When it comes to hurricane protection there are a lot of options to pick from. If you live in an area that is prone to hurricanes, like Southwest Florida, then proper hurricane protection is critical to protect your home and family. But there are many options of hurricane shutters and impact windows so the choices may seem endless. One choice that has become popular is Hurricane Fabric panels. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of Hurricane Fabric so you can decide if it is the right choice for your home.
You may also like article on The Pros & Cons of Roll Down Shutters.
Table of contents
- What is hurricane fabric?
- How do you install hurricane fabric panels?
- Pros and Cons of Hurricane Fabric
- Pro: Hurricane fabric panels are quick & easy to deploy and remove
- Pro: Fabric Hurricane panels are affordable
- Pro: Hurricane fabric is easy and compact to store
- Pro: Hurricane fabric panels have minimal effect on your home’s appearance
- Pro: Let the light shine into your home
- Pro: Safer to handle
- Pro: Easier to handle
- Con: Hurricane panels have to be installed before each storm
- Con: They are compact but they still require storage
- Con: Color choices are limited
- FAQ
- Are fabric storm shutters right for you?
What is hurricane fabric?
Fabric hurricane shutters are a type of non-permanent hurricane protection. They offer an alternative to traditional metal and aluminum storm panels. But they serve the same purpose as any hurricane shutter. That purpose is to cover and protect the vulnerable parts of your home, such as your windows and doors from breaking during a hurricane. This helps prevent the potential of more severe damage, such as your home becoming pressurized.
It should be noted that these are fabric panels that are installed (attached) over your windows before a storm. They are not the same as roll down hurricane screens, which are permanently attached to your home.
What is hurricane fabric made of?
Our ArmorPanel Hurricane Fabric Panel is made from DuPont KEVLAR® reinforced, soft-sided fabric. DuPont KEVLAR® is an extremely tough yet flexible, light-weight and impact resistant fabric.
But even though it is lightweight it is extremely strong. In fact, the Dupont website says Kevlar has a “tensile strength 10X greater than steel on an equal weight basis.” That’s pretty amazing, especially when you consider that the panels weigh a fraction of steel or aluminum of the same size.
How do you install hurricane fabric panels?
ArmorPanel hurricane window covers attach to the structure of your home with a grommet and wing nut installation. Their installation is similar to installing traditional metal or aluminum storm panels without the heavy lifting. Their light-weight nature makes their installation relatively easy.
Pros and Cons of Hurricane Fabric
Below are some of the Pros and Cons of fabric storm panels.
Pro: Hurricane fabric panels are quick & easy to deploy and remove
ArmorPanel fabric storm panels install relatively quickly and easily on your home. This is thanks to their simple grommet and wing nut installation system. Fabric storm panels are easier to handle and install vs. metal and aluminum alternatives given their ultra-lightweight nature.
Pro: Fabric Hurricane panels are affordable
ArmorPanel Hurricane Fabric Panels are priced similar to metal and aluminum storm panels. That is pretty impressive considering their benefits vs those options. Fabric panels are priced considerably lower than permanent shutters.
How expensive are fabric hurricane shutters? You can expect to pay around $17/SQFT.
They also offer other cost savings. First, you can save money on installing them every storm. Most individuals can install them themselves due to their lightweight. So you can save some money installing them yourself vs. hiring an installation service like with metal panels.
If you are looking for an affordable form of hurricane protection then ArmorPanel fabric panels might be a good choice.
Pro: Hurricane fabric is easy and compact to store
Say goodbye to the storage unit rental and/or take back your shed or garage. ArmorPanel fabric storm panels can be rolled, laid flat, or hung up for easy, compact storage. They can be stored at a fraction of the space requied by metal or aluminum panels.
Pro: Hurricane fabric panels have minimal effect on your home’s appearance
Fabric storm panels only get installed when a storm is coming. Why is that a benefit? Because there are no exterior housings, tracks, awnings, etc. They have minimal effect on your home’s appearance. In other words, it is a good option if you don’t like the look of hurricane shutters or don’t want to change the look of your home.
Pro: Let the light shine into your home
ArmorPanel panels are translucent so they allow natural light to shine into your home. This is a benefit vs metal and aluminum panels that black out your home. You will reduce the need to have candles, flashlights or a generator if the power goes out.
Pro: Safer to handle
ArmorPanel hurricane panels have smooth, safe edges. One of the drawbacks of metal and aluminum (and even polycarbonate) storm panels is your risk of cutting yourself when handling. ArmorPanel is a soft fabric with smooth edges.
Pro: Easier to handle
Hurricane fabric is a fraction of the weight of metal and aluminum storm panels. This makes the installation process easier. You can still pay someone to install them, but you might not need to because of their lightweight nature and easy to attach fastening system. This will save you energy (and the added cost of installation).
Con: Hurricane panels have to be installed before each storm
Hurricane fabric panels need to be installed and uninstalled for every storm. This is a drawback vs. permanent hurricane shutters. If you are considering hurricane storm panels vs. metal or aluminum panels then there is not much difference. And they are easier to install than traditional panels because of their lightweight nature. But if you are looking for a hurricane protection option that does not require installation and removal before and after each storm these may not be the best option for you. In that case, you may want to choose a permanently installed option, such as roll down hurricane shutters, accordion shutters, etc.
If you don’t know what permanent shutters are make sure you check out our article explaining what are permanent hurricane shutters.
Con: They are compact but they still require storage
Like their metal and aluminum counterparts fabric panels do require storage. Yes, they take up less space then other panels. But you do still have to store them somewhere. So make sure you have enough space to tuck them away or you may have to find another solution.
Con: Color choices are limited
ArmorPanel Hurricane Fabric Panels come in one standard color, which is natural. This is not a major issue. That’s because they are not installed on your home all the time. But, it is still something to note.
FAQ
They do the same as any other hurricane shutter. Specifically, they cover and protect the vulnerable parts of your home, such as your windows and doors from breaking during a hurricane. This helps prevent more severe damage, such as water intrusion and or your home becoming pressurized.
Yes. Fabric storm panels are hurricane–rated and can protect your home just as well as other storm shutters.
Fabric hurricane shutter panels are more affordable vs many other types of hurricane protection. You can expect to pay around $17/SQFT. If you need a comparison of cost between different options you can read our guide on hurricane shutters cost.
Our ArmorPanel Fabric Storm Panels are made from DuPont KEVLAR® reinforced, soft-sided fabric. DuPont KEVLAR® is an extremely tough yet flexible, light-weight and impact resistant fabric.
Are fabric storm shutters right for you?
There are many options when it comes to storm protection. Choosing the best hurricane shutters for your Florida home depends on your needs and preferences. Do your research and understand the pros and cons of each option. Make sure you are taking the steps necessary to protect your home and family, regardless of which product you choose. It’s also a good idea to research how to prepare your house & family for a hurricane.
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