Hurricane Shutters: Build Them or Buy Them?

By Jenni Boucher

   Most Florida homeowners have some type of protection for the windows and doors of their home in the event of a tropical storm or hurricane. Any home that was permitted after February 28, 2002 is required to have some type of opening protection per the Florida Building Code. Many homeowners have opted for impact-resistant windows and doors to help protect their home, but this can be a very expensive upgrade for older homes. The most budget-friendly way to protect your doors and windows is with hurricane shutters.

  The least expensive shutters to install are made from plywood. These shutters can easily be made and ready to install over a weekend. While they are inexpensive, they are also the least attractive way to protect your openings. When the shutters aren’t in use, they must be stored on-site and the bolts around the windows and doors used to secure the shutters will be visible year-round. They are also heavy, and can be a challenge for many people to install with a storm on the way. Per the Florida Building Code, plywood shutters can only be used for openings less than 8'-0" wide. According to Florida’s Foundation, a state-run non-profit organization dedicated to helping homeowners protect their home in the event of a storm, these shutters can get you up to a 35% discount on your property insurance premiums.

   If you don’t want to build plywood shutters, there are a variety of other shutter options on the market to fit your needs. Prices range from inexpensive to very expensive, and there are a large range of style, material, and color choices to choose from. Some styles of shutters, like composite panels, must be stored on-site and installed like plywood shutters, but are many times lighter and stronger. Other types, like roll-down cloth or metal shutters, are left up all year long and are typically very easy to engage in the event of a storm. Depending on the model, these can look like a big box over all of your openings or they can blend seamlessly into the architecture of your home. These shutters can get you up to a 44% discount on your property insurance premiums.

    Whether you build your shutters or buy them, it is critically important to have some type of protection for your openings in the event of a storm. Most hurricane damage is caused by wind and water intrusion after the windows & doors of a home have been compromised. Once this happens, forces called “uplift” could literally lift the roof off of your home, causing a catastrophic structural failure. Don’t let that happen to you; make sure your openings are protected!