Are you thinking about how you can keep your home safe against hurricanes this season? Well, you’re not alone. A lot of people are looking for ways to keep themselves and their properties protected, and that is definitely an important thing to think about. After all, you don’t want to leave your home vulnerable and exposed, as that could lead to a lot of damage from the high winds, as well as the heavy rains.
Sure, there are a lot of smaller, yet significant, steps you can take when trying to maximize your safety during a hurricane. From trimming the branches of the trees in your yard and securing the outdoor items, to reinforcing your roof and cleaning the gutters to keep the water flowing. But then, there is one bigger thing that you should absolutely think about doing as well, since it will play a huge role in your overall safety.
In the simplest words possible, I am referring to the fact that you should have impact resistant windows installed, since the windows are the entry points to your home, and they can leave you quite vulnerable if not properly reinforced. Chances are you’ve heard of these products before, and chances are you’ve become interested in having them installed. Yet, you may not really know how to do it the right way, which is what you want to find out now. And you will, if you keep on reading.
How to Do It Right
So, how can you do this the right way? There are plenty of things to consider here, from your budget to the actual installers you’ll be working with, as well as the timeframe. Let me, thus, provide you with a list of those things that you will absolutely have to think about in this process, hoping to make things a bit easier, and to get you properly prepared.
- Check Your Financing Options
First things first, you should think about your financing options. In case you don’t have enough cash just lying around and waiting for you to spend it on impact resistant windows, you may think about giving up on the whole thing. That’s not a good idea, though, since your safety should matter more, and since you can actually get financing for impact windows from PACE lenders, and thus get these products from their partners, such as Paradise Exteriors or some other companies.
PACE financing is basically a flexible solution for homeowners in Florida to get the impact resistant windows they need, as well as do some other hurricane protection improvements, without having to pay a huge price upfront. Basically, you can get the solutions you need at lower rates, and with an easy and flexible repayment structure. So, the first thing you should do, especially if you’re worried about your budget, is check out this financing option and then find those companies that partner up with PACE lenders, and that will be willing to provide you with the protection solutions you need.
- Research Different Installers
Now, the above doesn’t mean that you should just automatically go for the first installer you find that has partnered up with PACE lenders, and decide to work with them immediately, without doing any research. After all, you’re sure to find different companies offering this solution, and your task should, therefore, be to carefully research them all, aiming at ultimately choosing the right one for you. This, of course, takes some time, but it is undeniably worth it. So, don’t rush into things, and do your research instead.
The first thing you should do is visit the official websites of the installers you’re considering. This should help you check out the specific impact resistant windows they are offering, as well as their ratings, so as to determine the amount of protection they can offer. Check the materials of the frames as well, in order to get a better sense of the overall durability of the products. In short, check out the products in details, as well as the installation services and anything else you want to know before making any final choices.
Of course, you’ll have to do your research outside of the official websites. For one thing, you will want to check the reputation of the companies you are considering, and that will require you to find some online reviews, or to perhaps talk to some of the past clients directly. This will provide you with a better sense of what to expect from different companies in terms of quality of products and services, as well as in terms of prices and availability. So, take all the time you need to carefully research the providers, checking everything you need to know, and then comparing the info in order to make the smartest final choice.
Get some more tips on how to protect your home during hurricane season: https://www.builderonline.com/building/safety-healthfulness/how-to-protect-a-home-from-hurricanes_o
- Take the Necessary Measurements
Once you’ve settled on a provider, and once you’ve sorted out your finances, you’ll be ready to take the next step towards actually getting the products you need to protect your home. Put simply, you will need to take the necessary measurements, or have the professionals do it for you. Doing this correctly is important, because you don’t want to wind up giving the wrong measurements to the company you’re working with, and then realize afterwards that the windows they’ve made for you don’t really fit. So, if you’re not sure you can do this alone, you should undeniably let professionals handle it, because they will know how to take the right measurements correctly.
- Schedule Your Service
If that part is also done, then there is nothing left but for you to schedule the actual service. Check the availability of Paradise Exteriors or any other provider you’ve chosen, and then also think about the time that would work for you best. Try to find the time that works for the both of you, but don’t wait for far too long, because you certainly want to get your home protected as soon as possible.