Storm Protection for Coastal Contemporary Homes in South Florida

Coastal contemporary architecture is one of the most popular home styles here in Southwest Florida. And it is easy to see why. These homes are perfect for capturing stunning waterfront views with their expansive glass windows and they exhibit luxurious designs. However, with hurricane season upon us, it’s important to prioritize storm protection for our beloved coastal contemporary homes. There are various storm protection products that homeowners can take to safeguard their properties from powerful hurricanes. In this brief article we cover the importance of hurricane protection for coastal contemporary homes in South Florida. And we provide some products that match this architectural style well. Keep reading so you know the best way to protect your home while keeping true to its intended design.

Characteristics of Coastal Contemporary Architecture in Florida

Coastal contemporary architecture accomplishes a beach vibe while incorporating sleek and modern elements into the design. One of the key characteristics of this style is clean lines. This creates a crisp and sophisticated look for these homes in coastal areas. A distinguishing design feature is large, sometimes floor to ceiling windows that provide unobstructed views outside and plenty of natural sunlight in. These large glass windows and doors serve to unite the interior and exterior spaces of the home.

While beautiful, glass openings are some of the most vulnerable areas of a home during a hurricane. This is why hurricane protection is so critical with this style of home. Below we discuss some protection options that will stay true to the design of your coastal contemporary home.

Suitable Hurricane Protection for Coastal Contemporary Homes

As we mentioned above Coastal contemporary homes are defined by large, unobstructed windows (and glass doors in the rear). Both exterior and interior window treatments are kept to a minimum. This means most types of hurricane shutters do not match the style of these homes.

Some exceptions to this in Southwest Florida is the use of Bahama Shutters, Colonial Shutters, and decorative Half-Bahama Shutters. If these shutters fit your home, they are a suitable hurricane protection option for some of your openings.

Half-Bahama shutters are strictly a decorative, aluminum shutter used as a design feature and to provide shade from the hot Florida sun. However, they do not offer hurricane protection.

While the options are limited, there are still some great products to protect your home.

The first and most obvious option is impact glass. And there are some great options for protecting your patio and other outdoor spaces. All of them match the coastal contemporary style perfectly.

Below we highlight each of these hurricane protection options. 

Impact Windows and Doors

You can outfit your home with impact windows and doors. This is a perfect solution because impact glass products look just like regular windows and doors. This means your home will look 100% the same.

And these are available in every style, shape, and size window imaginable. The same goes for glass doors, such as sliders, etc.

As a side benefit, they offer 24/7 hurricane protection with no preparation required. That means they are extremely easy and convenient to use.

Learn more about our impact windows in Fort Myers and Southwest Florida.

Hidden Roll Downs or Hurricane Screens

Most Coastal Contemporary homes have outdoor spaces with large patios/lanai and pool areas. If this describes your house you know it is imperative to maintain the unobstructed views from inside your home out. At the same time, it is also imperative to protect these spaces as well as your outdoor belongings.

One way to accomplish both of these goals is by installing hidden roll down shutters or hurricane screens in these areas.

Both of these options are suitable for wide openings, such as between wide, lanai pillars/beams. Both can also be installed as a “hidden” installation. In turn, you can protect these spaces without obstructing your amazing views outside.

Learn more about hidden roll down shutter installations.