Can hurricane shutters be used for home security year-round?

Yes. Accordion and rolldown shutters lock from the inside and provide a substantially hardened exterior barrier against forced entry — effective year-round, not just during hurricane season. Many coastal NC and SC homeowners close their shutters whenever their property is vacant.

Are hurricane shutters more secure than standard windows and doors?

Yes. Closed and locked accordion or rolldown shutters present a continuous aluminum barrier that is significantly more resistant to forced entry than standard residential windows. The interlocking blade mechanism under load requires specialized tools to defeat and generates substantial noise — both effective deterrents.

Do hurricane shutters replace a security alarm system?

No — shutters and alarm systems are complementary. Shutters provide physical resistance to entry. An alarm provides notification and response if entry is attempted or achieved. Both together offer the most complete security solution for coastal vacation properties.

What hurricane shutters provide the best year-round security for a vacant coastal home?

Accordion shutters at $34/sq ft are the most practical year-round security option for vacant coastal properties — they close quickly (under 8 minutes for a whole house), lock from inside with a key-lockable center bar, and are operated easily by a property manager or neighbor.

Do hurricane shutters deter vandalism and property crime in coastal communities?

Yes. Visibly closed and locked hurricane shutters signal an occupied or actively managed property — reducing the likelihood of opportunistic vandalism and break-ins. Properties with open, unprotected windows signal vacancy.

More Than Storms: Using Your Hurricane Shutters for Home Security

By Matthew Burns|American Hurricane Shutters|Updated March 2025|8 min read

Hurricane shutters used for home security year-round on a coastal North Carolina vacation property

Year-Round Security ValueClosed and locked accordion or rolldown shutters are a hardened forced-entry barrier that works year-round — not just during hurricane season. The best coastal vacation home security layer is already installed.

More than storms — the year-round security value of hurricane shutters is one of the most underappreciated benefits in the coastal NC and SC market. Most homeowners install hurricane shutters for storm protection and discover the security benefit as a bonus. AHS customers who own vacation properties in Wrightsville Beach storm protection, Figure Eight Island, Bald Head Island, and the Grand Strand communities consistently report using their shutters for security during off-season vacancy periods.

Year-roundSecurity use — not just hurricane season

Key-lockCenter bar on accordion shutters

8minWhole house security deployment

$34Accordion /sq ft installed

How Hurricane Shutters Work as Security Shutters

Accordion shutters close across the full opening — not just the glass pane — and lock from inside with a key-lockable center bar. The interlocking aluminum blades under load form a continuous barrier: to force entry, an intruder must defeat the entire shutter system rather than just break a window. The aluminum blades resist prying with standard hand tools, and any serious forced-entry attempt generates substantial noise — both strong deterrents for opportunistic break-ins. Rolldown shutters provide the same security profile with a locking bottom bar.

The Vacant Property Problem in Coastal Communities

Coastal NC and SC vacation properties are vacant for extended periods — often 4–8 months per year in non-peak seasons. Vacant properties with unprotected windows signal availability to opportunistic property criminals: copper theft, appliance theft, and vandalism are documented problems in coastal vacation communities. Properties with visibly closed and locked hurricane shutters send the opposite signal — the property is actively managed and physically protected.

The Complementary Security System

AHS recommends combining hurricane shutters with a monitored alarm system for comprehensive coastal property security. The combination addresses both physical access (shutters) and notification/response (alarm). Many coastal NC and SC vacation homeowners also use motion-activated exterior lighting and camera systems — hurricane shutters complement all of these by hardening the physical entry points they protect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Accordion and rolldown shutters lock from inside and provide a hardened barrier against forced entry — effective year-round for vacant coastal properties.

Yes. Continuous aluminum barriers with key-lockable mechanisms are significantly more resistant to forced entry than standard residential windows.

No — they’re complementary. Shutters provide physical resistance; alarms provide notification and response.

Accordion shutters at $34/sq ft — close in under 8 minutes, key-lockable center bar, operable by a property manager.

Yes — visibly closed and locked shutters signal an actively managed property, reducing opportunistic crime risk.

Protect Your Property Year-Round

Hurricane shutters serve double duty — storm protection and year-round security. AHS installs across coastal NC and SC. Call +19102561288.

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Matthew Burns

Vice President at American Hurricane Shutters, Inc.

Matthew Burns is Vice President of American Hurricane Shutters, the Carolinas' rated storm protection specialists founded in 2007 by Michael Burns. OSHA-30 certified and specializing in Miami-Dade and TAS-approved hurricane shutter systems, Matthew has personally overseen the installation of storm protection on thousands of homes from Emerald Isle to Myrtle Beach. His expertise covers accordion shutters, rolldown shutters, Bahama shutters, colonial shutters, hurricane panels, and fabric hurricane screens. Based in Wilmington, NC.