How Hurricane Shutter Installation Works

The process starts with a price estimate. Use our free calculator above for an instant ballpark, then call 2 to 3 local licensed shutter companies to get written quotes. Most companies offer free in-home estimates with no obligation.

• Our calculator gives you an accurate range in 60 seconds based on your home size, shutter type, and state — use it before your first call so you know what a fair price looks like.
• Get at least 2 written quotes from licensed contractors. In Florida, hurricane shutter installers must hold a state contractor’s license — verify this at myfloridalicense.com before signing anything.
• Ask each company for references from jobs completed in the past 12 months and call at least one. A reputable installer will have no hesitation providing references.
• Quotes should include material, labor, permit fees, and a written warranty on both product and installation. Be cautious of quotes that exclude permit fees — unpermitted shutter work creates serious problems at resale.

Once you sign the contract and pay a deposit (typically 30 to 50%), a certified technician visits your home to take precise measurements of every window and door opening. Shutters are custom-fabricated to your exact dimensions — there is no off-the-shelf sizing.

• The measuring appointment takes 1 to 3 hours depending on home size. The technician records not just the opening dimensions but also the surrounding wall material, substrate type (concrete block vs. wood frame vs. CBS), and any obstacles that affect track placement.
• Your installer submits a building permit application to your county immediately after the measurement visit. Permit approval takes 1 to 3 weeks in most Florida counties. Work cannot legally begin until the permit is approved.
• This is also the point where you make any final changes to your product selection — switching from storm panels to accordion shutters, for example. Changes after this stage may delay fabrication and affect pricing.
• Your installer should give you a written timeline at this stage: expected permit approval date, fabrication start and completion dates, and scheduled installation window.

Hurricane shutters are manufactured to your exact window measurements. This is not an off-the-shelf product — every panel, slat, and track is cut and assembled specifically for your home. Fabrication is the longest phase of the process.

• Accordion shutters and roll-down shutters are fabricated at the manufacturer’s facility using your precise measurements. The extrusions are cut, the tracks are drilled, and the hardware is assembled. This typically takes 4 to 8 weeks from order to delivery.
• Storm panels (aluminum or polycarbonate) have shorter fabrication times — typically 1 to 3 weeks — because the panels are cut from standard stock and the tracks are simpler to produce.
• Fabrication times stretch significantly during peak hurricane season (August through October) when demand spikes. If you order in May or June, you will typically receive your shutters within the normal window. If you wait until a named storm threatens, fabrication queues can stretch to 6 to 12 months.
• This waiting period is when you should prepare your home: clear the areas around windows, ensure outdoor wall surfaces are clean and sound for track mounting, and arrange for any electrical work needed for motorized shutters.

Installation day is when your shutters go on the house. A typical crew of 2 to 4 technicians can complete a full home in 1 to 2 days depending on the number of openings, shutter type, and wall substrate.

• The crew begins by mounting guide tracks around each window opening. On concrete block construction (CBS — the most common in Florida), tracks are anchored with masonry screws into the block. On wood frame construction, they’re lag-bolted into the framing. Track anchoring is the most critical part of the installation — it determines whether the shutters hold in a 150+ mph wind event.
• Accordion shutters are hung from the head track and tested through the full open-close cycle. Roll-down shutters are mounted in the box above the opening and connected to either the manual crank or the motorized drive. Storm panels are staged for quick deployment and stored on-site.
• Motorized shutter installations include running electrical conduit, connecting to a dedicated circuit, programming remotes, and testing the limit switches that stop the shutter at the fully open and fully closed positions.
• Plan to be home for the installation. The crew needs access to all windows, indoor access for any motorized work, and your sign-off at various stages. Keep pets secured and children clear of the work area.

After installation, a county building inspector visits to verify code compliance. Once the inspection passes, your installer completes a full walkthrough with you to demonstrate operation of every shutter.

• The county inspector verifies that fastener type, spacing, and embedment depth meet the Florida Building Code requirements for your wind zone. In most coastal counties, shutters must meet or exceed the design pressure ratings for your home’s location. This inspection is the homeowner’s protection — never let an installer skip the permit and inspection process.
• During the walkthrough, the installer demonstrates how to open and close every shutter, how to manually override any motorized shutters in a power failure, how to deploy storm panels including correct panel orientation and hardware tightening sequence, and where to find the locking mechanisms.
• You should receive a written warranty covering both the product (typically 5 to 10 years for hardware, lifetime for aluminum panels) and the workmanship (typically 1 to 2 years). Get this in writing before the crew leaves.
• After the final inspection passes, you are eligible for a homeowner’s insurance discount. Contact your insurer immediately with a copy of the permit and final inspection certificate — most Florida insurers offer a 10 to 45% discount on the wind portion of your premium for full-opening protection.