Backlog for hurricane shutters leaves homes vulnerable

Backlog for hurricane shutters leaves homes vulnerable
Aventura-Homes.Com
MIAMI -- May 9, 2005 -- It may already be too late to add hurricane shutters in time for this year's storm season. In some cases, it takes six months to complete a job after a customer calls: A call for hurricane shutters today means they wouldn't be installed until roughly the same time the 2005 hurricane season ends.
"It's really hectic now. We can't even get out to do an estimate for three weeks," says Barry Horvath, assistant operations manager for Shutter Services and Screen Repair in Delray Beach. "Then there's a 40-week backlog before we can start the job." Horvath calls it a slow day if he only gets 75 calls.
Installation and manufacturing remain stumbling blocks because shutters must be made to fit and installed by skilled workers. In addition, the raw materials -- mainly aluminum and some steel -- remain in short supply for everyone in the construction industry.
"The cost of aluminum has shot up 30 percent so far this year, and suppliers are increasing their prices as frequently as twice a month," says Greg Allowe, executive vice president of sales at Bulldog Products USA in Fort Myers. "No one's ever seen a crunch of business like this. New, tougher building codes, population growth and last year's very active storm season have all contributed to the demand."
Shutter installers say the real onslaught hasn't even begun. Many homeowners don't call for service until the hurricane season is under way.Even do-it-yourselfers may have trouble preparing their home for the next hurricane season. Aluminum panels and installation tracks can be purchased at Home Depot and other supply stores at a cost of $250 to $300 for a typical window. But even the stores don't expect another shipment, at least in South Florida, for another six weeks; and many Home Depot stores only offer them by special order. Lowes also carries the raw materials, but many times sells out before the next shipment arrives.
Brian Brizel of Tamarac says he doesn't plan to follow the do-it-yourself route and will rely on a higher source for protection. "We'll just hope and pray we don't get hit this year," Brizel says. "I'm going to wait until this hurricane season is over and then see if I can find a better price when the contractors aren't as busy."
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