Is it important to get hurricane impact glass installed? (Cape Coral: home owners insurance, vacation)

[easytim]

We are building a house on Pine Island, one of the things the builder had asked us was if we wanted hurricane impact glass installed and its not cheap.

Is this worth the extra expense? I'm from the Midwest and I don't have a clue.

Is installing the metal shutters the better way to go?

How often have these metal shutters been needed to be installed over the years? I believe when hurricane Charley arrived they were needed then.

Is there a big savings on home owners insurance when using impact glass?

The cost of the impact glass is $6,200,,,,,,a lot of money

[rikoshaprl]

Roll down shutters will cost about $20 a sq ft. for manual; more for electric. They are kind of ugly too. You will need some protection or your insurance will be through the roof.

[hiknapster]

Yes, they are needed and you will pay through the nose for insurance without them. A hurricane may not show up for 20 years or it could come next month. Don't be pennywise and pound foolish.

Besides, aren't they a requirement in Florida for new builds ever since the time of Charley, Frances, Jeanne, Katrina, Dennis, Ivan and Wilma? Did you realize that the standards were very stringent when you decided to build?

[Beak Boater]

Depends on if you want to fool with the shutters. Electric, just push a button and the go down or up. Manuel, pay someone to put them up when a storm comes, or leave them up the entire time the house is not used.
Is this house a permanent residence or a vacation home? If you occupy the house all the time shutters are not so bad. You are their and can judge yourself if you need them put up or not. Nothing worse than being a thousand miles away watching the news and hoping your house is ok.
You might also check with your homeowners insurance policy and see what they require in your particular situation. I know that in our policy it states that if its a named storm and the home is damaged and you don't have your shutters up they don't have to pay for damages. Not trying to test his clause in the policy.
Bottom line, wind rated glass is costly luxury, but it beats fighting with shutters, in my experience.
Good luck.

[I_Like_Spam]

Isn't boarding up the windows sufficient enough for this kind of event?

My brother bought a home in South Carolina a few weeks before Hugo hit, and that's what he did and it turned out fine.

[rikoshaprl]

Even if you live here, any time you want to leave the house for more than a few days during hurricane season you really should put up the shutters. With the impact glass you are always covered.

[cfbs2691]

Get the impact glass, but use a reputable company.
You won't have to sit in the dark if a hurricane comes.
While shutters are better than nothing:
If a big tree is coming your way, there's still a chance it'll come through your house.
Being able to see what's going on outside could be a life saver.

[migolito]

Easytim,
I'm actually traveling to that area in 2 weeks to look for a building lot. Can you tell me what the rating on the glass is? I could be wrong, but, I can't imagine impact glass is even in the same rating neighborhood as shutters or bolt in place panels.

[easytim]

I have been asking people from Cape Coral when is the last time you put up the metal shutters, they have been telling me in 2004 with the hurricane Charley, they only put up shutters then.

[easytim]

Originally Posted by migolito

Easytim,
I'm actually traveling to that area in 2 weeks to look for a building lot. Can you tell me what the rating on the glass is? I could be wrong, but, I can't imagine impact glass is even in the same rating neighborhood as shutters or bolt in place panels.

I'm not sure about that yet