Hurricane Season 2018, Boarding Up

Hurricane season is coming quickly only one month away, and it’s time to review your preparations. The season runs from June 1^st to November 30^th. Conditions are ripe for an above average number of hurricanes in 2018, a year after one of the most devastating seasons on record. Researchers at Colorado State University predict 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes, packing sustained winds of at least 111 mph. A typical season sees 12 named storms, 6.5 hurricanes and two majors.

What’s the purpose of boarding up your windows?

It’s simply to block flying debris like your neighbors flying tin roof from his shed, lawn chairs, BBQ’s, garbage cans and lids but most of all, snapped off branches from the trees. These and many more items should be blocked from busting out your windows and then letting torrential, horizontal rains fill your house.

I already have and used before plywood cut and fit to the windows and sliding glass door. Normally I use deck screws to attach the plywood to the windows. This last winter I decided to find a better and faster way to attach and remove the plywood over the windows and make it a one-man job.

I found these: The fastener called a “Hanger Bolt”, I purchased them online from https://www.boltdepot.com/Hanger_bolts_Stainless_steel_18-8_5_16-18.aspx?Selected=12152 the part number is #12152, Stainless Steel 18-8, 5/16–18 x 4. Also, the wing nut and fender washer are stainless steel (non-rusting hardware).

I ordered 40 of them; 40 bolts, washers and wing nuts including their ‘driver’ which works wonderful and it’s a must-have for the bolt installation. They’re not cheap as the order cost me $144.00, (but far cheaper than a window replacement) however they are a quality product, strong and will last a lifetime.

Here are the components; the bolt, fender washer, wing nut and the Driver (far right). The bolts are 4.0 inches long overall with 2.0 inches of machine threads and 2.0 inches of lag screw threads.

I counterbored a 5/16ths diameter through my cedar trim boards to my siding. From there is a 7/32nds pilot hole 2.0 inches deeper. This 2.0 inches is where the lag screw is driven home and mostly into the 2x4 wall stud. This is a rock solid connection.

The machine thread passing through the hole in the plywood. The hole is 7/8^th diameter because I didn’t want to try and wrestle the plywood in position by myself through anything smaller. Beside that’s why I used 1.5 dia. washers.

Plywood is up and held securely with the washers and wing nuts.

 This is the stud assembly and how it will stay year round. They’re stainless steel and will be fine exposed to the elements, plus I won’t misplace the nuts and washers.

This is all I’ll see year round. I can live with it!