Matthew Burns

Matthew Burns is a storm protection expert and the President of American Hurricane Shutters. Continuing his family's legacy, he combines 6+ years of hands-on experience with an analytical background from Duke University (B.S., Economics). He specializes in breaking down complex building codes and the long-term financial benefits of hurricane protection, helping Carolina homeowners make safe, informed, and cost-effective decisions.

Accordion Shutters Lifespan: What Homeowners Should Know

Accordion Shutters Lifespan: What Coastal Homeowners Should Know About Durability and Maintenance Accordion shutters are a permanently mounted storm-protection system built from interlocking slats that fold open for everyday use and lock shut for hurricane defense. They shield your windows by forming a continuous barrier against wind-driven debris, and how long they last depends on

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Energy Efficient Roll Down Hurricane Shutters for Homeowners

Energy‑Efficient Roll‑Down Hurricane Shutters for Carolina Homeowners: Benefits, Costs, and Installation Living on the North or South Carolina coast means balancing two priorities: protecting your home from storms and keeping energy bills in check. Energy‑efficient roll‑down hurricane shutters do both — they block wind and impact while cutting solar heat gain and improving nighttime retention.

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Understanding Roll Down Hurricane Shutters: Which Windows Can They Be Installed On?

Understanding Roll-Down Hurricane Shutters: Which Windows Can They Be Installed On? Roll-down hurricane shutters‚Äîavailable in motorized and manual versions‚Äîstore in a compact housing above the opening and deploy to form a continuous, impact-resistant barrier against wind-driven debris and storm pressure. This guide walks you through how these systems work, the material and control choices you’ll

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Operating Roll Down Hurricane Shutters During a Hurricane: What You Need to Know

How to Operate Roll‚ÄëDown Hurricane Shutters During a Storm: Practical Guides for Manual and Motorized Systems Correctly operating roll‚Äëdown hurricane shutters during a hurricane can be the difference between protecting your home and avoidable damage. This guide lays out how these shutters work, the key differences between manual and motorized systems, and clear, step‚Äëby‚Äëstep instructions

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Choosing the Best Materials for Roll Down Hurricane Shutters

Choosing the Best Materials for Roll-Down Hurricane Shutters: A Practical Guide to Durable, Impact-Resistant Options Roll-down hurricane shutters are engineered systems that unroll from a headbox to shield windows and exterior openings from windborne debris and extreme wind pressures. In this guide we explain why material selection is the single biggest driver of performance, service

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Accordion Shutters vs. Traditional Hurricane Windows: A Cost-Effectiveness Comparison Explained

Accordion Shutters vs. Impact (Hurricane) Windows — Which Is the Most Cost‑Effective? Choosing hurricane protection affects both your immediate budget and your home’s long‑term value. This guide compares accordion shutters and impact (hurricane) windows in plain terms — how each system works, how they perform, and which lifecycle costs matter most: purchase, installation, maintenance, and

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Discover the Key Benefits of Roll Down Hurricane Shutters for Home Protection

Why Roll-Down Hurricane Shutters Are One of the Best Investments for Coastal Home Protection Roll-down hurricane shutters are exterior coverings that unspool from a protective housing to form a continuous shield over windows and doors. Their interlocking slats and secure mounting spread impact and wind forces across multiple anchor points, reducing the chance of broken

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Understanding Accordion Shutters: Are They Compatible With Every Window and Door Configuration?

Understanding Accordion Shutters: Will They Fit Every Window and Door Configuration? Accordion shutters are a permanently mounted storm protection system that stack neatly to the side and deploy across windows and doors to block wind and flying debris while providing secondary security. This guide explains how accordion shutters function, the materials that keep them working

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Understanding Local Hurricane Shutter Regulations in the Carolinas

Understanding Local Hurricane Shutter Regulations in the Carolinas: Building Codes, Permits, and Compliance Regulations for hurricane shutters along the Carolinas combine state building codes, county and city permit rules, HOA covenants, wind-load (design pressure) requirements, and impact-certification standards. Together these rules determine which products and installation methods inspectors will accept. This guide lays out how

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Advantages of Aluminum Hurricane Shutters for Your Home

Aluminum Hurricane Shutters: Durable, Lightweight, Cost‚ÄëEffective Protection for Your Home Aluminum hurricane shutters are purpose-built exterior covers that protect windows and openings from high winds, flying debris, and salt‚Äëair corrosion. They give homeowners a practical mix of impact resistance, coastal durability, and long‚Äëterm value. In this article we explain how extruded aluminum profiles, factory finishes,

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