Been thinking about this lately since hurricane season is creeping up again (ugh). Last year, my neighbor installed those fancy impact-resistant windows, and I gotta admit, they look pretty sleek. Meanwhile, I'm still lugging out the old aluminum shutters every time there's a storm warning—it's a pain in the butt, honestly. But then again, shutters seem like they'd be easier to replace if something goes wrong, right?
I mean, imagine this scenario: hurricane's coming tomorrow, and you can magically choose either impact windows or shutters for your house instantly. Which would you pick? I'm kinda torn because impact windows seem like they'd save me a ton of hassle—no more climbing ladders or wrestling with heavy panels—but they're also way pricier upfront. And if one breaks, that's gotta be expensive to fix. Shutters are cheaper and simpler, but man, they're ugly and annoying to deal with.
Also, I've heard mixed things about how well impact windows actually hold up in a serious storm. My cousin down in Florida swears by them, says they're rock solid. But another friend told me he saw some crack during a bad storm last year. So now I'm confused.
Curious what you guys think—if you had to pick one right now, knowing a hurricane was on its way tomorrow, would you trust impact windows or stick with good ol' shutters?
"Shutters are cheaper and simpler, but man, they're ugly and annoying to deal with."
Haha, tell me about it. I've been wrestling with shutters for years, and every storm season I swear it'll be my last. But honestly, if a hurricane's hitting tomorrow, I'd still pick shutters. They're ugly and a pain, sure, but they're reliable and easy enough to replace if something goes wrong. My brother-in-law had impact windows installed two years ago—looked great until one cracked during a nasty storm. Took weeks (and a small fortune) to get it replaced. Not saying impact windows aren't worth it long-term—they probably are—but in a pinch, I'd rather stick with what I know works. Anyone else feel like shutters are the devil you know...?