Had a neighbor who put fabric panels up about three years ago. Quick thoughts:
- Held up fine through two decent storms, no tears or anything.
- But...they're looking pretty faded and worn now, not sure how much longer they'll last.
- Personally, still a bit skeptical about longevity compared to shutters or impact glass.
- Still beats chasing plywood down the street though, lol.
I've been thinking about fabric panels too, mostly because shutters and impact glass are just way outta my budget right now. It's reassuring to hear your neighbor's held up through a couple storms, but the fading does make me wonder—do you know if they're easy to replace or repair individually, or would you have to swap out the whole set?
I mean, even if they last just a few years, it might still be worth it compared to plywood (been there, done that... never again, lol). But I guess the real question is how much you're willing to spend every few years if they don't last as long as shutters. Anyone else here tried fabric panels and noticed similar fading issues, or is this more of a one-off thing?
Fabric panels seem decent, but honestly, I'd be cautious about the fading issue. A friend of mine had them, and after a few seasons, the sun damage was pretty noticeable. Replacing individual panels wasn't too bad cost-wise, but matching colors was tricky—ended up looking patchy. Have you considered corrugated metal panels? They're affordable, durable, and way easier to handle than plywood... might be worth checking out as another budget-friendly option.
"Replacing individual panels wasn't too bad cost-wise, but matching colors was tricky—ended up looking patchy."
Yeah, that's a solid point about the fabric panels fading unevenly. I've seen a few jobs where homeowners tried matching new fabric to older panels, and it always looked off. Corrugated metal panels are definitely underrated—easy to install, hold up well against weather, and honestly, they look pretty decent too. Plus, they're pretty forgiving if you're still getting the hang of DIY roofing repairs...
Matching faded fabric panels is always a headache—seen it way too many times. Corrugated metal's a decent option, but have you thought about asphalt shingles? They're affordable, pretty forgiving during DIY installs, and you won't run into that color-match nightmare as often. Either way, sounds like you're on the right track with your repairs... storms can really put you through the wringer, but you'll get there.
