Hurricane-season window prep checklist

The right time to prep your windows and doors is in May — before the first named storm forms. Here's what we walk customers through every spring.

If you have impact-rated windows and doors

Walk every opening and look at perimeter caulking. UV breaks down sealant — soft, cracked, or pulling caulk should be re-done before the season starts.
Check weather-strip around operable sashes and door slabs. It should compress evenly when closed. Replace anything torn, missing, or flattened.
Test every lock. Multi-point locks must engage fully — a partially-latched door under storm pressure can pop the strike.
Inspect the threshold and door sweep on entry and patio doors. Adjust as needed so a sheet of paper can't be pulled through when closed.

Locate the hardware now. Don't discover missing wing nuts the night before landfall.
Dry-fit panels on at least a sampling of openings. Anchors corrode and tracks bind — find the problem in May, not in a watch.
Lubricate accordion and roll-down tracks per the manufacturer's instructions.
Make sure motorized systems have a verified manual override and that batteries on the override are fresh.

If you don't have shutters, plan plywood or panel installation NOW. 5/8" plywood pre-cut and labeled by opening, anchors pre-installed.
Inspect each window for failed glazing, loose stops, and broken sash locks. A window that doesn't latch can blow in well below hurricane wind speeds.
Make a same-week priority list of any unit that visibly leaks during heavy rain.

Trim back tree branches that overhang or sweep windows. Most "impact" hits on residential glass are tree limbs, not flying lumber.
Photograph every elevation of your home from the outside. Insurance disputes go faster with pre-storm photos on file.
Save your wind-mitigation form (OIR-B1-1802) digitally. If a storm causes damage, your adjuster will ask for it.