Avoid Hurricane Protection Scams Reputable Storm Shutter Charleston Jacksonville Savannah Beaufort
UBMI Publications
July 01, 2010
www.ArmorStormProtection.com
By Hurricane Shutter Expert Ben Reeves
Unfortunately in the home improvement business, there are some contractors who are not honest and make financial gains by providing products or services that are not "as advertised". The Hurricane Protection business is no different. The good news is…if you do a little homework, you can protect yourself from scams and unscrupulous contractors.
Choose a reputable Hurricane Protection Contractor
Any reputable hurricane protection contractor should be willing to come to your home, sit down with you and go over all the available options. During this time, ask the contractor to show you his business license, contractor´s license (or qualifiers license) and current insurance documentation. Be sure they have workers compensation AND general liability insurance. The better companies will carry $2-$4M policies for general liability.
Ask potential contractors for references in your area and check those references. Any decent contractor should be able to provide you with 5-10 references.
Make sure the contractor uses his own employees for installation work. You don´t want to be caught in a finger pointing situation between the contractor and an independent installer if there is a quality issue down the road.
Choose a Rated Product
There are literally hundreds of different products on the market that claim to be good for Storm or Hurricane Protection. Many of them are bogus. How do you distinguish between the ones that will protect your home and the scam products? Good news! The State of Florida has established a system by which legitimate products that have been tested by professional testing labs are given a Product Approval Number. The products must survive a test whereby a 2 x 4 is fired repeatedly from an air cannon. Then, the product must pass a test that simulates hurricane force winds that try to blow the product off a test wall. Once a product has passed these tests and the appropriate engineering documentation has been submitted to the State of Florida, a Product Approval number will be issued.
When choosing a product for your home, ASK FOR THE PRODUCT APPROVAL NUMBER. A typical product approval number will look like "FL 1234". Products that have these numbers are considered "Rated" Hurricane Protection. If the contractor can´t produce the Product Approval number, call another contractor and choose another product.
Most insurance companies will provide significant discounts to homeowners that invest in Rated Hurricane Protection. Be sure the product you choose is rated. Window film for example is not rated. Examples of products that are typically rated are: Storm Panels, Accordion Shutters, Bahama Shutters and Rolldown Shutters.
The bottom line is this: do a little homework on the products you chose and on the contractor you chose. This will ensure that you get what you pay for and that you are happy with the installation.
If you would like any information on Professionally Installed Hurricane Shutters, please visit our website at www.ArmorStormProtection.com or call 1-888-765-2929.
By Hurricane Shutter Expert Ben Reeves
Unfortunately in the home improvement business, there are some contractors who are not honest and make financial gains by providing products or services that are not "as advertised". The Hurricane Protection business is no different. The good news is…if you do a little homework, you can protect yourself from scams and unscrupulous contractors.
Choose a reputable Hurricane Protection Contractor
Any reputable hurricane protection contractor should be willing to come to your home, sit down with you and go over all the available options. During this time, ask the contractor to show you his business license, contractor´s license (or qualifiers license) and current insurance documentation. Be sure they have workers compensation AND general liability insurance. The better companies will carry $2-$4M policies for general liability.
Ask potential contractors for references in your area and check those references. Any decent contractor should be able to provide you with 5-10 references.
Make sure the contractor uses his own employees for installation work. You don´t want to be caught in a finger pointing situation between the contractor and an independent installer if there is a quality issue down the road.
Choose a Rated Product
There are literally hundreds of different products on the market that claim to be good for Storm or Hurricane Protection. Many of them are bogus. How do you distinguish between the ones that will protect your home and the scam products? Good news! The State of Florida has established a system by which legitimate products that have been tested by professional testing labs are given a Product Approval Number. The products must survive a test whereby a 2 x 4 is fired repeatedly from an air cannon. Then, the product must pass a test that simulates hurricane force winds that try to blow the product off a test wall. Once a product has passed these tests and the appropriate engineering documentation has been submitted to the State of Florida, a Product Approval number will be issued.
When choosing a product for your home, ASK FOR THE PRODUCT APPROVAL NUMBER. A typical product approval number will look like "FL 1234". Products that have these numbers are considered "Rated" Hurricane Protection. If the contractor can´t produce the Product Approval number, call another contractor and choose another product.
Most insurance companies will provide significant discounts to homeowners that invest in Rated Hurricane Protection. Be sure the product you choose is rated. Window film for example is not rated. Examples of products that are typically rated are: Storm Panels, Accordion Shutters, Bahama Shutters and Rolldown Shutters.
The bottom line is this: do a little homework on the products you chose and on the contractor you chose. This will ensure that you get what you pay for and that you are happy with the installation.
If you would like any information on Professionally Installed Hurricane Shutters, please visit our website at www.ArmorStormProtection.com or call 1-888-765-2929.
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