Share:

While most of Hawaii’s days are blissfully sunny, the Islands are also vulnerable to catastrophic hurricanes, which brew in the warm waters surrounding them. One of the best ways to be on the defensive during storm season is to protect your house by boarding up the windows with high-quality plywood. Here, the experts at Wayne’s Lumber of Kaneohe, HI, provide a simple guide on how to complete this process the right way.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Boarding Up Your Windows With Plywood

1.Gather the Right Materials

To start, you’ll need to make sure you have top-tier supplies that won’t budge under pressure. This includes plywood that’s at least five-eighths of an inch thick, carbon or stainless steel window clips, and a circular saw, as well as measuring tape and screws. If you can have your plywood pre-cut by professionals by providing them with your window dimensions, you can skip finding a saw and doing it yourself.

2. Make Careful Measurements

lumberBefore heading to a construction supply store, make a note of the dimensions of your home’s windows. The plywood used to cover them should extend about four inches past the panes on either side to prevent the glass from shattering in high winds.

3. Start Drilling

When adhering the boards to your home’s exterior, make sure you’re drilling into the studs of your home’s structural frame. Otherwise, it will be easy for high winds to dismantle your work. Make sure to drill a hole about every foot for stability. 

4. Plan for Future Needs

If a storm is on its way, it’s best to get boarded up as soon as possible. If there’s no hurricane on the map at the moment, you can drill matching holes into the studs and the lumber now, store the wood in a safe, dry place, and mount it when necessary. 

To ensure your home is ready for upcoming hurricanes, get in touch with Wayne’s Lumber today for high-quality construction materials. In addition to lumber, they also offer dri-ply and other building essentials. For more information on their offerings, visit the website or call them at (808) 247-5999.

tracking