Top 5 Tips in Decorating the Entertainment Room

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We all like to have a room for our leisure or a sports room. A devoted room for our collections and hobbies is what we all fancy for our home. It would be so much fun to stay at our home in our entertainment room. We could blast a home party by day or night within our entertainment area. We could do a lot of decorations for entertainment room. We habitually think that entertainment room is merely couch and TV rack but the truth is it could be more than that. Here are the five decorating tips that we could do in this particular room:

1. Like everybody think about entertainment room, we could have a fine set of TV rack in this room. We should select the TV rack wisely. We should measure our HDTV or plasma TV first before we buy the rack. It is much more perfect if we purchase a TV rack that has drawers and cabinets so we can keep our DVDs inside them. A perfect example for this is the American Drew Entertainment Furniture.

2. We could also have movie posters around the entertainment room. By placing them in nice big frames we could improve the appearance of these movie posters. We can have a theater like feeling when there are decors like these. By having a separate DVD and CD rack, we could exhibit our movie collections in there and completes the appearance of a movie room.

3. If we are much inclined in sports, we can also place sports posters and have bean bags that are specially designed to look like basketball or soccer ball. We can also put sports trophies along with the entertainment and multimedia set. Some even have a table top mini soccer game for more recreational fun.

4. If we often have home gatherings, it is also a great idea to turn our entertainment room into a bar. We could have a bar furniture and high stool for our entertainment room. Then place the bottle of wines and glasses along the bar.

5. An entertainment area as a game room is also a better idea. We could place a pinball machine or even the hottest game consoles along with the multimedia appliances. It is always good to play our game consoles with a huge flat TV screen. We could exhibit and showcase our game collections at the CD rack.

We could always select and generate our own personalized entertainment room. But, one good thing about having entertainment room in any ways we want is that we can have a special room for personal recreation and leisure at our home.

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Source by Halie Tep

How Does The Free CCleaner Compare With Other Registry Cleaners?

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CCleaner, a registry repair tool that comes in both a free and a paid version, created by the Piriform company, is known for being a blazingly fast registry cleaner. In fact, we’ve timed it on our 3 Ghz 32-bit Pentium 4 computer, and it finished a registry scan in just under 15 seconds. It only picked up one error. Our first question was: How thorough a scan was that?

Other registry cleaners that we’ve run on our computer have taken anywhere from a minute or more (many in the two to four minute range) to more than six or eight minutes, and in some cases up to 14 minutes. Our natural curiosity wonders how a scan that only lasts for 15 seconds can possibly be as thorough as a two or four or six minute scan.

Obviously, CCleaner doesn’t scan as many files as these other cleaners. How can it in fifteen seconds? And our results have born out these findings. Other cleaners, like RegCure, have ended up picking up more errors and empty entries in their scans than CCleaner. RegCure picked up eighty-six errors on the same machine in which CCleaner only picked up one. But then that’s attributable to the variation in the search algorithm used. Each utility has its own definition of parameters for choosing what it ranks as an error in the registry. Some, choose to error on the side of caution, and therefore pick up fewer errors.

While we like the free version of CCleaner, we just can’t get over the fact that it only picks up a fraction of the errors that other utilities pick up. And it does this on a regular basis. What counts, though, is the fact that your registry hasn’t been damaged by the cleaning, and you’re still able to use it without having to restore the backup of the old registry. In other words, it doesn’t disable the use of the computer.

One of CCleaner’s main selling features is that it can do more than just clean the registry. It comes with a system cleaning function (to clean up old and unused system files and logs), a Tools function (with tools to uninstall programs, manage your system’s start-up menu, find a missing file, restore the system to an earlier date, and a drive wiper), and an Options tab (that allows you to manage cookies, an include/exclude function for files to be cleaned), and an Advanced settings tab (which, among other things, allows you to restore the default settings as well as nine other items).

While we cannot give CCleaner a one-hundred percent recommendation with regard to its registry cleaning ability, we can say that it may be a useful program to have with regard to its other capabilities if you don’t already use another program that will easily access these other maintenance options.

In the final analysis, all we can say is that CCleaner may be a program you might want to consider having around as an additional registry repair tool. It’s main attractiveness, for us and perhaps you also, comes in the added feature functions it can perform. However, we don’t consider it to be powerful enough to be a frontline tool for keeping your registry unclogged. Use it as a backup or an adjunct, but not as your main registry utility.

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Source by Thomas Eliot

Waste Water Management

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Waste water refers to all effluents and sewage coming from various sources like industries, houses, agricultural activities etc.

On the basis of its origin waste water are mainly classified into two categories:

• DOMESTIC SEWAGE

• INDUSTRIAL SEWAGE

Domestic sewage includes all used up and spent water from houses, residences. It mainly carries water from kitchen, toilets and laundries.

Industrial Sewage is generated from water released from different commercial and manufacturing units such as textiles, printing, F&B, and production to name a few.

Waste water from all these sources contain suspended solids, hazardous substances, etc. which may cause serious threat to the environment. Thus treatment of this water is very necessary before discharging it into fresh water bodies.

In water treatment pollutants which causes harm to the environment are removed. These pollutants impose serious threat to the aquatic life and may also cause many water borne diseases.

The main objective of waste water treatment is thus removal of all impurities, toxic components from water so that it can be returned safely to the environment.

Coagulation and flocculation are the two most important processes carried in waste water treatment program.

Coagulant

Impurities are mainly present as colloidal suspensions in waste water. But the suspended solids settle out very slowly because they carry like electrical charges on the surface which cause repulsion.Thus coagulants carrying opposite charges are added to water which neutralize this surface charge and destabilize the repulsive forces among the colloids.

Both inorganic and organic coagulants are used in waste water treatment. An appropriate blend of both coagulants are very efficient in sludge generation.

Coagulant chemicals catered by Chemtex are:

• Polyamine,

• Poly DADMAC,

• Poly DCDA

• Ferric Chloride,

• Poly Aluminium Chloride.

This range of chemicals are very efficient in causing charge neutralization of water particles and help in easy settling of solid particles.

Flocculants

Flocculation is a very important process for waste water treatment. It is a physical process in which the coagulated particles are clumped together forming flocs. The flocculating agents are mainly polymeric compounds which form linkage among the flocs. The polymer chain gets adsorbed on the surface of the particles and the small flocs bind together forming bigger clumps or agglomerates.

Different types of poly electrolytes are used as flocculating agents.

The products which CHEMTEX cater under Polyelectrolyte Flocculant are Non-ionic Polyelectrolyte, Secondary Flocculation with polyelectrolyte, Dewatering Polyelectrolyte, Deoiling Polyelectrolyte.

These polymers have precise pH value and are water soluble which make them suitable for different industrial application.

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Source by Shubham Karnani

6 Fridge Maintenance Mistakes That Most Users Make

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Although a refrigerator is on the list of the easiest appliances to use, many people end up making costly mistakes in the process. If you make these maintenance mistakes, you may have to pay hundreds of dollars in repairs. Therefore, we have put together this article in order to help you avoid these common fridge maintenance mistakes. Read on to find out more.

Poor Ventilation

Although the temperature inside your fridge is quite low, the unit produces a lot of heat that has to be released. You may have noticed that the air at the backside of your unit is quite warm. If this area is not properly ventilated, your appliance won’t work properly. Apart from this, it may also result in heat accumulation that may reduce the life of your unit significantly.

Damaged Seals

You may have serious problems to deal with if you don’t close a door properly. Similarly, the door seals should be in place. If the door does not close properly or the seals are defective, the temperature inside the unit may stay higher than normal.

As a result, the motor of the appliance will struggle to maintain the temperature inside the unit. This may result in higher wear and tear, which may reduce the life of the appliance significantly. If the door seals have developed cracks, you may want to get the seal replaced as soon as possible.

Overfilling the Cabin

If there is not enough cold air circulation, the food inside the fridge won’t remain cool and fresh. Therefore, it is not a good idea to store too many items inside the cabin. If you do so, it will have a negative impact on the cold air circulation around the food and drinks stored inside.

Apart from this, poor air circulation may disrupt the temperatures inside the unit. Therefore, we suggest that you don’t put too much stuff inside the unit.

Setting the Temperature too Low

Although it may be tempting for you to set the temperature at the lowest settings, experts don’t recommend it. Setting the temperature too low will put a lot of stress on the components of the appliance, especially the motor. Apart from this, you may also want to consider the user manual to make sure you are doing everything right.

Storing Hot Food

It is not a good idea to store hot food in the fridge. What you need to do is allow the food to come to room temperature before putting it inside the unit for storage. What happens is that hot food suddenly elevates the temperature inside the cabin, which may put a lot of strain on the motor. Again, this may cause unnecessary wear and tear on the primary components of the appliance.

Poor Cleaning Habit

Lastly, you may want to clean your refrigerator on a regular basis to make sure it always works without any problems. Apart from this, you may also want to take a closer look at the drainage system. It should not be blocked or you may have some serious problems to deal with. Also, don’t forget to perform the cleaning around the back and sides.

Long story short, this was a description of some of the most common refrigerator maintenance mistakes. If you want to avoid these mistakes, we suggest that you consider the tips given in this article.

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Source by Shalini M

Health Benefits of Eating Organic Food and Whether They Are Myth Or Reality

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Why are so many pointing out the health benefits of eating organic food these days? It’s because toxins in synthetic, non organic foods are the cause of many diseases and cancers in my opinion as well as the opinions of many other scientists and doctors. A lot of people are now watchful of what they eat because the idea that artificial colors, preservatives, and pesticides do nothing but bring harm to the body is a growing awareness. Some feel that people who are trying to avoid synthetic chemicals are being overcautious, but when you think about it, If you took out the small portion of food that was actually contained in non organic food, and the only substances remaining were these seemingly harmless chemicals, I doubt anyone would willingly eat or drink the blob of sludge left behind.

Toxins are known to interfere with cellular activity. In the cell and in the body, multiple processes take place to keep the cells healthy, which in essence keeps a person in the best possible health. Toxic substances interfere by damaging or changing vital enzymes that are essential to the life of the cell. This is extremely damaging to an individual’s health. This isn’t an opinion of mine, but a fact. Most people think that if a substance doesn’t do noticeable harm right away, that it isn’t toxic. But chemistry isn’t that simple, and continuous bombardment of the body with chemicals that nature never intended the human body to encounter could have a negative impact on cellular processes over time. It is just a slower type of poisoning.

There are many intelligent and credible public figures who talk about the health benefits of eating organic food.Many Medical Doctors, Scientists, and Health Gurus are slowly but surely coming to the agreement that the current lifestyle of Americans and people in Western European countries is to blame for the nearly astronomical number of people getting sick.

Well known health and fitness expert Jack Lalanne, who was born in 1914 and is currently in his 90s, is popular for his extensive knowledge and accomplishments concerning health. His motto on health is “If man made it don’t eat it”. Organic food is, for the most part, is absent of man made and human processed elements. Seeing Jack and his wife are in their 90s and still exercising every morning and doing whatever they want, and also that he lives only on organic food, all I’m thinking at this point is that I want to eat whatever he is eating!

The purity and trustworthiness of organic food is always called into question by the opposing crowd, but I always ignore them because having a father who worked for one of the top organic farmers in the country gives me the firsthand privilege of knowing that organic farming is legit. There is always a bad apple or two in every industry, but most organic farmers have deep concerns about the soil quality, food quality, and purity. They want to produce organic food by using methods that are in harmony with nature.This is why the popularity of organic food is on the rise, and also why many are convinced there are numerous health benefits to be achieved from eating organic food.

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Source by H Young

The AC Test Transformers

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High voltage electrical appliances are subjected to AC analysis using the AC test system. The most appropriate system for illustrating the high voltage appliances is the type WP transformer. There are very many high voltage products; for instance, electrical transformers, electrical cables, switch gear, arresters, insulating materials, and bushings. The transformers have diverse uses; for example, onsite, routine, wet, type, indoor, and also outdoor testing. There are three major categories of the transformers. These AC categories are appropriate for specific power application. The categories are; insulating sheath transformers, metal tank transformers, and GIS transformers.

The insulating sheath transformers involve the installation of the transformer within the insulating sheath.

The insulating transformer develops through the oil cooling process. The individual transformers are in connections that are either in parallel or series. The major aim of the parallel of series connection is to enhance the current level or increase the current voltage. The transformer category has several applications. They are used to measure the high-voltage electrical devices routinely. The transformer is also effective for the type and onsite testing. Indoor and outdoor AC measurements are done using the insulating sheath transformers. The design of the transformer is space saving, because of the modular design that is vertical and cascade. The AC measure system is appropriate for the potential difference analysis, because of the minimal internal potential difference level. The transformer is effective for the short -lasting loads, because of overload capacity that is short-term.

GIS transformer is an AC analysis system that is suitable for studying the GIS and GIL switch gears or components. There are two key applications of the transformer system. These applications are indoor and onsite AC analysis. The GIS transformer is very beneficial due to its minimal weight capacity, and low, compact size. The transformer also ensures low connect the load. An AC transformer is very effective for the short lasting loads because of the short-term overload level. The system indicates the potential difference measurements, due to the GIS model. Thus, the measure system adopts the GIS development design entirely.

The metal tank transformer category of the AC system, comprise a metal tank that encloses and earths the metal tank. The development of the transformer uses the oil cooling process, which adequately has suitable bushing. The bushing is either oil-to-air or oil-to-SF6. The current measuring approach has diverse applications. It is suitable for indicating AC level during pollution, humid or wet conditions. During extreme weather, AC measurement using the transformer is possible. The voltage analysis is also outdoors and indoors. The voltage illustrating system is appropriate for the routine and type applications. The benefits of the system are diverse. The metal tank enclosure ensures test bay space efficiency. It is appropriate for the potential difference measurements, because of minimal potential difference level. Cascade design ensures the achievement of power voltage that is very high. Higher loads that are short lasting is possible because of system design that enables high power and continuous operations. Analysis of the GIS components is possible through the utilization of the oil-to-FS6 bushing.

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Source by Allan Esposo

The Hadoop Training Advantage

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Give Your Career the Hadoop Training Advantage

Summary: This training and certification for professionals has opened up a world of opportunities as it will enable professionals to help in proper structuring and management of enterprise data.

This framework as it is most commonly known, has become a “buzzword” in the industry since its release on April 7, 2014. It is expected to be a boon in disguise for businesses worldwide as it offers a path for better data handling strategy. At the core of this training is its central idea-the need for implementing data management at a granular level. This will prevent scattering of data clusters in the unstructured environment. What this framework focuses on is providing a comprehensive solution that will help businesses in managing their existing data and also adding new information pieces with ease.

The salient aspects of the this framework have opened the doors to a promising future of professionals.

Will This Training Benefit Professionals?

It is mind blowing to even think of the amount of data that is created, assorted, managed, analyzed, and stored everyday across the world. Almost, 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created everyday and it is an upward slope where future creation is concerned.

Research has also indicated that almost 90% of the data that exists in the world today was created in just two years. Here is another surprising piece of information: Eighty Percent of the data being captured is unstructured, commonly known as Big Data.

This is where this training will come in handy! It is the perfect open-source software framework that professionals like system administrators, DBAs, BI analysts, ETL data architects, and data analysts can use for analysing a huge amount of data or big data within a significantly lesser time period.

Once you complete this training, you will become a Developer. It is being heralded as an important component of the modern data architecture. As a part of the training, you will learn how best to complement and integrate the existing systems in organizations for creation of a highly scalable and efficient solution for managing enterprise data.

There are 3 key areas that training in this platform will help professionals to focus in and they are:

• Iterative Analytics: It will empower professionals with the ability to store data in any format. You will also be able to create schema when you decide to analyze the stored data.

• Single cluster – multiple workloads: When you learn about Apache Hadoop YARN, you will be able to leverage its ability to support multiple access methods like in-memory, real-time, batch, streaming, and others, for a common data set. Learning this will enable you to view and transform data in several different ways for obtaining close-loop analytics. This will bring “time-to-insight” very close to real time.

• Date warehouse optimization: It will enable you to offload any low-value computing tasks like extract, transform, and load. This tasks can consume significant enterprise data warehouse resources. You will be able to use Hadoop for freeing up important resources like the data warehouse so that it can perform high-value functions like operations and analytics.

This training will ensure your placement in technical roles like that of Developer, admin, business analyst, and data scientist. Here is the icing on the cake-the average salary for a developer in this sector in U.S is $102,000!

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Source by Ankit Raj

Acrow Prop Safe Installation Guide

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Acrow Props are an extremely versatile product which can be found on many construction sites. They are commonly used on building sites to provide a quick and simple method of providing temporary support for formwork for reinforced concrete floors and beams. Acrow props are equally useful as raking shores to support formwork for columns, walls and staircases. They are invaluable in repair work, demolition or for replacing a permanent support, for supporting canopies, lintels and the like while brick work or concrete is setting.

Acrow props consist of two circular steel tubes, an inner tube with a top plate that slides up and down freely inside an outer tube which is attached to the base plate. The inner tube has holes down its length so that you can quickly extend the inner tube to just below the desired height and insert a steel pin to lock in that length. To extend the prop to the correct height the top of the outer tube is threaded and a collar, which is similar to a nut on a bolt, picks up and supports the steel pin. So by rotating the collar and moving it up it extends the inner prop. This allows you to achieve the exact height required.

The ‘Acrow Prop Safe Installation Guide’ gives you a checklist of what to check before you even start and then shows you what you need to check to ensure the safe installation of your acrow props. Once installed there is a list of items that need to be checked regularly to ensure the continued safe performance of your acrow prop installation and then finishes off with a checklist for their safe removal.

Pre-installation Checklist

  • Start by planning the job. Make sure you have the right number and sizes of props. Inspect the site and if necessary mark out the prop locations.
  • Have you correctly selected the right sized props for the job? Do you have enough to support the weight? Never exceed the safe working load (SWL) for your specific size props. Refer to the manufacturers load charts. If unsure, consult your Engineer or other responsible person, who will consider the weight of the overhead structure that is to be supported and work out the correct size and quantity.
  • It is the responsibility of the user to check the props each time before they start work. When inspecting the props, items to check include:-
    • Check that the inner and outer tubes are straight and that they slide easily.
    • Check to ensure that the collar rotates freely around the thread and that the tread is not damaged or blocked.
    • Check to ensure that there is no damage to the pin. If the pin is secured by a chain, make sure that it is still attached. If it is fitted with a wrap around pin then it does not need to be secured by a chain. Only use the original pin, do not use any other pin.
  • Do Not try and repair any faulty prop. If a prop is faulty it should be immediately tagged and isolated and is not to be used.

Installation Checklist

  • Warning props which are designed to be used in compression CANNOT be used to in tension.
  • Always wear the appropriate safety equipment when using this equipment.
  • Ensure that the work area is cordoned off to prevent public access, only essential people should work in the area.
  • Ensure that the props are installed by qualified people who have the necessary knowledge and experience to do the job safely.
  • It is important that the prop is installed vertical to ensure that it can support its specified load. Props must never be used more than 1.5 degrees off vertical as this can substantially decrease its capacity. This is about 50 mm (2 inches) out of true vertical for every 1.8m (6 feet) of length.
  • Make sure that the base plate and top plate of your prop is bearing directly on the surface. Ensure also that the floor surface and roof surface are sturdy enough to support the weight that will be placed upon it.
  • When props are bearing on a flexible surface, such as a gravel surface, each prop should stand on a timber soleplate or equivalent. A timber soleplate should be at least 225mm (9 inches) wide by 38mm (1.5 inches) thick. It should be long enough to project at least 300mm (1 foot) either side of the prop’s base plate. A soleplate can also be used above the head plate to help spread the load if required. If you are unsure or have any doubts please refer to your engineer or other competent person.
  • Acrow props come in 5 different sizes so Do not use props that are too short by making up the gap with timber. Always use the correct length Acrow prop.

Post Installation Checklist

  • Props left to support a curing slab can loosen up with time. As the slab cures it naturally contracts which can cause the prop to loosen up so it is recommended that they be inspected by a competent person and retightened regularly.
  • As a minimum, all props must be inspected at least once a week.
  • Ensure that the area safe from the general public if props are to be left in position unattended.
  • Do not string or tie anything to the props.

Prop Removal Checklist

  • Start by planning the job.
  • Always wear the appropriate safety equipment when using this equipment.
  • Ensure that the work area is cordoned off to prevent public access, only essential people should work in the area.
  • Ensure that the props are removed by qualified people who have the necessary knowledge and experience to do the job safely
  • Do not remove or adjust any prop until you are certain that it is safe to do so.
  • Always return the equipment to the hire company in a clean condition.

Always seek professional advice before undertaking any propping / shoring projects. A propping job that goes wrong can be disastrous, endanger lives and be an extremely expensive exercise to repair.

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Source by Steven Preston

Hiring the Right Office Movers

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As the name suggests, the office movers are those companies that help us to move our office goods from one to another in a professional manner. To make your office relocation easier, it’s worth hiring a professional office moving service provider. After all, they reduce your burden and save time and money both at their own risk with goods safety insurance.

The Best thing about office relocation is the quality and feedback of the moving company you choose. Their Work experience, skill, knowledge, expertise, and professionalism that can easily make the difference between a successful mover.

In this article we share some steps that you can take to reduce the negative effects of a office relocation and increase your chances that it will go easy and smooth. If you’re looking to hire office movers, these tips can help you choose right moving company that fulfills needs.

Always Hire Professional Office Movers

Professional movers also can offer you recommendation regarding what to pack and once you ought to do therefore. You’ll be ready to solely pack some things at a time, permitting you to figure incessantly. They’ll even tell you ways to label your boxes and things to create them easier to take away and find essential provides.

Instead of having the chance of 1 of your workers obtaining hurt throughout the moving process; this might result in them needing to file for worker’s compensation, however lead to them losing time, as well. This can be one vital reason why you must let the experts watch out of everything.

Professional Office Movers Auckland

Check Online Company Feedback

Post an issue to your friends or social media asking them to recommend firms to avoid or companies to examine out. If you are already considering a selected removal company, raise if anyone else has used them.

Ask the moving company for a list of clients, or see if they have a list of their past customers on their online page or website. Call the office managers for few of those companies and see if they’re willing to share their experiences with you.

Conclusion

In Last, as shortly as you getting information and also the experience of the office movers you’ve got being rendering the services for your workplace belonging. Just in case you’ve got not analysis the company or its history you will suffer at the time of relocation your workplace belongings.

James Faukner is a well-known writer for office moving service in Auckland. In this article you can learn about Office movers. For more information and free quotes from top office moving companies log into TheMovingSquad.co.nz

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Source by James Faukner

Choices in Hurricane Window Protection

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Hurricane shutters are the most economical, therefore the most popular solution chosen by homeowners. However, hurricane impact windows and doors are also very popular because of the added benefits of convenience, security enhancement, better energy efficiency, sound proofing and its attractiveness over shutters. The least expensive system is plywood or panels; these offer great protection, but take a great deal of time to install.

Your considerations: Cost, appearance, and convenience (this one is often under estimated).

First, understand what it is your protecting: it’s not just the shards of glass from the broken window that are dangerous – having your roof blown off will really get your attention. During a hurricane, the strong wind that blows over your home creates a ‘lift’ effect on your roof. If a window or door opening is blown open during the storm, this creates an additional upward ‘push’ on the roof, thus doubling or tripling the lifting effect. This is how roofs are blown off.

Here are the vitals on your choices for hurricane window protection for your home.

Myth Buster- Window Film and a little info on Impact Windows:

Window film can reduce the sun’s damaging rays into your home and it is promoted to be a theft deterrent. It may also very well reduce the chance for shards of glass to go flying through your home in the event of a hurricane, but do you really think slapping a thin piece of film on your existing windows is going to keep your roof on in the event of a hurricane? By comparison, impact windows are almost three times as thick as regular window glass. Hurricane windows are made up of two layers of glass and sandwiched between these layers of glass is a strong tear resistant interlayer (film) that keeps the glass together in the event it is broken. They are much like the windshield of automobiles.

A key factor in the strength of impact windows is how the glass & interlayer are VERY securely attached to a reinforced frame (both mechanically and through the use of industrial adhesives) so the impact glass does NOT detached even under extreme pressure. The goal is to establish hurricane window protection for all openings (whether one does this through the use of hurricane shutters or impact windows, or a combination of the two) and keep the openings sealed so as to not cause a change in pressure inside the home thus blowing off the roof. The idea of putting hurricane window film on a regular window with its lightweight frame and expecting it to even remotely resemble a Miami-Dade approved impact window is ridiculous. Yes, it would be better than nothing, but your money would be better spent on plywood.

Plywood Shutters ($2 – $4 / sq. ft.):

A popular and effective choice, installing plywood shutters to fit snugly inside the window or door frame is an efficient and affordable option for homeowners. These shutters were effective even in the highest winds of Hurricane Andrew, and are relatively easy to install. If you are going to use this method, the plywood needs to be 5/8″ to 3/4″ thick, and since it takes a lot of time to prepare, it should be cut to size way before we have a storm bearing down on us.

Positives:

    Most inexpensive of all hurricane protective systems
    Strong and can provide excellent protection

Negatives:

    Require storage, but can be stacked
    Heavy and difficult to handle, hanging may require more than one person
    Require the most time to install
    Not a safe option for 2 story homes

Storm Prep: 20 – 25 minutes per window (if pre-cut); 5 to 8 hours for an average home

Storm panel hurricane shutters ($5 – $8 / sq. ft.):

Another popular and effective choice, these hurricane shutters are typically steel or aluminum corrugated panels that attach to the walls around windows and doors. There are several mounting methods using either pre-mounted tracks and bolts or just bolts.

Positives:

    Most inexpensive of the ‘permanent’ hurricane shutter systems
    Strong and can provide excellent protection
    Can be installed by a handy DIY

Negatives:

    Require storage, but can be stacked
    Can be heavy and difficult to handle, hanging may require more than one person
    Time consuming – other than plywood, these require the 2nd most time to install
    Have sharp edges – can be dangerous
    Not a convenient option for 2 story homes

Storm Prep: 15 – 20 minutes per window; 4 to 6 hours for an average home

Accordion Hurricane Shutters ($15 – $18 / sq. ft.):

Accordion hurricane shutters are attached directly to your home at the window or door opening, folded up when they are not in use and easily unfolded, accordion-style when you need to cover and protect the opening during a storm.

Positives:

    Easily deployable by one person when they are needed.
    Permanently attached next to the window, don’t require storage.
    Some can be locked and may be used as a theft deterrent.

Negatives:

    Bulky and not attractive. Seriously consider aesthetics before purchasing these.
    More mechanical parts, so may require more maintenance than other devices.

Storm Prep: 30 minutes for an entire home

Colonial and Bahama Hurricane Shutters ($18 – $28 / sq. ft.):

These are louvered hurricane shutters that attach directly to the wall beside or above the windows

Positives:

    Permanently attached next to, or above the window, don’t require storage.
    Easily deployable by one person when they are needed.
    Since they are decorative they can beautify the home as well as protect it.

Negatives:

    Cannot be used as protection for doors, must be combined with another system.
    Designs and style may limit their use.

Storm Prep: 30 minutes to an hour for an entire home

Roll-Down Hurricane Shutters ($35 – $55 / sq. ft.):

These hurricane shutters attach permanently above the window in an enclosed box when they are not in use and roll down, either manually with a hand crank or electronically by motor, when you need them.

Positives:

    Permanently attached next to, or above the window, don’t require storage.
    Easily deployable by one person when they are needed.
    Since they can be locked, they make an excellent theft deterrent.

Negatives:

    One of the most expensive systems.
    Requires a battery backup so they can be operated during power outages.

Storm Prep: Minimal, easiest of the hurricane shutter systems

Impact Windows ($40 – $55+ / sq. ft.):

Hurricane impact windows can withstand hurricane debris and completely eliminate the need for hurricane shutters. It costs more to retrofit an existing home, but is most cost effective if a homeowner is considering replacing old windows anyway. This is the most value added of the hurricane window protection systems, since impact windows also improve energy efficiency, are an excellent theft deterrent, provide sound deadening from outside noises, as well as give your home hurricane window protection in the event of a storm. Further, adding new impact windows is likely to increase the value of your home, more so than with any of the other hurricane protective systems.

Positives:

    Eliminates the need for hurricane shutters
    Great for people with 2nd homes- the home is hurricane ready all the time.
    Excellent theft deterrent, nearly impossible to break through the glass.
    Added value of sound deadening & energy efficiency over regular windows.

Negatives:

    Like roll-down shutters, this is one of the most expensive systems.

Storm Prep: NONE

CONCLUSION:

Keep in mind that if the aesthetics of shutters is bothering you, but the cost of impact windows is nearly out of reach, you can always combine the two. Install impact windows on the front, and possibly the sides of your home. Then protect the window openings that are cannot be seen from the street with shutters.

And don’t underestimate the hassle of installing shutters every time there is a hurricane warning. I frequently go out to do estimates for impact windows on homes that have shutter panels because the homeowner is tired of dealing with installing them.

Finally, if your existing windows are in need of replacement because they are old, I encourage you to retrofit them with impact windows since the cost difference between non-impact windows with hurricane shutters versus only impact windows is marginal.

Once you have narrowed your choices to what type of hurricane window protection system is best for your situation, talk to an expert to help you in your final selection. Depending on which of the above systems best suits you, be it hurricane shutters or impact windows, there are many different style choices, and manufacturers who offer different options. Window contractors are your best experts. How to find one? Ideally, get one who is referred to you by a family member, neighbor or a friend. If they have done a good job for them, this person can provide you with a wealth of knowledge that has been learned over the years. If you must select a contractor you find online, check out their references (at least 5), call them, and go look at the contractor’s work.

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Source by H Artt