What kind of plywood is best for hurricane protection?
CDX exterior-grade plywood is the standard for temporary hurricane shutters in the US. The C/D face/back grades are softwood (knots and patches allowed), and the X indicates an exterior-glue line. CDX balances strength against cost and is stocked deep at big-box retailers and regional yards through hurricane season. Pressure-treated CDX is acceptable but offers no impact-resistance benefit. Marine plywood is overkill for shutters. Interior hardwood plywood, MDF, decorative panels, and any panel without an exterior glue line will fail.
How thick should hurricane plywood be?
5/8 inch (15.5 mm) is the practical minimum most jurisdictions accept for window protection. 3/4 inch (18 mm) is the recommendation for openings over 35 inches wide because mid-span deflection under wind load increases as the panel grows. 1/2 inch is acceptable only on very small openings with tight fastener spacing. Never go below 7/16 inch. Verify the local code requirement with the Authority Having Jurisdiction before any permit-required install.
Is plywood good for hurricane shutters?
Plywood is the most common temporary shutter solution in the US Southeast for a reason: when sized and anchored correctly, a CDX panel screwed into framing absorbs much of the airborne-debris energy that would otherwise hit a window. The caveat is that plywood does not meet Florida HVHZ (Miami-Dade and Broward) permanent shutter requirements, which call for products tested to TAS 201, 202, and 203 protocols. Outside HVHZ, plywood is accepted under FBC and IRC with prescribed thickness and anchor schedules.
Should I tape my windows during a hurricane?
No. Taping windows is a persistent myth that does not reduce damage. In some cases it can increase shard size if the window does break, which is a worse outcome than untaped glass. Use a properly sized and anchored plywood panel as a temporary shutter, or install permanent impact-rated shutters or windows. Tape on glass is not a substitute for either.
How many hurricanes can one plywood panel survive?
CDX shutter panels typically endure up to 3 to 5 storm cycles if stored dry, edges sealed, and the panel was not impact-damaged in the storm. Visible splits, edge swelling, or face delamination are retire signals. A label-and-track system (each panel assigned to one specific window) extends usable life because the screw holes match every year. Re-drilling fresh holes each season eats into the panel margins faster than the storms do.
Can I use marine plywood as a hurricane shutter?
Marine plywood works as a shutter but is overkill for the application. Its premium price reflects void-free core construction and hardwood face grading aimed at above-waterline structural marine work, neither of which buys useful protection against windborne-debris impact. Save the marine grade for boat repairs and freshwater dock decking. CDX exterior plywood at 5/8 or 3/4 inch is the cost-effective choice for temporary hurricane window protection.
