What are plywood hurricane protection?
Plywood boarding is the emergency fallback when no permanent protection is in place and a storm is imminent. It provides some protection against wind-borne debris but is not impact-rated, not code-compliant for new construction, and significantly less effective than any approved shutter system.
If you used plywood last season, use this guide to get it right — and use our calculator to price a permanent solution before the next storm threatens.
PhotosSee them on a real home
Plywood boarding — installed on home
Replace with: Florida home with plywood sheets nailed over windows, overcast threatening sky, showing urgency of last-resort preparation
Pros and cons
✓ Advantages
- Lowest cost of any option
- Available at any home improvement store
- No installation required in advance — buy when needed
- Better than nothing when no other option exists
✗ Limitations
- Not code-compliant — won't qualify for insurance discount
- Heavy, awkward, requires two people for most boards
- Must be recut and refastened every storm
- Lumber stores sell out fast — shelves empty in 24 hours after a storm watch
- Leaves fastener holes in your home's exterior
- Single-use — warps and weakens after each storm
2026 installed cost
Prices below reflect 2026 contractor quotes across all 13 states we cover — Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts.
| Opening size | Low estimate | High estimate | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small window (24×36") | — | ||
| Standard window (36×48") | Most common | ||
| Large window (60×48") | — | ||
| Entry door (36×80") | — | ||
| Full home (avg. 8 openings) | Use calculator → |
⚠️ Get 3 quotes before signing anything. Use our free calculator to get your estimate first — homeowners who come in with a number save an average of 15–20%.