A Homeowner’s Guide to Hurricane Shutter Parts (with Diagrams)
Your hurricane shutters are a high-performance safety system, and like any machine, they are made up of many specialized parts working in unison. Understanding the names and functions of these key components can empower you as a homeowner. It helps you to communicate more effectively if you ever need service, perform basic maintenance with confidence, and appreciate the sophisticated engineering that keeps your home safe.
At American Hurricane Shutters, we believe in educating our customers. This guide serves as a detailed glossary, breaking down the anatomy of the most common types of shutters we install. Let’s look “under the hood” at the parts that make up your storm protection.
Anatomy of an Accordion Shutter
Accordion shutters are one of the most popular systems due to their convenience and strength. They are a complex assembly of interlocking and moving parts.
- Blades: These are the vertical, double-walled, extruded aluminum panels that interlock to form the protective wall of the shutter.
- Stack: This is the term for the shutter in its folded, open position, neatly housed on the side of the window.
- Top Track: The heavy-duty aluminum track mounted above the window that supports the weight of the shutter and guides it. It contains the wheels.
- Bottom Track: The track mounted below the window that contains the lower guides and provides stability against wind pressure.
- Wheels/Rollers: High-quality nylon wheels attached to the top of each blade that roll inside the top track, allowing the shutter to glide smoothly.
- Locking Rods / Thumbturns: These are the heavy-duty locking mechanisms, usually made of aluminum or stainless steel, that are operated from inside the shutter to secure the two halves together.
- Center Mate: The vertical extrusion where the two halves of the shutter meet and interlock in the center.
Anatomy of a Roll-Down Shutter
Roll-down shutters are the most convenient systems, with precision parts that allow for their smooth, retractable operation.
- Housing Box: The enclosed aluminum box mounted above the opening that houses and protects the shutter curtain when it’s retracted.
- Curtain / Slats: The series of interlocking, horizontal aluminum slats that form the solid barrier of the shutter.
- Side Rails / Tracks: The vertical tracks on either side of the opening that the ends of the slats slide into. These rails guide the curtain and lock it in place against wind forces.
- Axle / Tube: The rotating tube inside the housing box that the shutter curtain rolls onto.
- Tubular Motor: In an electric system, this is the powerful motor housed directly inside the axle.
- Manual Override: An important feature on motorized shutters that allows you to operate the shutter with a hand crank in case of a power outage.
- Crank Handle: The removable handle used to operate a manual rolldown shutter.
Anatomy of a Bahama Shutter
Bahama shutters combine style with strength, and their hardware is key to their dual function.
- Louvers / Blades: The angled slats that provide shade and a decorative look. In articulating models, these blades can be opened and closed.
- Continuous Top Hinge: A heavy-duty hinge that runs the full width of the shutter, providing a strong connection to the wall.
- Telescoping Support Arms: The adjustable arms on either side that hold the shutter open at the desired angle. For storm prep, these arms are detached from the wall and secured to the shutter itself.
- Locking Points / Storm Pins: These are the secure connection points on the wall and on the shutter that allow the support arms to be fastened, locking the shutter in its closed, protective position.
Anatomy of a Storm Panel System
Our storm panel systems are simple, strong, and effective, consisting of two main parts.
- Panels: The corrugated, removable panels made of either aluminum or clear polycarbonate. The corrugations provide immense strength and rigidity.
- Mounting Hardware: This is the permanent part of the system installed on your home. It can be a **Track System** (with a top H-Header and bottom F-Track) or a **Direct Mount System** (with permanently installed, threaded studs).
- Wing Nuts: The threaded fasteners used to secure the panels to the direct mount studs.
When a Part Needs Attention, Trust the Experts
Understanding the parts of your shutters is the first step. The second is knowing when to call a professional. If you notice a bent track, a broken part, or a shutter that isn’t operating smoothly, don’t wait.
Our expert technicians can diagnose any issue and have access to the full range of replacement parts for the systems we sell. Call American Hurricane Shutters today at (910) 256-1288 or email owner Matthew Burns at matt.burns@ahscarolinas.com for professional repairs and service.
