# Floridians and other Irma path types: board windows? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 8, 2017, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridians-and-other-irma-path-types-board-windows/795819 "2017-09-08T16:21:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridians-and-other-irma-path-types-board-windows/795819/21 "2017-09-12T19:45:24Z")
No. Opening windows will actually have the opposite effect - winds will force their way into opened windows and then blow open seams elsewhere in the house when they try to exit again. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridians-and-other-irma-path-types-board-windows/795819/22 "2017-09-12T19:52:33Z")
Glad you’re okay. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridians-and-other-irma-path-types-board-windows/795819/23 "2017-09-12T20:12:20Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > We are fine, thank you! Didn’t even lose power. Our fence was blown down but it’s a plastic one that snaps back together, so that was no big deal. We also lost some tree branches, which are already piled on the curb. > > I typed the OP on my phone and I was a bit facetious about why we didn’t board up. We have a shed attached to the side of the house that has pre-cut plywood in it, but we’ve been locked out of it for a while. I couldn’t just jimmy the door because it’s only held shut by a deadbolt and I didn’t want it flapping open in the storm. I got a locksmith to come and open it, but when we got in we discovered all the pre-cut sections had rotted away. > > By then it was too late to board - every hardware store for miles sold out of plywood at the beginning of the week. So, this year, after plywood is available again, you’re going to buy pre-treated sheets and a table saw, and cut yourself new ones, yes? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridians-and-other-irma-path-types-board-windows/795819/24 "2017-09-12T20:56:28Z")
Actually, we’re going to get permanent metal shutters installed professionally so I don’t have to faff around with drilling holes in masonry. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridians-and-other-irma-path-types-board-windows/795819/25 "2017-09-12T21:10:28Z")
Glad it turned out ok. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridians-and-other-irma-path-types-board-windows/795819/26 "2017-09-12T21:26:39Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > So, this year, after plywood is available again, you’re going to buy pre-treated sheets and a table saw, and cut yourself new ones, yes? It’ll take two people to cut full sheets of plywood with a tablesaw. Unless you want them crooked and flying backwards into your midsection. What you need is a circular saw and some practice. Even a Sawzall would do a fine job for something that needs to be put up once a year for a few days. > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Actually, we’re going to get permanent metal shutters installed professionally so I don’t have to faff around with drilling holes in masonry. If you have the money and don’t mind the look, that’s going to be the best option. There’s a lot of options out there. Something else you could do, in the middle, would be to have a professional cut the plywood to size for you and install a permanent mounting system on your house for you. Then all you need to do is drag it out and hang it for a few days and put it away when you’re done. You could use the saved money to have him fix up the shed and store them in there and paint them (so they don’t rot) and label them. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridians-and-other-irma-path-types-board-windows/795819/27 "2017-09-12T22:16:30Z")
When I say permanent, I mean the kind that has a permanent track but you slide in when storms are coming and store the rest of the time. There are also some clippy fabric covers that look promising (Astroguard?) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridians-and-other-irma-path-types-board-windows/795819/28 "2017-09-12T22:23:16Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > When I say permanent, I mean the kind that has a permanent track but you slide in when storms are coming and store the rest of the time. There are also some clippy fabric covers that look promising (Astroguard?) Yeah, I saw slide away ones. I saw the fabric ones, but the problem I see with those ones (after exactly 3 seconds of thinking about them) is that if the window does break, water is getting it. Whether it’s rain or flood water. I’d have to be awfully convinced nothing is going to being able to break the window through that. At least with something solid (be it plywood, traditional shutters, slideaway plexiglass etc), the majority of the rain isn’t getting in. My thought on removable ones was just that I assume (and I could very well be wrong) that it would be cheaper to have a handyman whip something up for you than to have hurricane shutter company custom fit them. In any case, I’d get a couple of quotes, read reviews, talk to neighbors etc. ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridians-and-other-irma-path-types-board-windows/795819/29 "2017-09-12T23:30:49Z")
RNATB, glad your impact was minimal! My downed fence is wooden shadow-box and will take more than a snap to restore. My house is otherwise ok, thanks in good measure to the metal shutters. I encourage you to go with your plan. I used to be young and strong and shlepping massive sheets of plywood was nothing! But metal shutters are much lighter, and they stack and store better than plywood. Plus of course they never rot. The tracks on your house aren’t unattractive – at least not to savvy Floridians who know it signifies your wise preparedness. And it’s one less thing you’ll have to rush to the Giant Depot to fight over when another storm takes aim. ---
**Author:** ![fervour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@fervour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fervour)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2017, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridians-and-other-irma-path-types-board-windows/795819/30 "2017-09-13T06:24:34Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > We are fine, thank you! Didn’t even lose power. Our fence was blown down but it’s a plastic one that snaps back together, so that was no big deal. We also lost some tree branches, which are already piled on the curb. > > I typed the OP on my phone and I was a bit facetious about why we didn’t board up. We have a shed attached to the side of the house that has pre-cut plywood in it, but we’ve been locked out of it for a while. I couldn’t just jimmy the door because it’s only held shut by a deadbolt and I didn’t want it flapping open in the storm. I got a locksmith to come and open it, but when we got in we discovered all the pre-cut sections had rotted away. > > By then it was too late to board - every hardware store for miles sold out of plywood at the beginning of the week. I’m glad you are fine. The storm was a non-event for us too. Fortunately! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floridians-and-other-irma-path-types-board-windows/795819.md?page=1)