A potential client called yesterday to make an appointment for measuring for an Astroguard quote, and during the phone call he asked the question, “so, just how light is this product? I’m thinking it has to be lighter and easier to handle than plywood, right?” Short answer, yes. Long answer, “Astroguard weighs only eight ounces per square yard, so a regular single window-sized panel will weigh less than 1-1/2 pounds. Each fastening clip plus screws is 0.2 pounds, so the panel plus the clips, total weight, is 3.83 pounds. Less than 4 pounds for better hurricane protection than osb, plexiglass, or corrugated metal.”
Let’s take a look at how much other types of panels weigh vs Astroguard.
As you can tell from the sweet infographic above, it’s not even close, there is no competition, Astroguard is lighter by far than any other type of hurricane protection panel.
How does this translate into the real world? Picture this: you are standing at the base of an extension ladder, staring up at your second floor window, your hands gripping the edges of a sheet of osb cut down to the size of your window, drill hanging from your pocket (if you’re prepared/lucky enough to have the hook attachment on your power tools), screws in your mouth. Or, you are standing at the base of the ladder, looking up at the second floor window, your screwdriver in your pocket, or in your hand, because you have a free hand due to the Astroguard fabric panel you are about to install being folded and tucked under your arm.
Which one is safer? You can decide that for yourself. Consider this one of those “choose your own adventure” books from when you were young.
In conclusion: OSB weighs a ton, metal is heavy, plexiglass is lighter than OSB and metal, but is rigid and hard to handle, while Astroguard hurricane panels are ultra light, and fold, making it possible to hold the panel, climb a ladder, install screws, and survive the experience with a confident smile.