Why You Should Never Tape Windows for Hurricane Prep (and What Works Instead)

When severe weather threatens, homeowners frequently attempt to protect their property with DIY measures. Amid preparations, some still adhere to the long-standing myth that taping windows for hurricanes will prevent the glass from shattering or minimize damage. This tactic is not only ineffective but is actively dangerous.

Below, we detail the origin of this misconception, explain the physics of why it fails, and outline the proper, tested methods required to safeguard a home from flying debris and high-speed winds.

Why Does the Tape Windows Myth Persist?

This misconception originated in the mid-20th century, often spread through civil defense guides that mistakenly recommended using tape in an “X” pattern to hold glass in place during breakage. Even today, the idea that taping windows helps during a hurricane continues to circulate in informal storm preparation lists.

The logic seems intuitive: the tape should hold the glass together if it cracks. However, tape offers negligible resistance to the force of a windborne impact and often introduces greater safety hazards during a failure.

The Functional Failure of Taping Windows

Taping windows for hurricanes does not strengthen the glass against impact or pressure. Instead, this practice can lead to counterproductive and hazardous results:

• Creation of larger, more dangerous shards: The tape can hold the glass fragments together in large, connected pieces. When this fails under pressure, the resulting flying debris is heavy and poses a higher lethal risk than if the window had shattered into smaller, separated pieces.
• False sense of security: Believing their windows are protected, occupants may delay or skip necessary, proven preparations, such as installing code-compliant products.
• Wasting critical time: In the final hours before a storm hits, applying tape to numerous panes is a time-consuming effort that should be dedicated to implementing reliable storm defense measures.

Therefore, attempting to secure windows with tape during a storm event is strictly discouraged as it is both ineffective and potentially dangerous.

The Best Alternatives to Taping Windows

Safety relies on solutions designed and tested for high-wind impacts and pressure cycling. Depending on the structure and budget, the most reliable options include:

• Hurricane windows: Specifically engineered to resist strong winds and debris, these products feature laminated glass, durable frames, and secure seals. They are tested to withstand forces associated with high-category storms (for reference, see our breakdown on Category 5 storms).
• Impact windows: Similar to hurricane windows, these are tested to meet or exceed rigorous standards for impact resistance and structural performance.
• Insulated glass windows: While engineered primarily for thermal performance, modern insulated units use multi-pane technology that inherently adds a layer of resistance and improves a home’s overall resilience when paired with other storm-rated features.
• Impact doors: Since windows are not the only vulnerable entry points, reinforcing exterior and patio doors with impact-rated materials is necessary to maintain the home’s critical pressure balance and reduce the chance of structural failure.

If you are unsure about your home’s current level of protection, our guide Do You Have Hurricane Windows? provides technical guidance on identifying true impact products versus older or non-rated options.

Are Hurricane Shutters a Good Option?

Hurricane shutters are commonly used in many regions and can offer a decent level of protection if they are properly installed and officially rated. However, shutters introduce drawbacks, including: they can be bulky and visually intrusive, they require consistent time and effort to deploy and maintain, and they often provide less reliable, passive defense compared to permanent structural solutions like impact windows.

In many cases, the long-term convenience, superior energy efficiency, and low maintenance of impact-rated glass outweigh the benefits of traditional shutters.

Is DIY Window Protection Feasible?

While boarding windows with plywood remains an acceptable emergency measure, DIY solutions are often insufficient for lasting protection. The limitations of DIY defense include:

• Lack of time or materials available immediately before a storm.
• Installation errors that create structural weaknesses.
• Inconsistent application that is far less reliable than a permanent, certified solution.

It is important to recognize that reapplying temporary protection each storm season is time-consuming, inconsistent, and significantly less reliable than investing in permanent, professionally installed solutions.

Building Code Compliance and Protection

In regions susceptible to severe weather, such as Florida, impact-resistant products must pass rigorous testing to meet mandatory building codes. This testing includes missile impact resistance and wind pressure simulations designed to replicate genuine hurricane conditions.

All hurricane windows and impact windows are required to be fully code-compliant and installed by professionals trained to adhere to regional requirements.

The conclusion is definitive: taping windows does not provide protection in a storm. Only code-rated, engineered solutions deliver genuine defense when storm winds surge.

The Bottom Line

The myth of taping windows lingers, but the physics are clear: this method is ineffective and potentially dangerous. Do not dedicate time to taping windows for a hurricane. Instead, invest in permanent, tested, and code-approved products that reliably protect your property.

If you require information on home impact resistance options for severe weather, our team is available to help you make an informed, safe, and analytically smart decision.

Ready to eliminate the guesswork from storm preparation? Schedule a free consultation to explore hurricane-rated windows and doors designed for extreme weather. You can also view our service areas to confirm availability in your community.