Every hurricane season, South Florida homeowners board up windows with plywood. It is cheap and it is better than nothing, but it does not meet the Florida Building Code as opening protection, it will not earn an insurance credit, and it has to be cut, stored and screwed on before every storm. Here is how plywood compares with impact windows and rated shutters.
Plywood is not code-approved protection
The Florida Building Code requires openings in the wind-borne debris region to be protected by products that have passed large-missile impact and pressure-cycle testing. Plywood has not, so it does not count toward the code requirement for a replacement project or toward the opening protection credit on a wind mitigation inspection. A home protected only by plywood is rated as unprotected by insurers.
Side by side
| Plywood | Rated shutters | Impact windows and doors | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meets Florida Building Code opening protection | No | Yes | Yes |
| Insurance opening protection credit | No | Yes, if every opening is covered | Yes |
| Tested for large-missile impact | No | Yes | Yes |
| Work before each storm | Hours of cutting and mounting | Minutes to hours | None |
| Protects when you are away | Only if installed in advance | Only if closed | Always |
| Light inside during the storm | No | No | Yes |
| Daily benefits | None | None | Energy savings, noise reduction, security, UV protection |
| Storage | Garage space, warps and delaminates | Panels need storage; accordions do not | None |
| Cost | Lowest up front, repeated each season | Moderate | Highest up front, offset by credits and savings |
What plywood gets wrong in a real storm
- Fastening. Plywood screwed into stucco or block without proper anchors pulls off in sustained wind. Proper installation needs permanent anchors set in advance.
- Thickness. Thin sheets flex and split on impact. Guidance calls for at least 5/8-inch exterior-grade plywood, which is heavy and expensive.
- Coverage. Sliding glass doors, arched windows and second-story openings are hard to board properly, and they are the openings most likely to fail.
- Timing. Plywood sells out and crews are unavailable in the days before a storm. Impact windows are already in place.
The better path
If your windows need replacing anyway, impact glass solves two problems in one project and removes the plywood routine permanently. Current offers include 20% off your entire order and $0 down financing, subject to credit approval, and the insurance credit after installation offsets part of the cost. Compare the options in impact windows vs hurricane shutters and see what impact windows cost.
Frequently asked questions
Does plywood count as hurricane protection in Florida?
Not under the Florida Building Code. Plywood has not passed impact and pressure testing, so it does not satisfy the opening protection requirement or earn an insurance credit.
Is plywood better than nothing?
Yes, properly anchored 5/8-inch exterior plywood reduces the chance of glass breakage, but it is not a substitute for rated protection.
Can I get an insurance discount for plywood?
No. The opening protection credit requires rated impact glazing or rated shutters on every opening.
What is the cheapest code-approved option?
Rated panel shutters are usually the lowest-cost approved option, but they must be installed before each storm. Impact windows cost more and protect without any work.
Do impact windows replace the need for plywood or shutters?
Yes. Once every opening has impact-rated windows and doors, no additional protection is needed.