"Speaking of budget-friendly fixes, anyone tried storm shutters or window film? Wondering if they're worth the hassle or just marketing hype..."
Storm shutters can definitely help—especially the roll-down aluminum ones. Window film's decent for minor debris, but won't hold up against serious impacts. Curious if anyone here's had luck with plywood covers instead...
Plywood covers can be a lifesaver, honestly. Back when Hurricane Irma rolled through, my neighbor had fancy shutters installed, and I just slapped up some plywood sheets from the hardware store. His shutters held up fine, sure, but so did my plywood—and at a fraction of the cost. Only downside was storage afterward...my garage looked like a lumberyard for months. Still, if you're handy and don't mind the DIY route, plywood's solid protection without breaking the bank.
I've been down the plywood route myself a couple times—it's definitely reliable. But yeah, storage afterward is kind of a nightmare. I finally got tired of tripping over sheets in my garage and built a simple rack on the wall to stash them vertically. Works pretty well, and it freed up floor space so my garage doesn't look like Home Depot exploded in there anymore...
Another option I explored recently is clear polycarbonate panels. They're pricier than plywood but still cheaper than those fancy shutters, and they're lightweight enough that putting them up isn't a two-person job. Bonus points: they let some daylight through, so you're not stuck in total darkness if the power goes out during the storm. Either way, DIY solutions tend to be easier on the wallet, and honestly, they can hold their own just fine against the expensive stuff.
Yeah, polycarbonate panels are a solid choice—especially if you're dealing with storms regularly. One thing to consider though: UV exposure can make them brittle over time. Have you noticed any yellowing or cracking yet? Curious how they hold up long-term...
Polycarbonate's pretty durable overall, but yeah, UV can be rough on it long-term. I've seen some panels hold up surprisingly well if they're UV-treated. Have you thought about pairing them with shade cloth or something similar to cut down exposure?
