Hurricane Shield - How To Measure
Follow these instructions to ensure that you know how to measure properly, so your hurricane fabric will be cut at the correct size. You will need a tape measure, pencil and paper and possibly a ladder and stud finder (if you have an older wood framed home).
Is important to follow all safety instructions from your ladder manufacturer. Anytime a ladder is used, all fall protection guidelines must be followed. If you are not comfortable working from a ladder, please contact a licensed and insured Hurricane installation professional.
You must also know the construction type of your home. Some types are: wood frame, CMU or block and also concrete. Attachment to metal framed homes is not allowed.
Step 1.
Make an overhead outline of your home (see example next page). Starting at the front of your home, left side, and work counter clockwise or left to right, mark each window or door. Continue counter clockwise (left to right) around your home until all 4 sides are complete. If you have a two story home, continue numbering your windows and doors beginning above the first window on the ground floor at the front left of your home, again working counter clockwise (left to right) until you complete all sides. Repeat if you have a third story.
Step 2.
Make a list of each numbered opening and description of the location. For example: #1 dining room… and so on until all openings are numbered and described. Leave room to the right of each opening to record the width and height and add any special notes.
If you have an older wood framed home, you will need a stud finder. You will need to go inside and measure the distance from the side of the window and door openings that your stud finder registers a stud. Older homes may only have one stud so the distance would be 1.5” for the stud and about 1/2” inch for drywall. Therefore the stud finder would show the end of the stud to be about 2” from the inside opening of the window. If you have a double stud as all new construction, you would register a stud to about 3 ½” from the opening. If you only have a single stud application on the sides, you may not be able to secure your home with Hurricane Shield Fabric. Please email us on the contact page.
Example:
Step 3.
Begin at the left front of your home at the window/door previously marked as #1. Measure the opening width and then the opening height (see next two images):
Width:
Height:
Record measurements on your list. Make any notes of obstructions such as a protruding sill at the bottom of the window (typical on a brick home). If you have an arched window, measure to the tallest point. Wood framed and some masonry homes have a flat board or band around the window. These are acceptable mounting surfaces. Some concrete and CMU or block homes have large decorative banding around the windows. In this case you will need to measure the width and height to include the bands. Door height will need to be measured from the ground to the top of the door opening.
Be sure to make a note for each opening for the clip locations. Left and Right or Top and Bottom. It is generally preferable to have the clips on the sides for openings less than 120” wide. All openings greater than 120” wide will need clips top and bottom. No single Hurricane Shield panel can be greater than 96” x 120”.
If you have a large opening such as a garage door that is 16’ wide and 8’ tall, you will need two panels. Anytime an opening needs a “split” or “multiple panels”, the installation will require an overlap in the middle of 14”. In this case you would add 14” to the total width and note that it was comprised of two panels. Example: Garage door 16’w x 8’ tall is 192” x 96”. This would be measured as two panels 103” wide by 96” tall (192” +14” = 206” divided by 2= 103”). Anytime a floor mount is required, a 2” x 2” angle is needed to mount with removable anchors to the floor. The removable angle allows unobstructed access through the garage or a doorway.
If you have a window with a curved or arched top, measure the width and maximum height and order the panel as a rectangle and install it that way. Examples of fabric with clips on sides and top and bottom:
Overlap image:
Step 4.
Once you have all of the openings mapped out and measured, enter each opening into the estimate calculator. The calculator will determine the final fabric sizes and provide you with a job total.