I'm in the process of "protecting" my Florida home against hurricane
winds. This is a new home with a wood/stucco construction. I've been
able to find anchors to put 3/8inch plywood on all the windows. I'm not
sure how much protection this will offer, but it was the best I could
do by myself. I've heard that the garage door is also a weak spot on
the house. Does anyone know what kind of wind a new garage door can
withstand? Mine is a (standard?) metal door with the reinforcing
horizontal metal straps going all the way down. I've seen kits, and
heard ideas from other on reinforcing the garage doors. Is this only
worth it for old or really cheap garage doors? Also, what about the
sliding patio doors? I didn't bother to cut boards and get anchors to
try to protect it any further. I've been told the home has the standard
"hurricane" glass installed on all new homes in Florida. In other words
it is rated to withstand wind pressure. It is NOT shatter resistant.
TIA for any help on this. Ironically, most people don't seem to know
much about it in Florida!

Garage doors are not that expensive and probably not worth trying to
protect. I would try to protect the sliding door to protect the inside of
the house.




wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm in the process of "protecting" my Florida home against hurricane
winds. This is a new home with a wood/stucco construction. I've been
able to find anchors to put 3/8inch plywood on all the windows. I'm not
sure how much protection this will offer, but it was the best I could
do by myself. I've heard that the garage door is also a weak spot on
the house. Does anyone know what kind of wind a new garage door can
withstand? Mine is a (standard?) metal door with the reinforcing
horizontal metal straps going all the way down. I've seen kits, and
heard ideas from other on reinforcing the garage doors. Is this only
worth it for old or really cheap garage doors? Also, what about the
sliding patio doors? I didn't bother to cut boards and get anchors to
try to protect it any further. I've been told the home has the standard
"hurricane" glass installed on all new homes in Florida. In other words
it is rated to withstand wind pressure. It is NOT shatter resistant.
TIA for any help on this. Ironically, most people don't seem to know
much about it in Florida!

The idea of the wood or shutters on windows is to protect the glass from
shattering from flying objects. Therefore not lettng wind into the house
and lifting your roof. Definetly protect that sliding glass door.Buy 4
x8 sheets of plywood and run them horizontally. Screw a 2 x 4 on each
long side of the bottom piece and a 2x4 on the bottom of the top sheet..
Cut the top sheet at least 4 inches above the opening. The wood on the
plywood is to preventit from buckling on the long span. Screw them in to
the foundation cement block or whatever your house is made of. You might
need a hamer drill if it is cement. Rent one. Don't get a Ryobi from the
box stores.

They have some new fasteners out now where you screw it into the wall
and then
you attach a wing nut with washer on it.
Home Depot carries them.

Your best bet and easier is the storm panels . You will get tired of
putting up those darn panels every year. But it is a little late now for
Ernesto. The track is screwed into the sill and top and all you do is
remove panels and use them next year. and track stays in place. They
even have one for your doors where the track folds down so you don't
trip over it.There are a lot of other options too. After this storm is
over.

I have doing this for 40 years with the wood. And been trying to get my
son to install the storm panels. He is in the business and has been so
busy. So I guess it is the wood again this year.

I never think of it on the off season.
So I think that is what I want for xmas.

Pat

Actually when the garage door fails the interior is greatly exposed.

Suggest the OP look at

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features...res-homegarden

Also google "florida garage door" for other info


Art wrote:
Garage doors are not that expensive and probably not worth trying to
protect. I would try to protect the sliding door to protect the inside of
the house.




wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm in the process of "protecting" my Florida home against hurricane
winds. This is a new home with a wood/stucco construction. I've been
able to find anchors to put 3/8inch plywood on all the windows. I'm not
sure how much protection this will offer, but it was the best I could
do by myself. I've heard that the garage door is also a weak spot on
the house. Does anyone know what kind of wind a new garage door can
withstand? Mine is a (standard?) metal door with the reinforcing
horizontal metal straps going all the way down. I've seen kits, and
heard ideas from other on reinforcing the garage doors. Is this only
worth it for old or really cheap garage doors? Also, what about the
sliding patio doors? I didn't bother to cut boards and get anchors to
try to protect it any further. I've been told the home has the standard
"hurricane" glass installed on all new homes in Florida. In other words
it is rated to withstand wind pressure. It is NOT shatter resistant.
TIA for any help on this. Ironically, most people don't seem to know
much about it in Florida!

Thanks all for the quick replies! After further investigation, it seems
I *might* have what they call a "wind-loaded" door already installed.
In this pictu

http://www.diygaragerepair.com/Hurri...Door-s/302.htm

they show a non-wind loaded door being bolstered by a metal
reinforcement post that looks a lot like what I have going horizontally
every 2 feet or so down my garage door. The metal and hinging structure
on this door looks a lot tougher than some of the doors I used to see
up North. My door does not look like the cheap one in the picture. It
seems all doors installed in Florida post 2002 are supposed to meet
this code? I found the entire owners manual for the door tucked under
one of the supports ... but still haven't found a sticker indicating
wind rating.
Howard wrote:
Actually when the garage door fails the interior is greatly exposed.

Suggest the OP look at

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features...res-homegarden

Also google "florida garage door" for other info


Art wrote:
Garage doors are not that expensive and probably not worth trying to
protect. I would try to protect the sliding door to protect the inside of
the house.




wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm in the process of "protecting" my Florida home against hurricane
winds. This is a new home with a wood/stucco construction. I've been
able to find anchors to put 3/8inch plywood on all the windows. I'm not
sure how much protection this will offer, but it was the best I could
do by myself. I've heard that the garage door is also a weak spot on
the house. Does anyone know what kind of wind a new garage door can
withstand? Mine is a (standard?) metal door with the reinforcing
horizontal metal straps going all the way down. I've seen kits, and
heard ideas from other on reinforcing the garage doors. Is this only
worth it for old or really cheap garage doors? Also, what about the
sliding patio doors? I didn't bother to cut boards and get anchors to
try to protect it any further. I've been told the home has the standard
"hurricane" glass installed on all new homes in Florida. In other words
it is rated to withstand wind pressure. It is NOT shatter resistant.
TIA for any help on this. Ironically, most people don't seem to know
much about it in Florida!

wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanks all for the quick replies! After further investigation, it seems
I *might* have what they call a "wind-loaded" door already installed.
In this pictu

http://www.diygaragerepair.com/Hurri...Door-s/302.htm

[snip]

If this is new construction (you said it was a new house) then it has to
meet current codes, which include some level of protection against
hurricanes. The level depends upon the county in which you live, with
Miami-Dade being the most stringent. The company which built the house (if
it's new) should already have given you details about the garage door
specifications -- you can also consult with the door installation company or
go directly to the manufacturer who can give you specifics.

If it's old construction, its level of protection will depend upon the year
it was built, because the codes got stricter after the '91 hurricane and
again after more recent events.

If it's old construction, your primary concern may be the roof, because of
the unknown status of the roof shingles and structure. In the several
hurricanes which have come through our area in the last two years, by far
the most serious damage came from roof damage that let in water, or which
then compromised the structure of the house.

You should probably IMMEDIATELY sign up for the "Safe Florida Home"
initiative. This is $250M program which Gov Bush has signed, providing
grants of up to $5,000 to homeowners to upgrade home safety. It's only been
in existence for a week, and may already be oversubscribed. However, the
very first item in the program is a free home inspection to identify areas
where safety can be improved. You can sign up at www.mysafefloridahome.com.
Regards --

--Also -- Make sure you have a separate flood insurance policy. It's
already too late to get a new one and you'll have to wait until after
Ernesto is no longer a threat -- Regards
"JimR" wrote in message
ink.net...

wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanks all for the quick replies! After further investigation, it seems
I *might* have what they call a "wind-loaded" door already installed.
In this pictu

http://www.diygaragerepair.com/Hurri...Door-s/302.htm

[snip]

If this is new construction (you said it was a new house) then it has to
meet current codes, which include some level of protection against
hurricanes. The level depends upon the county in which you live, with
Miami-Dade being the most stringent. The company which built the house
(if it's new) should already have given you details about the garage door
specifications -- you can also consult with the door installation company
or go directly to the manufacturer who can give you specifics.

If it's old construction, its level of protection will depend upon the
year it was built, because the codes got stricter after the '91 hurricane
and again after more recent events.

If it's old construction, your primary concern may be the roof, because of
the unknown status of the roof shingles and structure. In the several
hurricanes which have come through our area in the last two years, by far
the most serious damage came from roof damage that let in water, or which
then compromised the structure of the house.

You should probably IMMEDIATELY sign up for the "Safe Florida Home"
initiative. This is $250M program which Gov Bush has signed, providing
grants of up to $5,000 to homeowners to upgrade home safety. It's only
been in existence for a week, and may already be oversubscribed. However,
the very first item in the program is a free home inspection to identify
areas where safety can be improved. You can sign up at
www.mysafefloridahome.com. Regards --

..

You should probably IMMEDIATELY sign up for the "Safe Florida Home"
initiative. This is $250M program which Gov Bush has signed, providing
grants of up to $5,000 to homeowners to upgrade home safety. It's only
been in existence for a week, and may already be oversubscribed. However,
the very first item in the program is a free home inspection to identify
areas where safety can be improved. You can sign up at
www.mysafefloridahome.com. Regards --


Only available for homeowneres EAST of I-95 and registered Republicans.

Art wrote:
Garage doors are not that expensive and probably not worth trying to
protect. I would try to protect the sliding door to protect the inside of
the house.


The entrance to my attic is open and in the garage! I am caring more
about the garage door protecting the house than the door itself

Art wrote:

Garage doors are not that expensive and probably not worth trying to
protect. I would try to protect the sliding door to protect the inside of
the house.

When the garage door goes, the roof goes. The main concern is not the
gar. door, other than it being the weakest part of the structure. A
friend just had a new door put in which has steel braces which are put
up for storms - they anchor into the floor and the top frame of the gar.
door. You should cover your sliders, as they have greater potential to
shatter and leave your home wide open.

On a dollar for dollar basis, I would buy hurricane shutters (which we
have). MUCH more protection against flying trash cans and street signs.
Under water in a storm surge, not much good ) Worst storm we got
was 70 mph wind, and that is all I ever want to see. Our atrium
skylight, probably 500 lb, went flying. Hubby, a very, very strong guy,
wrestled a wind-blown trash container (very heavy) and it took all of
his strength to get it back and secured. Welcome to Florida. Looks
like Ernesto might have me in his sights.

"Art" wrote in message
link.net...
Garage doors are not that expensive and probably not worth trying to
protect. I would try to protect the sliding door to protect the inside of
the house.




wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm in the process of "protecting" my Florida home against hurricane

You're not protecting the garage door. You're protecting the house if the
garage door blows out. The resulting wind entering the main house will blow
out the windows and possibly the roof. They have available a vertical bar
that fits into a socket in the floor and is strapped to the door during a
hurricane. If you don't have this, put a piece of plywood between your car
bumper and the door and have someone guide you to just touch the door.

On 27 Aug 2006 13:09:39 -0700, wrote:

I'm in the process of "protecting" my Florida home against hurricane
winds. This is a new home with a wood/stucco construction. I've been
able to find anchors to put 3/8inch plywood on all the windows. I'm not
sure how much protection this will offer, but it was the best I could
do by myself. I've heard that the garage door is also a weak spot on
the house. Does anyone know what kind of wind a new garage door can
withstand? Mine is a (standard?) metal door with the reinforcing
horizontal metal straps going all the way down. I've seen kits, and
heard ideas from other on reinforcing the garage doors. Is this only
worth it for old or really cheap garage doors? Also, what about the
sliding patio doors? I didn't bother to cut boards and get anchors to
try to protect it any further. I've been told the home has the standard
"hurricane" glass installed on all new homes in Florida. In other words
it is rated to withstand wind pressure. It is NOT shatter resistant.
TIA for any help on this. Ironically, most people don't seem to know
much about it in Florida!

I would be more concerned about the pressure in the house, actually,
but yes cut ply for the sliders and store with the other stuff. We
took a direct hit in 1960. we had one window partially open on the
leeward [sic] side of the house supposedly to even out the inside
pressure (kid then). We were lucky to still have a roof and a dozen
refugees or so.

If a storm takes your roof and the garage is attached to the house,
chances are you will get a new garage door also.

Follow local instructions.

Oren

Check out http://www.securedoor.com.

Rich
http://www.garagedoorsupply.com

wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm in the process of "protecting" my Florida home against hurricane
winds. This is a new home with a wood/stucco construction. I've been
able to find anchors to put 3/8inch plywood on all the windows. I'm not
sure how much protection this will offer, but it was the best I could
do by myself. I've heard that the garage door is also a weak spot on
the house. Does anyone know what kind of wind a new garage door can
withstand? Mine is a (standard?) metal door with the reinforcing
horizontal metal straps going all the way down. I've seen kits, and
heard ideas from other on reinforcing the garage doors. Is this only
worth it for old or really cheap garage doors? Also, what about the
sliding patio doors? I didn't bother to cut boards and get anchors to
try to protect it any further. I've been told the home has the standard
"hurricane" glass installed on all new homes in Florida. In other words
it is rated to withstand wind pressure. It is NOT shatter resistant.
TIA for any help on this. Ironically, most people don't seem to know
much about it in Florida!