2016 Hurricane Shutter Guide for South Florida Homes (AMD Supply)

AMD Supply LLC, South Florida’s leading wholesale supplier for hurricane shutters and aluminum products, has recently added a whole new array of hurricane & storm shutters to its inventory.

On this occasion, the spokesperson of the company shared highly valuable insight into the different types of hurricane shutters and how they differ from one another.

The information provided by the spokesperson, a knowledgeable expert with years of experience in the aluminum supply and hurricane manufacturing industry, can serve as a useful guide for people willing to purchase hurricane shutters in Miami and throughout South Florida.

The spokesperson stressed that understanding the options available in the market can actually help customers make an educated decision with long term value when it comes to choosing the best hurricane shutters.

Highlighting how AMD Supply is playing its part in consumer education, he said,  “When customers buy what they know they need, they are happier and more satisfied with the overall buying experience. No matter how great our quality, our hurricane shutter products will be of no value to a customer who never needed it in the first place.  As a company focused on customer satisfaction, we take consumer education as our responsibility. We want them to be aware of the options they have so that they can see why ours is the best choice for them.”

AMD Aluminum Hurricane Shutters

While AMD Supply exclusively deals in aluminum hurricane shutters, they have two different types to offer. The first one is the Roll-up shutter that is built to comply with Florida Building code for a High Velocity Hurricane Zone. It is further classified into different types based on the mechanism chosen by the customers.

For the lowest price, customers can purchase a standard motor, without manual override. For more convenience, the spokesperson suggested the use of remote-controlled hurricane shutter with the manual override.

At AMD Supply, Roll Up hurricane shutters are available in four different colors as well. The spokesperson recommended the roll up shutter to almost everyone, saying, “Roll ups are popular shutters because they are also the most convenient ones to use.”

He explained, “They are installed above the windows or doors, so no extra storage space required. Also, they can be operated by one person alone and will be storm ready in the least amount of time.”

The other type of aluminum hurricane shutters is the accordion shutter.

AMD Supply is offering the patented SuperNova accordion hurricane shutters which features revolutionary direct-mount system and commercial lock centermate. These types of hurricane shutters are easy to install and operate. SuperNova is designed to keep the aesthetics of the building unaffected by the hurricane shutter. Moreover, they can be installed in any space including balconies.

Storm Panels

Discussing other types of hurricane shutters, the spokesperson talked about storm panels, which usually are more common due to their low cost. There are several types of storm panels including panels installed using tracks, panels that are bolted directly to the wall, and one that utilizes both tracks and bolts.

The biggest problem with these hurricane shutters is that removal and installation are quite difficult and complicated for one person alone, especially if you are a senior citizen. They may be completely removed when not required, but a spare storage place is needed to keep them safe.

The spokesperson warned about badly made storm panels, “People might choose them because of the low cost, but sometimes they are so badly made that they won’t line up properly.” He continued, “If you are not up for the hassle, better go for another less complicated option.”

Louvered Hurricane Shutters

Other than panel shutters, there are louvered ones that include Colonial and Bahamas styles. Colonial Shutters include two folding pieces while Bahama is a one piece louvered shutter. Both of these shutters are permanently affixed, and are limited for windows only.

The colonial hurricane shutters have a good aesthetic value, while the Bahama ones offer shade and privacy.

Hurricane shutters used in South Florida also vary in terms of material. While aluminum shutters are considered the strongest and sturdiest of all, many homeowners also resort to taping glass windows or plywood.

Plywood   shutters, despite   their   lower   cost,   are   not   recommended   by   the   AMD   Supply spokesperson. According to him, plywood shutters fail to comply with the building code of South Florida. They are not able to withstand the strong winds of a hurricane and will bend causing the glass window to break and catastrophic loss to occur.

Other Materials

Taping windows, on the other hand, simply doesn’t work either.  Tests have shown there is no benefit to applying tape over your glass windows.

During a storm, the cause of catastrophic loss is the pressurization of the interior of your home that will cause the home to burst apart at the seams.  Taped windows cannot prevent this from occurring.

AMD Supply offers a wide range of aluminum products other than hurricane shutters. As a leading name in the South Florida region, quality is the company’s foremost focus. The company keeps offering huge discounts on all of their wholesale aluminum products including aluminum sheets, fences, signs, and hardware.

For a complete look at AMD Supply’s products, please visit the website www.amdaluminum.com

About AMD Supply LLC

AMD Supply offers a wide range of aluminum supplies to our customers in South Florida, including hurricane shutters, painted shapes, mill finish aluminum, castings and hardware, and aluminum sheets., AMD Supply is located at 15701 SW 29th St., Miramar FL 33027 –