There are various options available on the market when it comes to hurricane protection. Roll up shutters are a solution that can help you not only with the strong winds. They also provide protection from forcible entry, sun, storm, heat, noise, weather extremes and provide complete privacy whenever you need it. These shutters are well known for their ease of operation. Roll up shutter with an electric motor might be closed or opened in a few seconds with one press of a button.
What is a roll up shutter?
A roll up shutter is a heavy-duty architectural element that serves as a barrier preventing flying debris, water, rain and damaging wind from entering a protected space. It features interlocking horizontal aluminium or steel slats. They are operated by rolling the slats around a barrel directly down or up with the assistance of either a manual crank or an electric motor. They are a very commonly used for either domestic, commercial or industrial settings and usually defined and specified by their intended use in the application. In Indoors B.V. we specialize in hurricane protection shutters. This is the primary, but not the only one, use of roll up shutters installed in the Caribbeans. They proved themselves to be efficient, convenient and multipurpose solution to protect your home and business.
Roll up shutters – strong and convenient hurricane protection
Indoors B.V. offers roll up shutters that are manufactured in the United States and built according to the Florida building code for High Velocity Hurricane Zones. If you wish, our team can install it for you according to the code as well. The Florida Building Code (FBC) is a set of rules implemented by the US state of Florida. Its purpose is to establish the minimum requirements to safeguard the safety of homeowners and entire population. To get a certificate product must be tested to determine the ability of materials to resist wind-borne debris. Testing procedure includes missile test where a missile is striking the test surface with a 9 lb. 2-by-4 at a speed of 50 miles per hour. During another test, cyclic pressure loading, involves subjecting all elements of the test surface to increasing pressure, uniformly distributed around its frame. That’s how the strength and resistance of product is being tested. It is not allowed to install door, window or a shutter that didn’t go through these tests and is not certified. Caribbean islands do not have such a policies in place, however you should carefully check a quality of products, you plan to purchase. Choosing architectural elements of your house is different than buying other products like furnitures. It is strictly related to safety of you, your family and all residents of your house. In Indoors B.V. we offer certified and non-certified shutters. There is a price difference between a two, however, we strongly recommend to consider buying certified ones. Why? Because they are tested. Every seller tries to sell their product and talk endlessly about its advantages. However, it is not worth much, until it can be proved. Certified shutters are the ones that were checked, tested and proved its strength through series of serious tests. We provide our clients with a proof origin for each product. You can be sure where your shutters were made, what are their technical specs and certification. You should always ask a seller for a documentation. Also, please keep in mind that only products imported can be certified. There is no official body in the Caribbeans islands that would perform tests and check quality of products. In the face of destructive winds over 100 mph, you can’t just hope and cross your fingers. You need to be sure you are well prepared! We are partnering only with the best, trusted brands on the market.
Roll ups – more than a hurricane protection
Roll up shutters available at Indoors B.V. are designed to stand up against storms and hurricanes, including hurricanes category 5. However, it is an architectural solution you can find worldwide. It is in fact very popular in Europe, a continent where hurricanes do not occur. This is because roll ups have many more features other than hurricane and strong wind protection. They are a great anti-burglary solution. When locked, they block access to the entry points of your home or office. Also, they are extremely convenient, especially the automatic version. Roll up shutter systems come with a smooth, manual crank or can be upgraded to the fully synchronized electric motor drive for maintenance-free operation. You can open or close one or even all your shutters with just one press of a button. If you want shutters to be part of your smart home system, it can be programmed. As a result you can control your shutters even from distance, which is an interesting solution, especially for people offering short term rentals. The manual mechanism of the shutter can also be opened and closed inside your home with a manual crank, so, if electricity shortage occurs you can still use it. Roll up shutters offer also great light and UV control and sound reduction feature. If you don’t want to be waken up during the weekend by light or noisy neighbors, you just keep your roll up shutters closed. They also offer you a high level of privacy, whenever you need it.
Roll up shutters – design
These shutters are permanently attached to the building. They are visible, but thanks to sleek design they will not significantly affect the look of your house. Engineered and designed to maintain properties appearance – they are much more discreet than other hurricane protection solutions. In Indoors B.V. we offer roll ups in different colors including white, ivory, beige, and bronze, so you can match them perfectly with your home’s design. When they come in color matching the building, they can even add to its overall aesthetic. Roll up shutters provide an elegant stylish solution with minimal visual impact. We offer the newest generation of Florida Building Codes-approved roll-down shutters with end retention system, wherein the slats of the shutters are locked into heavy-duty tracks on each side. All roll-down shutters pull up the slats within a track. However, end retention products use a series of slat lock clips, fastened to the extruded aluminum slats, to secure their placement within the track. This system offers greater wind protection without needing unattractive storm bars. When force— in the form of heavy hurricane winds or flinging debris— hits the storm shutter, you can rest assured knowing that your unit will stay firming locked inside of your window frame. It’ll bow in without breaking. In the extreme event that a high category storm damages your shutter, it may compromise your end retention on one end. This doesn’t necessarily mean the second end will also be compromised, ensuring your window is still covered. In Indoors B.V. we also do everything by your measurements, so you can be sure a shutter will fit perfectly to your opening!
Roll-up shutters as garage doors
Roll-up shutters are often installed as a garage doors. They protect your car from weather condition, burglars and they are very easy and convenient to use.
Pros & cons summary
Pros:
- high level of hurricane protection
- anti-burglary protection
- ease of operation
- UV/light/ control
- noise reduction
- providing privacy
- permanently attached to the house; no need to store it and installing before the storm
- aesthetically pleasing
- available in different colors.
Cons:
- more expensive than other solutions
- requires special cleaning
- they need regular maintenance.
To get to more know about different kind of hurricane shutters click this link and read our summary!
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