Advice on hurricane windows/shutters?

Thread from 2018:

We have this Florida room on the back of our house. In addition to these 10 windows, there's another around the back side. The windows are single-pane and measure roughly 4'5"x2'8". I do not Know if there is any plywood sheathing underneath the vinyl siding. 

The size of the windows makes a DIY project a little wasteful/expensive if I make individual covers from plywood, so I was considering installing Z-channel above & below the windows, running from one end to the other. Then cutting 4x8 tongue & groove down to ~4'8"x8' and sliding in adjoining pieces from each end that I could then secure with screws. But...

1. I'm concerned open Z-channel will collect rainwater(we can get 6" or more per hour relatively frequently), which could either back up through the gaps in the siding, or the screw holes I'd need to add. 
2. I'm hoping there is a simpler/cheaper solution I may be overlooking. 

Any input from people with more experience at this stuff?

Possible simpler/cheaper solution: If the room isn't open to the rest of the house (as in can be closed off with doors), take everything out of the room and open all the exterior windows. Just let the hurricane through.

Edit: This also assumes the room has flooring that can survive plenty of rain.

In reply to GameboyRMH :

Yes and no. There is a double glass French door on one side, and a cheap hollow-core interior door on the other. 

The floor is carpet, but appears to have tile underneath. However it's also my office/music room/router/etc. location. 

Edit: The walls/ceiling are also drywalled. Think of it more like a cheaply constructed family room than an overbuilt porch. 

In that case, your plan with the Z-channels and plywood sounds pretty good. To prevent rainwater from collecting in the lower z-channel, drill holes in the corner of the Z that's likely to collect water when installed, then put shims between the Z-channel and the wall so that the Z-channel is tilted slightly outward, directing rainwater toward the holes and away from the wall. For the upper ones, you could shim them so that they're tilted slightly inward, so water will flow away from the wall and fall off the outside of the z-channel. They look like they'd be sheltered by your roof eaves anyway.

I'd be tempted to install something like a sliding barn door channel and the top and some solid anchors into the concrete below the siding. Then you just roll the whole sheet in from the end and attach the anchors and done.

In reply to oldopelguy :

Hmm, that might work too. Depending on the cost of track vs z-channel it might not be much different & wouldn't require cutting. Though hefting full 4x8 sheets of tongue & groove around doesn't sound like fun either. 

Maybe sheets cut to height, but hinged together accordion-style from each end? I'd need to make them somewhat attractive, though this is hidden from our neighbors so I'd just need to appease SWMBO.  

I have an aluminum extrusion designed for bahama hinges, it might work.  Not sure if I still have enough for all those windows though.  Will check tomorrow.  There was a product, based on corrugated plastic sheets that is hurricane rated.  Not sure if it is still around.  Search hurricane panels and shutters, see what you come up with. 

In reply to porschenut :

Thanks! I've done some searching, but I'll look specifically for the plastic panels. 

Use  6 OR 8 MIL cOROPLAST  sIGN Board    done   ,,, easy on off ,,  Or dig Hole basement storm cellar  ...  Reasoning being if you are going to get wind damage , cover windows .  You can dodge alot of damage . 

In reply to Karl La Follette :

I can't imagine Coroplast is strong enough to anything but small twigs - and maybe not even those at hurricane-force winds?

Zombie thread, canoe deleted 

did we ever find an outcome to the search?

In reply to mad_machine :

Not yet. We had to put roof on the front part of the house in January. Saving up to do the rest of the house & garage this fall, then the outbuildings after that. 

We still don’t have any protection for the 13 windows around the FL room, so those will be first. The present windows are very E36 M3ty single-pane, a couple inches bigger than 4’x2’ in each direction. I’ve seen hurricane-rated windows for around $200-each, so I’m thinking that may be a better option than trying to find a way to secure plywood to the outside without creating holes through the siding that will allow water intrusion. 

I still have a boarded up window in my bedroom from Hurricane Florence. Had a window blow out of the frame. Cannot buy a replacement sash. Have a spare window but I need to modify to swing open the opposite way. Big issue is getting up there (3rd floor) safely and handling a large heavy window. Have not been able to find anyone willing to take on the job for money, so I guess eventually I need to rent a man lift or something and do it myself.

How about this one , 

Make a covered patio using a garage door , 

Then when the windows need protection , roll the door down to cover the windows..

Use all the hardware you would use if you were putting in a garage door , just do it outside.....

I was thinking of doing this for Sunshade and and lowering it against the wall for security when I was on vacation.

In Europe they use metal roll down blinds , part for security and part to keep the heat in .....