How To: Board up a window

Board up a window for protection against strong storms and hurricanes. Learn how to board up a window.

You Will Need:

* Exterior-grade plywood, at least 5/8 of an inch thick
* Drill
* Drill bits
* Hammer
* Lag screws and plastic-coated permanent anchors (for wood-framed houses)
* Washers
* Expansion bolts and galvanized expansion anchors (for masonry)
* A circular saw
* Safety goggles
* Two-by-fours
* 10-gauge, 2-inch galvanized screws (exterior deck screws)
* Waterproofing
* Exterior-grade plywood, at least 5/8 of an inch thick
* Drill
* Drill bits
* Hammer
* Lag screws and plastic-coated permanent anchors (for wood-framed houses)
* Washers
* Expansion bolts and galvanized expansion anchors (for masonry)
* A circular saw
* Safety goggles
* Two-by-fours
* 10-gauge, 2-inch galvanized screws (exterior deck screws)
* Waterproofing

Tips:

If your bottom sill extends out, don't drill holes along the bottom of your plywood. If you have a circular saw, buy standard-sized sheets, don some safety goggles, and cut them yourself. If the window has an extended bottom sill (a window sill that comes out further than the other sills), add four inches to the height instead of eight. On smaller windows with a wood frame, the anchors should penetrate the wall at least 1 ¾ inch. For larger windows with a wood frame, penetrate the wall at least 2 ¼ inch. If you're securing it to masonry, 1 ¼ inch for small windows and 1 ½ inch for large windows is sufficient.

Fact:
In the 1960s and 1970s, the US government tried various ways to dissipate hurricanes artificially, but the program, called "Project Stormfury," failed.