You know you need hurricane shutters. You have no idea where to start. There are six product types, dozens of contractors, a permit process you don't understand, and everyone you talk to tells you something different. This guide cuts through all of it.
Step 1 — Know Your Wind Zone
Before you look at a single product, find out your wind zone. Your wind zone determines which products are legally code-compliant for your address. Installing a product that doesn't meet your wind zone is wasted money — it won't pass inspection and won't qualify for insurance discounts.
Find your wind zone at your county building department website, or use our cost calculator which loads your county's wind zone automatically. If you're in Miami-Dade or Broward County, you're in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone — the strictest standard in the country. See our Miami-Dade NOA guide.
Step 2 — Understand Your Options
| Type | Cost | Deployment | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storm Panels | $15–$30/sq ft | Manual before each storm | Tightest budget |
| Accordion | $25–$35/sq ft | Pull and latch — 5 min | Best overall value |
| Roll-Down Manual | $45–$65/sq ft | Crank down — 10 min | Cleaner look than accordion |
| Roll-Down Motorized | $65–$100/sq ft | Button or app — 30 sec | Maximum convenience |
| Impact Windows | $40–$100/sq ft | None — always protected | Best long-term value |
| Polycarbonate Panels | $22–$30/sq ft | Manual — lets in light | Budget with visibility |
The most common mistake: choosing the cheapest option without accounting for deployment burden. Storm panels are the least expensive product but the most work to use. A homeowner who buys panels and then doesn't deploy them before a storm is worse off than one who bought accordion shutters and left them open.
Step 3 — Calculate Your Total Opening Square Footage
Hurricane shutter costs are quoted per square foot of opening — not per window. Before getting any quotes, measure every opening you need to protect:
- Every window — width x height in feet
- Every exterior door including sliding glass doors
- Garage door — typically 8x7 or 9x7 or 16x7
- Any lanai, patio, or screen enclosure openings
Add these up for your total square footage. Use our cost calculator to estimate costs before talking to a contractor — knowing your baseline prevents you from being anchored to a contractor's number.
Step 4 — Get Three Written Quotes
Three quotes minimum. Here is why: the range between the lowest and highest quote for an identical job is typically 25–40%. One quote gives you one data point. Three quotes give you a market.
Each written quote should include:
- Specific product — manufacturer, model, and FL approval number
- Total square footage covered
- Labor, materials, and permit fees itemized
- Payment schedule
- Timeline from contract to completion
- Warranty terms — labor and product separately
Before signing anything, verify every contractor's license using our verify contractor tool. Takes 30 seconds and eliminates unlicensed contractors immediately.
Step 5 — Understand the Permit Process
Hurricane shutter installation requires a building permit in most coastal counties. This is not optional. The permit process:
- Your contractor applies for the permit — not you
- County reviews and approves — typically 1–3 weeks
- Installation occurs
- County inspector visits for final inspection
- Permit closed — you now have a documented compliant installation
Total timeline from contract to final inspection: 4–8 weeks in the off-season, 6–12 weeks during peak season. Plan accordingly. See our full installation process guide for details.
Step 6 — Get Your Wind Mitigation Inspection
Within 30 days of your final permit inspection, hire a licensed wind mitigation inspector to document your new protection. This report goes to your insurance company and triggers your premium reduction.
Cost: $150–$200. Annual insurance savings: often $500–$3,000+. The inspection pays for itself in the first month. Use our insurance savings estimator to project your specific savings before installation — knowing the payback period makes the buying decision much clearer.
Frequently Asked Questions
I can only afford to protect part of my house. Where do I start?
Prioritize the largest openings first — sliding glass doors and large picture windows fail first and cause the most damage when they do. Next, protect openings facing the primary exposure direction for your area (south and east for Atlantic-facing homes, south and west for Gulf-facing homes). Garage doors are the most structurally critical single opening — a failed garage door can take the roof with it.
How long does a whole-house installation take?
A typical 2,000 sq ft home with accordion shutters takes 1–3 days of installation time. Roll-down shutters take slightly longer due to motor wiring. Impact window replacement takes longer — 3–5 days for a full home. Total project timeline from contract to permit closure is 4–8 weeks in the off-season.
What if I want to phase the installation over two years?
Phasing is common and practical. Year one: protect the largest openings and all door openings. Year two: complete the remaining windows. This splits the cost while giving you meaningful protection immediately. Make sure your contractor knows you plan to phase — they can design the permit to accommodate future phases more efficiently.
Waste bags at the curb spread E. coli, Leptospirosis, and Norovirus across entire neighborhoods through rainwater runoff, animal vectors, and children near debris piles. Double-bag all waste. Label it BIOHAZARD. Keep all children and pets away from every curb pile on your street — not just your own.
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