stayed a lot cooler in the summer. It survived Andrew with only minor damage to the carport.

When I moved to northwest Florida, the first priority for me was to buy a house that would survive a major hurricane. Although my house is located on a coastal peninsula, it is 23 feet above sea level and is not in a flood or storm surge area. As I mentioned in another thread, my house was inspected by an architect form the Florida Department of Community Affairs to determine its hurricane survivability level. It passed with flying colors! They did recommend some improvements and I implemented their suggestions.

Obviously, my house could get hit by a tornado and then, all bets are off. Hurricane planning is different for each person depending upon their set of circumstances. My hurricane plan is very flexible. If plan "A" fails I go to plan "B", and if "B" fails I go to the next plan. I have family and friends that I may need to help, or they may need to help me as conditions warrant.

I've seen a lot of hurricanes and I have a great deal of respect for them and their power. Protecting human life is at the top of the list. I've seen people suffer total mental breakdowns due to hurricane stress and recovery aftermath. I know that you can shelter in place for a category 5 hurricane if you properly prepare in advance.

If DanKellFla had proposed to use window film as his primary protection, then I would not agree with that method. However, he has sturdy metal shutters and he only intends to use the window film as "backup" protection. I think that is entirely appropriate.

[Dionne]

Aw, c'mon guys. OF COURSE film or whatever won't do any good if the STRUCTURE is destroyed. And no, it isn't tree-proof, either. This is like saying, "Yeah, but seat belts and airbags won't help if you drive your car off into the Grand Canyon." And if I were 160 miles inland - no way would I evacuate unless in a mobile cracker-box or stupidly living in a known flood-plain.

I used to think like that......160 miles from the coast should be more than enough. Then August 29 came along and changed alot of thinking. It was the wind. Crystal Springs is a small sleepy deep south community of 5000 people. Alot of "antebellum" homes. Alot of old tree growth. 200 year old oaks. Huge pines. And they fell big time. Our entire infrastructure went down.

[Alladin]

That's an excellent point Dionne! It's a good lesson for everyone to learn. You must be proactive in removing all trees within 50 feet of your house. I had several Chinese Tallow (Popcorn) trees and large pine trees in my yard. I removed them all in 2003. In 2004, we got hit by Ivan and I was spared any tree damage.

Many of my neighbors had trees in their roofs and on their cars. Old growth tree roots ripped up water lines, telephone lines, power lines and gas lines as the trees were blown down. Many roads were blocked for days by downed trees. You've got to keep trees away from all utility lines, both above and below ground.

Many people with natural gas powered backup generators had no power because the gas lines had to be shut down.