Stop the Plywood Scramble: A Better Way to Board Up Your Windows

It’s a scene that plays out all too often along the Carolina coast: a hurricane is churning in the Atlantic, and a frantic scramble begins. The lines at the hardware store are endless, the shelves are bare, and the price of a sheet of plywood has skyrocketed. For generations, boarding up windows was the default method of storm prep, but it’s a stressful, costly, and dangerously outdated approach.

The reality is that plywood offers a false sense of security and comes with a host of hidden costs and problems. At American Hurricane Shutters, we believe that preparing your home should be a calm, confident process, not a last-minute panic. This guide will break down the significant drawbacks of plywood and show you how a one-time investment in a permanent shutter system is a smarter, safer, and ultimately more cost-effective solution.

The Hard Truth About Plywood Hurricane Shutters

While it may seem like a cheap and simple solution, relying on plywood for hurricane protection is fraught with risks and hidden costs.

1. It’s Not Truly Impact-Rated

This is the single most important point. A standard sheet of plywood from a hardware store has not been engineered or lab-tested to stop a high-velocity projectile. While it might stop small debris, it can be easily punctured by a heavy tree branch or piece of roofing material, leading to a window breach and catastrophic damage to your home. In contrast, every rated shutter system we install has passed the large missile impact test.

2. The Never-Ending Cycle of Cost and Labor

Plywood is not a one-time purchase. After a storm, it’s often waterlogged, warped, or damaged, making it unusable for the next event. The “plywood scramble” is a recurring expense. Furthermore, the labor involved is immense. You have to measure, cut, drill, and haul heavy sheets up a ladder, all in the stressful hours before a storm arrives. This can take an entire weekend, a weekend that should be spent on other vital preparations.

3. It Damages Your Home’s Exterior

How do you attach plywood? Typically, by drilling directly into your home’s brick, stucco, or siding. This creates permanent, unsightly holes that can allow water and pests to intrude over time, leading to costly repairs. A professionally installed shutter system uses carefully sealed, purpose-built anchors that are designed for longevity.

4. The Storage Nightmare

A full set of plywood panels for an average home is a massive stack of lumber. Finding a place to store it where it will stay dry and out of the way is a major challenge for most homeowners. This often leads to panels being left outside, where they degrade and become unreliable.

A Permanent Solution: Two Better Ways to “Board Up”

The alternative to the plywood scramble is to make a one-time investment in a permanent, reusable, and rated hurricane protection system. Here are two of the best alternatives:

The Direct Replacement: Bertha HV Storm Panels

Our Bertha HV Storm Panels are the modern, engineered replacement for plywood. They are custom-cut to fit your windows perfectly and attach to a permanent, low-profile anchor system.

• Superior Strength: They are lab-tested to stop high-velocity impacts.
• Reusable for Decades: Made from aluminum or polycarbonate, they will not rot, warp, or degrade. They are a one-time purchase.
• Easy to Store: They are lightweight and designed to be stacked neatly, taking up far less space than plywood.
• Affordable: At just $18/sq ft for aluminum and $22/sq ft for clear polycarbonate, they are the most affordable way to get permanent, rated protection.

The Ultimate Upgrade: Bertha HV Accordion Shutters

If you want to eliminate the task of installing panels altogether, Bertha HV Accordion Shutters are the ultimate solution. These systems are permanently installed on your home.

• Unbeatable Convenience: To “board up” your house, you simply slide the shutters closed and lock them. The entire house can be secured in minutes, not days.
• No Storage Needed: The shutters fold neatly into a stack beside your windows, completely eliminating the storage problem.
• Exceptional Value: At approximately $34 per square foot, they are an affordable upgrade for permanent, effortless protection.