| arth has taken an enormous amount of strain | | | | failed |
| especially in the past two years; the effect being | | | | Getting it Right |
| terrible episodes of natural disasters such as | | | | The performance of hurricane garage doors depends |
| hurricanes along the Southeastern United States. | | | | on the actual design of the structure, but it is crucially |
| These hurricanes have ruptured the lives of many in | | | | dependent upon accurate installation. If not installed |
| the countries, states, townships and local buildings | | | | accurately it will compromise the performance of the |
| that were affected and millions of dollars have been | | | | entire system altogether. |
| spent in repairing the damage produced by the high | | | | Some hurricane garage doors are designed to meet |
| winds the hurricanes produce. As a result stronger | | | | the wind load rating that is required for a specific |
| building codes have been directed at strengthening | | | | area only, however it doesn’t mean that the |
| the foundations, structures and components that are | | | | door carries a Miami-Dade County certification. |
| associated with this construction. | | | | Miami-Dade requires the door to meet a wind load of |
| Strengthen the Weakest Point | | | | 165 mph as well as successfully pass a missile-impact |
| Did you know that your garage door can be the | | | | test. Sounds scary? A missile-impact test is |
| weakest and main opening of your home to a | | | | conducted when a 2X4 is shot out of a cannon twice |
| hurricane? | | | | at the garage door and it should still be able to |
| The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes have proven | | | | operate fully afterwards. So if ever you were in |
| that over 80% of residential hurricane wind damage | | | | doubt about this innovation, that should be more than |
| starts with wind entry through garage doors. If your | | | | a reassurance to you. The Miami-Dade certification |
| garage door is lost and blown away the intense fury | | | | also guarantees that you will save on your |
| of the hurricane will enter your house and in all | | | | homeowners insurance over a ten year period. |
| likelihood tear off your roof, which is the next | | | | Replace verses Reinforce |
| weakest opening, and destroy your home. | | | | Older, traditional garage doors can be replaced with |
| Building code officials, builders, insurance companies | | | | Hurricane Garage Doors and it would be |
| and homeowners are becoming more and more | | | | cost-effective. The structure that meets the wind |
| aware of the necessity for structures to withstand | | | | load standards can be retrofit into the existing garage |
| high winds resulting from natural disasters such as | | | | door unit, but a complete replacement is |
| hurricanes, tropical storms and other weather related | | | | recommended. |
| occurrences. By introducing the International Building | | | | One of the prime reasons is that Hurricane Garage |
| Code in most areas of the United States, wind load is | | | | Doors usually require much heavier vertical stiles and |
| no longer an issue exclusively in Florida and other | | | | extra horizontal reinforcement. This means that the |
| hurricane prone areas. | | | | units’ springing weight would have to be |
| Associate professor of civil and coastal engineering at | | | | adjusted, which will then require the springs; the |
| the Florida in Gainesville, Kurt Gurley, has stated that | | | | track; the track attachments; the hinges and the |
| older garage doors were not specifically engineered | | | | rollers to also be upgraded to correctly transmit the |
| to handle the wind pressure. Also, a bigger garage | | | | loads from the door to the building. |
| door means a higher pressure, making a double-car | | | | Why do you need hurricane garage doors? |
| garage door more susceptible to damage. | | | | The hurricanes in the last decade have been linked to |
| Through thorough testing and evaluation, the | | | | global warming. News broadcasts have proven that |
| necessary reinforcement requirements that meet and | | | | the Earth is under severe strain due to global |
| exceed the wind velocities and pressures ranging | | | | warming. With that in mind, it is a smart investment |
| from 85 mph to 170 mph, has been determined. The | | | | for everyone to upgrade to a “Hurricane |
| product is a system created from a superb quality of | | | | Garage Door” because you never know |
| aircraft-grade aluminum that attaches to the inside of | | | | exactly where a hurricane will strike next. |
| the garage door. When properly installed, the | | | | You want to be safe; you want your family and your |
| reinforcement structure strengthens and provides | | | | home to be safe. If your area is next on the |
| support for the door. The test also proved that new | | | | hurricane hit list, you’d want to know that |
| garage doors built to meet the requirements were | | | | you can just dust yourself off and rebuild your life |
| able to sustain the storm while older garage doors | | | | again, not your house. |