Time is of the essence for homeowners to protect their houses, especially with the 2008 hurricane season coming soon. Miguel Figueroa, sales manager of Nu-Vue Industries of PR Inc. said, “Homeowners need to take care of all their preparations before the peak hurricane season begins in August or September. We recommend that they have their houses hurricane resistant before June or July.”

Although the company’s dedicated staff will work overtime during the peak season, Figueroa said there is no guarantee the work will be done on time. “Our employees will work overtime, but sometimes we get so many orders that it is impossible to get them all out before a storm hits,” he said. The difference between ordering early or late in the season is significant. “In June or July we can usually get an order done in two or three business days, but during the peak season in August and September it can take a week or more,” Figueroa said.

One of Nu-Vue’s most popular products is its two-inch thick removable hybrid storm panel. These panels are designed to cover windows and even some doors and can be cut to fit any space. “These panels also comply with the Metro Dade County and the Southern Florida Building Code specifications—which are known to be some of the toughest in the world,” Figueroa said. These panels also come in the 1-inch size.

The Ultra Accordion Shutter is built using the same standards as the hybrid storm panels. “These are custom-made to customers’ expectations and feature super-solid pins for stability and security,” Figueroa said. He added that the Accordion Shutter comes in white, beige, and bronze color choices. “These easy gliding and attractive shutters not only provide protection against hurricanes but also provide security and privacy,” he said.

Nu-Vue also features a roll-up shutter. “The roll-up shutters come in white and feature a manual or motorized open/close system,” Figueroa said. He also said the storm panels, Accordion Shutter, and roll-up shutter are all available in two to three business days during the non-peak season.

Even though Nu-Vue caters to dealers and installers of its products, it is willing to sell to anyone. “We recommend homeowners call their contractor to install our products but we will sell directly to the ‘do-it-yourselfer’,” Figueroa said. For those people, Nu-Vue’s trained staff will guide them through every stage of the process. “Our trained staff act more like consultants in that they recommend the correct product depending on the customer’s needs and tastes. They will also give advice on how to install the products correctly,” he said.