How to Install Berta Hurricane Shutters
Before hurricane shutters were available, people in coastal cities would put strips of heavy shipping tape over their windows so that, when the wind broke the glass, it would break into large pieces and not scatter. Today, products like the Bertha Hurricane Shutter protect your windows from breakage altogether. The shutters can be folded into the open position, so your windows still offer you an obstructed outside view and closed to protect your windows from damage. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Drill
- 3/16 inch bit
- 1/4 inch socket wrench
- Caulk
- Level
- An assistant (recommended)
Instructions
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1
Lay out the shutter components in front of the window you will be covering. The installation kit includes four sections, labeled as "Top," Bottom," "Left Stack" and "Right Stack." Lay these sections face down, with the "Bottom" nearest the wall where you'll be attaching the shutter system.
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Use your screwdriver and the HV screws included with the shutter kit to attach the "Bottom" to the "Left Stack" and "Right Stack." Attach the "Top" to the "Left Stack" and "Right Stack." Each corner has two pre-drilled holes, and you should use two screws at each corner.
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3
Stand the shutter on its bottom sill. Open the shutter blades and raise the shutter to the window opening.
Drill 3/16 inch holes in the wall where the top left corner of the shutter will be mounted, using the outermost mounting hole in the top left corner of the shutter as a placement guide. Use the 1/4 inch socket to screw one of the included 2 1/4 inch Maxiset Tapcon masonry fasteners through the mounting hole of the shutter and into the pilot hole.
Use your level to ensure that the top rail of the shutter is level and drill another 3/16 inch pilot hole using the outermost mounting hole in right corner of the top rail as a guide. Screw in another Maxiset Tapcon fastener. Repeat this process at the center hole of the top rail. Check the level once more, then drill holes and set masonry fasteners in every hole in the top rail.
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Hold your level vertically along the sides of the shutter to make sure that the sides are vertical--even though the top may be level, the sides can flex a bit. Once the sides are vertical, have your assistant hold the shutter steady and drill a 3/16 inch pilot hole for the bottom left corner, using the outermost mounting hole as your placement guide. Screw in a masonry fastener. Repeat in the bottom right corner.
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Close the shutter panels and lock them in place. So that the shutter panels operate smoothly, the distance between the bottom of the shutter panels and the top of the track on the bottom of the shutter frame should be the same throughout the length of the panels. If it isn't, you can adjust it by raising or lowering the bottom of the shutter frame slightly by pushing up on the center of the bottom of the frame. Once you've adjusted the bottom of the frame so that the distance is the same, hold the bottom of the frame in place, drill another 3/16 inch hole and insert a masonry fastener. Then drill holes and insert fasteners in the rest of the mounting holes along the bottom of the frame.
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6
Caulk the top, where the shutter frame meets the wall, to keep water out. Caulk the sides, where the frame meets the wall, to keep wind out. Do not caulk the bottom; this will allow air to circulate between the window and shutter and minimize maintenance due to moisture buildup.
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Tips & Warnings
On the bottom edge of each shutter panel, where the panels join, there are two pins that lock into holes in the bottom track to keep the shutter fully opened or fully closed. If you want the shutter panels locked into a partially open position, drill a hole into the bottom track at the point where you want the locking pins to hold the shutter panels.
This project involves working with power tools. Appropriate caution is advised.
