Securing Your Myrtle Beach Business: A Guide to Commercial Hurricane & Security Shutters

As a business owner in Myrtle Beach, securing your business for a hurricane is about more than just protecting property. It’s about protecting your livelihood. A broken storefront window isn’t just a repair bill; it’s a security breach, catastrophic water damage to your inventory, and weeks or even months of lost revenue. Every day your doors are closed is a day you’re not serving customers.

Standard plywood is not a commercial-grade solution. It’s slow, unreliable, and projects an image of weakness. You need a permanent, professional system that provides both storefront storm protection in SC and year-round security.

At American Hurricane Shutters, we are B2B storm protection experts. We understand the unique needs of commercial properties, from retail storefronts and restaurants to office buildings and warehouses. This guide will focus on the two best-in-class solutions for protecting your business: Accordion Shutters and Roll-Down Security Shutters.

The “Dual-Threat”: Why Your Business Needs Both Storm & Security Protection

For a business, a shutter system serves two critical, equal-priority functions:

1. Hurricane Protection: Your system must be impact-rated to meet or exceed South Carolina’s tough building codes. It needs to stop flying debris and prevent the catastrophic pressurization that can destroy a commercial building from the inside out.
2. Security Protection: In the chaotic aftermath of a storm, or even just on a typical night, your large glass storefront is your biggest vulnerability. A high-quality shutter system is a powerful deterrent against break-ins, vandalism, and theft.

Plywood fails on both counts. It’s not impact-rated, and it can be easily pried off by a crowbar. The professional solutions we offer are engineered to defeat both threats.

Option 1: The Workhorse: Rated Accordion Shutters

Accordion shutters are the undisputed workhorse for commercial applications. They are tough, cost-effective, and incredibly easy to deploy. We install the heavy-duty Bertha HV Accordion Shutter system, which is ideal for businesses.

Why Accordions are a Smart Business Choice:

• Speed of Deployment: A 20-foot storefront can be secured by one person in about 60 seconds. This means you or your employees can secure the business and get to safety without wasting precious time.
• Excellent Strength: The heavy-duty, interlocking aluminum blades are fully impact-rated. When closed and locked, they form a formidable wall of metal.
• Affordability: This is the biggest draw for many businesses. At approximately $34 per square foot, installed, they are the most affordable *permanent* shutter system you can buy. This allows you to protect your entire property at a reasonable cost.
• Reliability: There are no motors or complex electronics to fail. They are a simple, manual system that is virtually foolproof and easy to maintain.

Ideal Applications for Businesses:

Accordion shutters are perfect for covering large glass storefronts, entry doors, and service windows. Because they glide on a track, they can easily be custom-fit to span wide openings and even turn corners, making them perfect for enclosing the front entrance of a retail store or restaurant.

Option 2: The Fortress: Roll-Down Security Shutters

If your primary concern is maximum security *in addition* to storm protection, you upgrade to roll-down shutters. These systems, also called roll-up security shutters, are the “gold standard” for commercial properties.

When not in use, the shutter is completely hidden in a housing box above the door or window. When deployed, it unrolls along heavy-duty tracks to create a solid, impenetrable wall of interlocking aluminum.

Why Roll-Downs are the Premium Business Choice:

• Unbeatable Security: This is the #1 reason. Once a roll-down shutter is fully deployed, it cannot be lifted or pried from its tracks. It is the single best visual and physical deterrent against forced entry.
• Ultimate Convenience (Motorized): Most businesses opt for motorized roll-down shutters. This allows you to open or close your entire storefront with the push of a single button or the turn of a key. This is ideal for daily use (e.g., closing up at night).
• Aesthetics: During business hours, the shutter is completely invisible. This is a major plus for high-end retail or businesses in strict-code shopping centers where a visible “stack” (like an accordion) is not desired.
• Durability: Our Alutech and ASSA roll-down systems are built to withstand daily use for decades.

Cost Considerations:

Roll-down shutters are a premium product. Our manual-rated systems start at approximately $48 per square foot, installed. The all-important motorization upgrade adds approximately $700 per opening. While the cost is higher, the investment is reflected in superior security and daily convenience.

Why Your Business *Must* Hire a Professional, Insured Installer

As a business owner, you live in a world of liability. Hiring a “cash-only” handyman or a cheap, uninsured contractor to install your commercial shutters is a decision that could cost you your entire business.

Protecting your business requires a partner who is as serious about their business as you are about yours. At American Hurricane Shutters, we are built to serve commercial clients.

This is our promise to you:

• Ironclad Insurance Coverage: We carry full General Liability, Commercial Auto, and Workers’ Compensation. But for our commercial clients, the most important number is this: we also carry a $2,000,000 Umbrella Policy. This massive layer of liability protection is designed to meet the rigorous insurance requirements of commercial properties, general contractors, and HOAs.
• We NEVER Use Subcontractors: The team on your property is our team. They are full-time, trained, and insured employees. This provides a clear line of accountability—a vital component in any B2B relationship.
• We Are Local & Established: We are not a storm chaser. We are a family-owned, disabled-owned business that has been serving the Carolinas since 2007. We are a proud member of the Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association (HBA). We will be here to service your shutters for years to come.
• We Understand Commercial Needs: We know how to work on an active job site, coordinate with general contractors, and meet commercial building codes. We get the job done right, on time, and with the professional documentation you require.

Choosing the Right System for Your Myrtle Beach Business

So, which system is right for you? Here is our expert recommendation:

Choose Accordion Shutters if…

• Your primary goal is securing large storefronts and entryways.
• You need to balance robust, rated protection with a strict budget.
• You prioritize speed of manual deployment and reliability over aesthetics.
• You own the building and a visible “stack” on the wall is acceptable.

Choose Roll-Down Shutters if…

• Maximum security against break-ins is your #1 priority.
• You need the convenience of motorized, daily-use operation.
• Your business is in a high-end retail area where aesthetics are critical, and the shutter must be invisible when open.
• You are a tenant and your lease requires a system that is less visible.

We also offer other systems, such as StormTex screens for restaurant patios or panels for back-of-house windows. As your expert consultants, we can design a hybrid system that meets your exact needs and budget.