The usual method of covering windows is to use plywood - effective but it blocks out all the light from a room. This method of covering - useful in relatively small windows, not large picture windows or sliding glass doors - is to use the plastic chair mats made for offices, available at places like Office Depot. They are available in a variety of sizes, they are flexible and light and they pass light through inside but they are tough - tough to cut, tough to high winds.
Home Depot sells some 1/4" 'studs' that have a coarse wood screw thread on one half and a 1/4" machine bolt thread on the other half. I space two or three of these on the wood frame on each side of the window. Screw two 1/4 nuts on to the bolt side of the stud and use a ratchet wrench {7/16} to screw the stud into a pre-drilled hole. Using two nuts when screwing in to the wood frame help to make the nuts easier to remove without unscrewing the stud from the wood.
Of course the holes in the plastic mat have to match the placement of the studs. I use a strip of angle aluminum - I guess about 3/4" with holes drilled to mount over the studs to hold the plastic mat in place. I place an aluminum strip on each side and on the top. If need be I cut a piece out of the plastic to cover around a window air conditioner - mark and cut carefully for a snug fit.
Wing nuts will not fit to spin on to the studs with the size of aluminum angle strip I use. There is a threaded mounting for wood made to tap into a piece of wood to allow a machine bolt to mount into the wood. It has 'teeth' to bite into the wood so it does not spin when screwing or unscrewing a bolt into the device. I simply mount these backwards onto the studs over the aluminum strips with the teeth pointing outwards which makes it work much like a wing nut. Of course regular 1/4" nuts will work
I have used these for a number of storms for at least 15 years. As I say, once the system is fabricated it is easy to erect the structure. I use a marker to label the plastic mats as to which window, outside surface, right/left, top for the aluminum strips for each window.
When I started working on this I found commercial structures that cost hundreds of dollars and you still have to engineer the mounting for each window. Also, the commercial device has to be sized for each window, custom made if the window is not standard. With this system you just cut the plastic to exactly what you need.
In saying that you 'cut' the plastic, don't figure to use scissors unless they are fairly large and sharp; this plastic is tough. Matte knives won't likely do the job either. I have used tin snips to cut the plastic.
I have found these very effective - and fairly cheap - storm covers.
Hurricane hunters are only finding winds as high as 100 mph now. The monster is dying. Interesting to see if the media is a quick to point out the diminishing risk as opposed to end of the world coverage.
Fascinating idea! Sure beats taping windows (don’t tape windows!). Love the idea that it allows light when the alternative is darkness with plywood and the crack house look.
Brilliant.
It sounds like a great business idea.
Thanks for telling us about your wonderful solution to the darkness once the plywood is added. I will pass this on to my family!