With hurricane season upon us, you must ask yourself whether your house – and your family – is protected.
The point of entry for much of the storm-related damage we see in coastal South Carolina is the windows and doors. But there are simple and relatively inexpensive protections you can invest in, and the state will help you do it.
Ted Cligrow, President and Owner of Carolina Home Exteriors in Murrells Inlet, says every coastal homeowner should consider installing hurricane shutters. “They offer security, weather protection, energy conservation and noise control all at the same time,” he says. His company, located in Murrells Inlet, SC has served over 10,000 customers in the Carolinas since 1980 and will soon to be celebrating their 40th Anniversary.
Below are the five types of hurricane shutters available for homeowners to select from:
Roll Down Shutters
Roll down shutters provide security and storm protection for your home or business. The roll down shutter system comes with a manual crank or can be upgraded to an electric motor operation. The elegant design has minimal visual impact with ultimate protection and increases privacy and noise reduction.
Accordion Shutters
Accordion shutters glide smoothly making them easy to operate. When the shutters are closed, they protect your home from storm conditions and keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. The accordion shutters lock into place with a key. When opened they fold easily into storage. The accordion shutters can be custom designed to any length and width to meet your requirements.
Hurricane Storm Panels
The storm panel shutters come in aluminum, steel or clear poly carbonate. They are removeable panels that can be installed vertically or horizontally. The panels are designed to slide into a track that is installed onto your windows or they can be attached directly to the wall with removable anchors and screws.
Bahama Shutters
Bahama Shutters offer an aesthetically pleasing hurricane protection to your home or business. They are easy to operate and are adjustable up to 60 degrees. Bahama shutters provide great storm protection and security along with light control, ventilation and privacy for daily use.
Colonial Shutters
Colonial shutters offer storm protection while enhancing the look of your home. They are easy to operate and provide great storm protection and security. Colonial shutters are available in arches, angles and custom sizes.
To save you money, The State of South Carolina has three programs to help homeowners invest in window and door hurricane protection.
First, S.C. homeowners’ insurance policies provide reductions on homes with hurricane protection materials. This may knock off 20-30 percent of your insurance premium. Check with your agent for specific discounts and requirements.
Next, South Carolina offers the SC Safe Home program, which provides grants up to $5,000 to homeowners that install hurricane protection, including hurricane shutters. There are some terms and conditions, so check out the program to determine if you qualify.
Finally, there are two S.C. state income tax credits available to help offset the costs of minimizing hurricane damage on owner-occupied homes. Tax credits are not deductions – they reduce the amount owed for state income tax dollar-for-dollar. Qualifying fortification measures or retrofits must increase the structural resistance to hurricanes, rising floodwaters or other catastrophic windstorm event damage. Find details here.
If you’re interested in protecting your largest investment against Hurricane storm damage, visit CarolinaHomeExteriors.com, or call (843) 651-6514 for a free consultation and to learn more about their 12-month, free financing. As a fully insured and S.C Residential Licensed Builder, the company has earned a reliable track record of success in North and South Carolina.
