Hurricane Shutter Products

Seven types of certified storm protection for coastal NC and SC homes. We install them all — so our recommendation is based on your home, not what we happen to sell.

Choosing the Right Hurricane Shutter

Choosing between types of hurricane shutters comes down to three factors: how often you access your windows, how much you want to spend, and whether you want permanent or seasonal protection. Accordion shutters are the most popular for full-time Carolina homeowners — permanently installed, deployable in seconds, from $34/sq ft. Rolldown shutters offer push-button deployment for maximum convenience, from $48/sq ft. Hurricane panels are the most affordable certified option at $18/sq ft but require pre-storm setup and storage. Hurricane screens are the only practical solution for large porch and lanai openings. Use our cost calculator to compare pricing across all types for your specific home.

All Hurricane Shutter Types
Seven Systems. Every Home. Every Budget.

We are the only company in coastal NC and SC that installs all seven major shutter types. Every system is custom-fabricated to your exact openings and rated to the Design Pressure requirements for your specific address.

Accordion hurricane shutters installed on a white coastal home

Accordion Shutters

From $34 / sq ft installed

The most popular permanent system on the Carolina coast. Folds to each side on a permanent track, locks in under a minute, and never needs to be stored. The go-to for full-time residents and rental properties.

Full Guide
Rolldown hurricane shutters on a coastal home

Rolldown Shutters

From $48 / sq ft installed

The top-of-the-line option for convenience. Electric versions descend at the touch of a button — ideal for second homeowners who aren’t present before a storm. Manual versions operate by hand crank or pulldown with no power required.

Full Guide
Bahama hurricane shutters on a coastal shingle home

Bahama Shutters

From $50 / sq ft (decorative)  |  $56 / sq ft (rated)

Hinged at the top and propped open for daily shade, ventilation, and privacy. The defining look of coastal Carolina architecture. Hurricane-rated fixed-blade and articulating versions available. Popular for HOA-governed communities.

Full Guide
Colonial hurricane shutters on a red brick home with white columns

Colonial Shutters

From $50 / sq ft (decorative)  |  $56 / sq ft (rated)

Heavy-gauge aluminum styled to look like traditional louvered or board-and-batten wood shutters. Rated for hurricane impact, engineered to outlast wood by decades. Swing closed and latch — no storage required. Ideal for historic and traditional homes.

Full Guide
Hurricane screens on a coastal Carolina lanai

Hurricane Screens

From $44 / sq ft + $700 / opening (motorized)

Motorized Aramid-fiber fabric barriers for wide porch and lanai openings — the only system that spans 30+ feet with no center post. Invisible when retracted. Deployed at the touch of a button. Also provides daily protection from pollen, wind, rain, and insects.

Full Guide
Aluminum and clear hurricane storm panels installed on a window

Storm Panels

Aluminum from $18 / sq ft  |  Clear from $22 / sq ft

The most affordable certified storm protection available. Corrugated aluminum or clear polycarbonate panels slot into permanently installed tracks. Same wind rating as permanent systems at a fraction of the cost. The right choice for budget-conscious and seasonal homeowners.

Full Guide
Flat polycarbonate hurricane shutters gray shingle coastal home

Flat Polycarbonate

From $28 / sq ft installed (non-rated)

Custom-cut clear Lexan sheets permanently mounted over fixed, non-operable windows. Near-zero maintenance, virtually invisible from the street. The right solution for fixed windows that cannot accommodate any mechanical shutter type.

Full Guide
Side-by-Side Comparison
All Hurricane Shutter Types at a Glance

An honest comparison of every system we install. We carry all seven types — our recommendation is based on what is right for your home.

System Starting Price Deployment Best For Rated
Accordion Shutters Most Popular $34 / sq ft Pull & lock — under 1 min Full-time residents, rental properties, all opening types ✓ Yes
Rolldown Shutters $48/sq ft + $700/opening (electric) Button or crank Second homeowners, large openings, maximum convenience ✓ Yes
Bahama Shutters $50 decorative / $56 rated Release prop arm HOA communities, coastal aesthetic, shade & ventilation ✓ Rated version
Colonial Shutters $50 decorative / $56 rated Swing & latch Historic homes, traditional aesthetic, HOA-restricted communities ✓ Rated version
Hurricane Screens $44/sq ft + $700/opening Button (motorized) Porches, lanais, patio openings 12+ feet wide ✓ Yes
Storm Panels $18 alum / $22 clear Manual pre-storm setup Budget-conscious and seasonal homeowners ✓ Yes
Flat Polycarbonate $28 / sq ft Permanent — no deployment Fixed non-operable windows only Non-rated standard
Which System Is Right for You?
Find the Best Hurricane Shutters for Your Home

The right shutter depends on how you use your home, your budget, and your HOA requirements. Here is an honest guide.

Full-time residentRecommendation
Best: Accordion shutters — permanently installed, deploys in seconds, $34/sq ft
Also good: Manual rolldowns if you prefer a cleaner look when open
Storm panels work but require 1-2 hours of pre-storm setup
Second homeowner / not always presentRecommendation
Best: Electric rolldown shutters — deployable remotely, $48/sq ft + motor
Can be triggered before a storm even if you are not home
Manual systems require you to be present for deployment
HOA-governed communityRecommendation
Best: Bahama or colonial shutters — look like traditional architectural shutters, $50-56/sq ft
We handle all HOA Architectural Modification Requests
Not ideal for large openings like sliding glass doors
Budget-conscious / large homeRecommendation
Best: Aluminum storm panels — from $18/sq ft, same rated protection as permanent systems
Tracks installed permanently; panels stored off-season
Requires 1-2 hours of physical setup before each storm
Large porch or lanai openingRecommendation
Best: Hurricane screens — spans 30+ feet, no center post, $44/sq ft + motor
Also works year-round to block pollen, rain, insects, and wind
Not recommended directly against glass without an air gap
Fixed / non-operable windowsRecommendation
Best: Flat polycarbonate panels — permanent, clear, no maintenance, $28/sq ft
Virtually invisible from street; lets full natural light through
Cannot be used on any window that opens
Complete Guide
What Are the Best Hurricane Shutter Options?

The best hurricane shutters for your home depend entirely on how you use the property, your budget, and the types of openings you need to protect. There is no single best system — but there is a best system for you. Understanding the differences is what separates a good installation from one that fails or frustrates you when a storm approaches.

When evaluating the most durable hurricane shutter materials, 6063-T6 extruded aluminum is the industry standard for permanent systems — the same alloy used in aerospace and marine applications. We fasten every track and header into structural framing using 18-8 stainless steel fasteners sized to a site-specific Design Pressure analysis for your address. That analysis is what most installers skip. It is what determines whether your shutters stay on your house during a direct hit — or don’t.

If you are protecting a primary residence where you are typically home before a storm, accordion shutters at $34/sq ft provide the best balance of protection, convenience, and cost. For a vacation home or investment property where you may not be present, electric rolldown shutters at $48/sq ft + $700/opening for the motor give you push-button deployment from anywhere. For historic neighborhoods with strict HOA aesthetics, Bahama and colonial shutters satisfy both the HOA and the building code in a single system. For large porch openings that rigid panels cannot span, hurricane screens are the only practical certified solution. And for homeowners who want the maximum protection at the lowest cost and are willing to deploy panels before each storm, aluminum storm panels at $18/sq ft deliver the same rated protection as any permanent system.

We have been installing hurricane shutters on the Carolina coast since 2007. We are the only OSHA-30 certified hurricane shutter company in coastal NC and SC, and the only company in the region that installs all seven major shutter types. Use our free cost calculator to compare pricing for your home, or call us for a free in-home estimate — we come to you.

Common Questions

Hurricane Shutter FAQ

Real answers from people who install hurricane shutters every week on the Carolina coast. More questions? See our full FAQ page.

There are seven main types: accordion shutters (permanent, track-mounted, fastest manual deployment), rolldown shutters (electric or manual, coils into housing above opening), Bahama shutters (top-hinged, propped open for shade), colonial shutters (side-hinged, swing closed), hurricane screens (motorized fabric, best for large porch openings), storm panels (aluminum or clear polycarbonate, most affordable, requires pre-storm setup), and flat polycarbonate (permanently mounted clear sheets for fixed non-operable windows). We install all seven.
For most full-time coastal residents, accordion shutters are the best balance of protection, convenience, and cost — they deploy in seconds without tools and are permanently installed. For second homeowners who aren’t always present before a storm, electric rolldown shutters allow remote deployment. For HOA communities with appearance requirements, Bahama or colonial shutters satisfy both the HOA and the building code simultaneously. For large porch openings, hurricane screens are the only practical solution.
Prices vary by system. Aluminum storm panels start at $18/sq ft installed. Clear polycarbonate panels start at $22/sq ft. Flat polycarbonate (for fixed windows) starts at $28/sq ft. Accordion shutters start at $34/sq ft. Bahama and colonial decorative shutters start at $50/sq ft, rated versions at $56/sq ft. Manual rolldown shutters start at $48/sq ft. Electric rolldown shutters add $700 per opening for the motor. Hurricane screens start at $44/sq ft + $700 per opening. A typical full-home installation runs $8,000 to $25,000+ depending on the system and number of openings. Use our cost calculator for a personalized estimate.
All the rated systems we install — accordion shutters, rolldowns, rated Bahamas, rated colonials, hurricane screens, and storm panels — meet ASTM E1886/E1996 and TAS 201/202/203 impact and design pressure certification requirements. The protection level is equivalent across all rated systems. The difference is convenience, aesthetics, and deployment method — not the protection level. Decorative Bahama and colonial shutters and non-rated flat polycarbonate panels are not ASTM/TAS certified and do not qualify for insurance wind mitigation credits.
Yes, in most cases. NC and SC insurance companies offer wind mitigation credits for homes with impact-rated, professionally installed shutters covering all openings. We provide the product approval documentation and complete the wind mitigation inspection form your insurer needs. Many of our customers see premium reductions that recover a meaningful portion of the installation cost within a few renewal cycles. Non-rated decorative shutters and non-rated flat polycarbonate do not qualify for wind mitigation credits.
Yes — full envelope protection is the goal. If a single opening fails during a storm, internal pressure can spike dramatically and cause catastrophic roof failure even if the rest of the structure is intact. If budget doesn’t allow for full coverage immediately, we can help you prioritize which openings are most critical to protect first, with a phased plan to complete the rest over time. Partial protection is better than none, but full coverage is what qualifies you for insurance wind mitigation credits.
No. Plywood is a last resort, not hurricane protection. It is heavy, difficult to install correctly under pressure, weakens when wet, and does not satisfy building code requirements in NC and SC Wind-Borne Debris Regions. It also does not qualify for any insurance wind mitigation credit. Properly installed rated hurricane shutters are engineered to specific wind load requirements for your address and tested to ASTM and TAS standards — plywood is not.
The installation day itself is typically 1-3 days for a full home. Because every system is custom-fabricated to your exact opening dimensions, lead time from signed contract to installation day is typically 4-8 weeks for most systems and 8-14 weeks for motorized rolldowns. This is why we always encourage homeowners to schedule before May — shutters ordered in June or July often aren’t installed before hurricane season peaks. Call us now for a same-week estimate visit.

Get a Free In-Home Estimate

We come to you, measure every opening, run a site-specific Design Pressure analysis, and provide a detailed written quote — no obligation, same-week scheduling available throughout coastal NC and SC.

Call Us 24/7+19102561288  ·  +18438681390
Email the Owner[email protected]
Visit Us1200 Castle Hayne Road, Wilmington, NC 28401
HoursMon-Fri 8am-5pm  ·  Emergency line 24/7
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Ready to Protect Your Home?

Free in-home estimate. No obligation. Same-week scheduling throughout coastal NC and SC. Serving the Carolina coast since 2007.

+19102561288
Available 24/7  ·  Free in-home estimates
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Matthew Burns
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