Shuttering plywood that protects your home during a storm

 Many areas in India have suffered severe damage from hurricanes. These homeowners use shuttering plywood for covering their windows and doors in storms with extremely high winds. These plywood sheets are usually nailed or screwed to the doors and windows. It is better to use screws than nails, as they allow for easier removal of sheets after a storm.

According to some experts, plywood sheets should be cut to fit snugly onto the frame of the window or door. This works for some windows, but not all.

Many property owners are concerned about what to do with the shuttering plywood left behind by the storm. To make it easier to move the pieces to the same place during the next storm, you should first mark them all. Although this may seem like a waste, if there are many openings that are similar in size, confusion could result. If a storm warning is not given quickly, confusion about which panel belongs where can be a problem.

Some people can just take the panels out and store them in a garage or shed. What if they don’t have a shed or garage? They cannot just throw them out in the yard for the sun, rain and wind to prematurely age and cause them to become unusable. Rodents (termites can be found in certain areas) can cause plywood to become less durable.

You can cover them with a standard (tarpaulin) that is available in most hardware and auto shops. While a roll of rope can be sufficient to cover them, if it isn't done correctly, the wind will soon rip the rope, and your tarp will fly around in the wind, exposing the expensive sheets.

A woven polyethylene pouch is another option for outdoor storage. It's similar to an envelope, but large enough to hold thirty sheets of 3/4"x4'x8' plywood. The Velcro seals at one end. Once you've slipped all your sheets in, seal the Velcro and you will have a hurricane-proof storage container.

These pouches are made of partially recycled plastic. They can be reused for many years so they are a green product. This is a welcome alternative to single-use plastics that end up in our landfills every day. To prevent their breakdown, they are treated with an ultraviolet inhibitor. The hurricane pouches are affordable and can be folded up for storage, while the plywood protects the structure. This pouch is a great option for homeowners who need this type storage.