How to Prepare Windows for a Hurricane on a Stucco Home

The last thing a homeowner wants to hear is that a hurricane is expected to hit his area. Hurricanes spell nothing but disaster and damage. Though you can't prevent the storm from coming, you can prepare your windows in your stucco home for the approaching storm's winds, rains and flying debris. This is a job that can be done by one person, but will be easier to accomplish with two. Of course, if you've had storm panels specially manufactured for your windows, you'll just have to put them up. If you don't, you'll have to make your own from scratch. Discover a number of tips on preparing your windows in your stucco home for an approaching hurricane.

Things You'll Need

• ½-inch-thick plywood boards
• Saw
• ¼-inch Tapcon hex-head screws
• Concrete drill bit
• Hammer drill
• Measuring tape

Instructions

1. Measure the area of the window that will need to be covered. You'll want to have approximately a 2-inch overhang on all sides. You don't want your boards to be cut to the exact size of the window, as this will make it impossible to install the hardware to hold them. For example, if your window area measures 36 inches by 36 inches, you'll want your board to be 38 inches by 38 inches. Note the measurements of all the windows that will need to be covered and write them down. You'll need this information to know how much wood to buy.

2. Purchase the wood, screws and drill you will need to install the wood panels on your house. You should be able to find all of these items at your local home supply store. You will need a screw for each corner of the wood panel, and Tapcon screws are recommended when drilling into stucco. They do just what their name says--they basically tap into the concrete. Make sure you purchase a concrete drill bit and have or rent a hammer drill. Hammer drills are made to be able to drill directly into concrete walls.

3. Cut your plywood boards to the desired size. This is a job that will be done easier by using a table saw, but if you only have a hand saw that will also do. You can use your boards over again if you store them in a dry area, so you might want to label which window each board will cover.

4. Place your boards by each window they will be covering. This way you won't get confused as to which board goes with which window.

5. Hold the board into place against the wall. This is where a second person will come in handy. Using your drill, drive the Tapon into the board and into the wall, until the Tapcon is securely anchored into the stucco. Repeat this process for all the windows until all your boards have been installed.