Plywood shortage could have many seeking alternative for protection during hurricane season

FORT MYERS, Fla.– For many of us, it’s either plywood or storm shutters to keep windows safe from a storm. 

Plywood is traditionally the cheaper of the two options but that isn’t the case this year. Prices for 4×8 sheets have more than doubled.

Paul Werner, who owns PW Home Services, said he doesn’t think most people could afford plywood right now if a storm was headed toward Southwest Florida.

Prices for some plywood is quickly approaching $100, after sawmills shutdown lumber production during the pandemic in fear of a housing crunch that never happened.

“It’s skyrocketed in the last four or five months,” Werner said.

A North Fort Myers Home Depot manager, Art Seyffert, noted that ¾ inch plywood is selling for around $85 a sheet in his store.

While plywood may be expensive there is not a shortage of the product.

“We’ll typically get truck loads to support the public but with these prices, that could put some folks in a bad spot,” Seyffert said.

He encourages those considering metal storm shutters this season to preorder and make sure they have the supplies needed if the time comes.

If you’ve heard of using duct tape to protect your windows as an alternative, experts say it doesn’t work.

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