There are many good ways to protect a home or business from high winds, debris, pressure loads and water associated with hurricanes, but when a client lives in a historic dwelling, wants to preserve classic architecture, or has community design regulations to consider it can get tricky.

Creative hurricane protection dealers with access to the wide variety of products available can meet all these needs while protecting structures and those inside.

As more states along the U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast move to make storm protection mandatory, dealing with historic preservation and restoration will become a more frequent fact of doing business—especially as early forecasts for the 2008 hurricane season predict a 60 percent chance that at least one hurricane will make landfall somewhere along the U.S. coast.

SAVANNAH HOME READY FOR HURRICANES
If a hurricane with Category 5 winds, damaging rain and flooding were to strike the eastern coast of the United States, who will be ready to handle these devastating storms? The Zemans of Savannah, GA.

With a historic home located just 39 blocks from the Savannah River, Don and Nancy Zeman decided to install more than two dozen impact resistant windows in their historic Savannah house when they renovated in 2006. They chose Simonton StormBreaker Plus®.

“Our two-story Victorian-style home was built in 1900,” says Don Zeman, host of “Homefront with Don Zeman,” a national home improvement radio show and a former contractor. “In that same year, about a thousand miles away, a killer hurricane struck Galveston, TX, killing more than 6,000 people.

“When we purchased and started renovation on our 3,685-square foot home, that Galveston hurricane was very much in our minds. Anyone living in a coastal area needs to take precautions to prepare their homes in case of a hurricane. During the renovation we paid special attention to the key entry areas of the house . . . the windows, roof and entry doors . . . to assure that our home would be able to withstand hurricane-strength weather.”

Located in the Thomas Square Street Car Historic District of Savannah, the Zeman’s home now includes 26 impact-resistant double hung windows and a casement window. “It’s incredible to mix the modern-day achievements of building products with the historical aspects of this home,” says Zeman. “We have 12-foot ceilings and five coal-burning original fireplaces that reflect the construction of that era united with impact resistant glass windows. That’s a powerful combination because it allows us to retain the historical elements of the home while securing the structure with advanced technology.”

Gerald Stewart, owner, Exterior Home Improvement, worked on installing the 27 windows in the Zeman’s home. “Right after installation the Zemans immediately said the noise penetration from street traffic had been reduced tremendously,” says Stewart. “They also noticed a drop of about 40 percent in their energy bills. But, of course, the biggest asset is the peace-of-mind they now have related to severe weather concerns.”

Simonton Windows produces Energy Star® qualified replacement and new construction windows and doors in addition to its line of impact-resistant products.

BEAUTIFUL IDEA: PROTECTION AND LOOKS
Combing historic beauty with 21st-century state-of-the-art building materials was the big idea behind Coastal Living’s 2007 Idea House.

The home was built in Azalea Park located in the heart of Bon Secours Village, Gulf Shores, AL. This Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) was designed by Andres Duany, noted for his award-winning designs of Seaside, Rosemary Beach, and Alys Beach, FL. The Idea House was built by John O. Freeman Jr. in association with Stephen Fuller, Stephen Fuller, Inc. It features J&L/Permex shutters.

“While the materials appear to be traditional, they consist of synthetic look-alikes chosen for their durability and low maintenance,” says Freeman, “that’s why we chose J&L/Permex shutters for the house. They have the look of wood but are completely synthetic.”

J&L Shutters chose this venue to introduce Permex Hurricane Shutters to the Gulf market. The shutters are code compliant with the International Code Council’s (ICC) rigid standards. ICC creates standards for testing protocol for the International Building Code (IBC) and the International Residential Code (IRC). A product must pass lengthy impact and cyclic tests—large missile impact tests, wind speed tests of 150 mph, positive and negative pressure loads test and recovery test.

Because of the recent hurricanes that have developed along the East Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico insurance companies will increase premiums from two to 15 percent if a homeowner does not have code-compliant shutters. Because the J&L shutters offer approved hurricane protection with the elegant look of traditional custom wood shutters, architects, builders, designers and homeowners are specifying them when building—or in restoration projects. The shutters also are completely operable and maintenance free.

UNOBTRUSIVE PROTECTION
On the southern shore of Lake Okeechobee, in Clewiston, FL, visitors excited about freshwater fishing or in touring the area’s early 20th-century sugar cane industry are likely to come upon the Capt. F. Deane Duff House.

Designed by prominent Palm Beach and Clewiston architect Clark J. Lawrence, the two-story home is an excellent example of late 19th and 20th Century Revival architecture featuring French-derived design elements. It also is a state historic site. Duff, the first owner of the house, held a prominent position in Clewiston’s early development prior to its incorporation in 1931. Following incorporation, he became the city’s first mayor, a position he held for the next 12 years. Duff continued to play an active role in the community until his death in 1954.

The home’s current owner, Margie Geddes, wanted the home protected from hurricanes, which could sweep across the Florida peninsula from either the East Coast or Gulf Coast. But Geddes also wanted to preserve the home’s architectural integrity. That’s where Lifestyle Exterior Products, Fort Myers, FL, comes in with a range of storm protection from polymer and aluminum roll shutters to accordion shutters, storm panels, flexible screen systems and Colonial and Bahama shutters.

For the Duff House, Lifestyle installed many different products in order to protect the home an unobtrusively as possible. “We believe that every home is a castle, and we should design our systems to protect yet enhance the appearance of a home,” said Gary MscMahon, president.

Of particular interest are the curved walls of the entrance tower. A flexible storm panel was chosen for the arched doorway and the window above.

“A reason to be sure to keep the hurricane protection as unobtrusive as possible is that the Captain Deane Duff House is stop No. 66 on the Big Water Heritage Trail. Many times a week a tour bus full of spectators is viewing this home!” says Geddes.

HISTORICALLY ACCURATE, MODERN PROTECTION
After Hurricane Hugo in September 1989, New Horizon Shutters, Charleston, SC, developed a storm shutter that could withstand hurricane force winds, but also provide a historically accurate design to please even the most discriminating tastes. One of America’s oldest cities, Charleston is all too familiar with hurricanes and how they can batter a city and destroy many old historic homes.

The shutter New Horizon developed tuned out to be an ideal choice in post Katrina New Orleans, where builders and homeowners have had to look for ways to build a better and safer home fitting the traditional look of neighbors.

The Cottage Living House in New Orleans was built with safety in mind. One of the safety features of the home is the hurricane-rated shutters, built to withstand hurricane winds and flying debris. These operable shutters were provided by New Horizon Shutters.

Made of composite materials like PVC, ABS louvers, sides wrapped in aluminum, and a polycarbonate core, these shutters will not peel, warp, or separate. Stainless steel hinges are bolted to the shutter and storm bars are provided to easily secure the shutters from the inside of the home.

Rigorous testing has resulted in certification by the ASTM E1886 and ASTM 1996 for passing the large missile test, which represents wind borne debris. In addition, these shutters have also passed the static wind load test (ASTM E330). Functional elegance is the idea behind New Horizon Shutters.

EVERY HOME DESERVES PROTECTION
A customer’s home doesn’t have to be listed as a historic landmark to receive the creative safety treatments as these homes. The hurricane protection solutions highlighted here unobtrusively protect homes while meeting the extraordinary demands of historic restoration or architectural preservations.

Meeting the safety needs of residents along the U.S. coasts can be done beautifully while enhancing a property’s value and its owner’s peace of mind.