Our Top Brands: Why We Trust Bertha, Alutech & ClearTek for Myrtle Beach

When you start shopping for hurricane shutters on the Grand Strand, you’re hit with a confusing flood of names, brands, and claims. How do you know which products are genuinely high-quality and which are just “builder-grade” systems that will fail when you need them most? A hurricane shutter is a life-safety device, and the brand *matters*.

At American Hurricane Shutters, we’re not just installers; we are expert product curators. As a local, family-owned company serving the Myrtle Beach area since 2007, our reputation is our single most important asset. We can’t afford to install inferior products that will fail. We’ve spent over 15 years testing, installing, and servicing virtually every system on the market. We’ve seen what works in our high-salt, high-sand, high-wind environment, and we’ve seen what doesn’t.

This is an authority-building piece. We are pulling back the curtain to show you *why* we’ve chosen to partner with elite brands like ASSA (Bertha HV), Alutech United, and ClearTek. We’ve tied our reputation to these names because their product strengths perfectly match the specific needs of homeowners on the South Carolina coast, from a condo in Myrtle Beach to a new home in Conway.

Our Vetting Process: What Makes a “Good” Brand?

We don’t choose our partners based on the lowest price. We choose them based on performance, reliability, and long-term value for our customers. When we evaluate a product line, it must meet our “Grand Strand” test:

1. Certified Impact Rating: This is non-negotiable. Every rated product we carry is certified to meet or exceed the toughest large-missile impact tests, often from the Florida Building Code. This means it’s tested to stop flying debris, which FEMA identifies as the primary cause of home breaches.
2. Durability in Salt Air: The salty, humid air in Myrtle Beach will destroy cheap metal and plastic parts. We *only* use systems with high-grade, powder-coated aluminum, stainless steel fasteners, and non-corroding composite parts.
3. Quality of Mechanicals: We look at the “guts.” Are the wheels on an accordion shutter cheap plastic that will crack, or durable, self-lubricating nylon? Are the motors on a rolldown quiet, sealed, and German-engineered?
4. Manufacturer Reliability: Is this a company that will be around in 10 years to honor a warranty? We partner with established, industry-leading manufacturers, not fly-by-night operations.

This vetting process has led us to our “Big 3” partners. Here’s why we trust them with your home.

The Workhorse: ASSA (Bertha HV) for Accordions & Panels

When you need raw, uncompromising strength and the best all-around value, we turn to ASSA and their legendary **Bertha HV** line. The “HV” stands for “High Velocity,” and these products are engineered to be the tanks of the industry.

H3: Focus: `Bertha HV Accordion Shutters Myrtle Beach`

The Bertha HV Accordion Shutter is our #1 recommendation for condos, sliding glass doors, and any homeowner who wants the best “bang-for-your-buck” permanent solution. Why? Because it solves the biggest problems of our coastal environment.

• The Track & Wheels: The salty, sandy air of Myrtle Beach will jam an inferior accordion track. The Bertha HV system uses a superior, deep-channel track and high-performance, self-lubricating nylon wheels. This means a smoother glide, less chance of “jumping the track,” and far less maintenance.
• The “HV” Strength: The extruded aluminum blades are thicker and designed with a reinforced, curved profile that provides incredible strength against wind and impacts.
• The Locking System: The system features a heavy-duty, keyed, multi-point locking mechanism, making it a formidable security barrier as well as a storm shutter.

When a condo owner in North Myrtle Beach needs **Bertha HV accordion shutters**, they are getting a system we have 100% confidence in. It’s how we can offer this premium system for the incredible value of $34 per square foot.

H3: Bertha HV Storm Panels

We also use Bertha HV for our storm panels. Their engineering makes the corrugated panels stronger, yet lighter, than generic panels. This makes them easier and safer for you to deploy before a storm.

The Premium Solution: Alutech United for Rolldowns & Screens

When a Myrtle Beach homeowner wants the ultimate in convenience, luxury, and “invisible” protection, we turn to **Alutech United**. Alutech represents the high-end, premium side of the market, with European engineering and a focus on sleek, modern design.

H3: The Best-in-Class Roll Down Shutter

Alutech is a leader in the rolldown shutter market. This is the “push-button” solution that rolls up into a small, discreet housing box, making it perfect for second-home owners who value security and aesthetics.

• Sleek & Quiet: Alutech housings are among the most compact in the industry. Their motors are whisper-quiet and known for their reliability.
• Advanced Engineering: The fit and finish are flawless, with insulated slats that provide sound dampening and energy efficiency.
• The Perfect Match: This is the system we trust for high-end homes and for our commercial clients who need unmatched security.

This premium quality is how we can confidently offer our **Manual Rated Rolldowns at $48/sq ft** and our **motorized upgrade for $700 per opening**.

H3: The “Invisible” System: StormTex Screens

Alutech is also the manufacturer of the high-end system we use for our StormTex Rated Hurricane Screens. These retractable screens, made with **OmegaTex** fabric, are the *only* solution for the modern lanais and patios in communities like Carolina Forest. The Alutech housing and track system ensures the “invisible” screen deploys smoothly, quietly, and reliably every time. It’s the high-tech, 3-in-1 (storm, sun, and bug) solution that modern homes demand, starting at **$44 per square foot**.

The “See-Through” Solution: ClearTek & PalcSun Polycarbonate

This brings us to our third key partner, and the one that solves the “bunker” problem. Polycarbonate is the material used in jet canopies and bulletproof glass. It’s incredibly strong and perfectly clear. We partner with top brands like **ClearTek** and **PalcSun** to offer this technology to our customers.

H3: Focus: `Cleartek Panels Conway SC`

For a homeowner in an inland community like Conway, `ClearTek panels` are the perfect, affordable solution. You get the strength of a panel system *without* plunging your home into a dark “cave.”

• ClearTek: The “Rated” Choice: ClearTek is a brand of high-optical-grade polycarbonate that has been **hurricane-rated**. This is the product we use for our **Rated Clear Panels (starting at $22/sq ft)**. It’s the perfect, affordable upgrade from plywood that maintains livability.
• PalcSun: The “Non-Rated” Choice: PalcSun is another high-quality brand of polycarbonate that we use for *non-rated* applications, like our flat-panel systems.

By partnering with these top-tier polycarbonate brands, we can offer our Rated Flat Polycarbonate systems starting at $28/sq ft, giving you a see-through, permanent, and cost-effective option.

The AHS Advantage: Why the Installer is More Important Than the Brand

A top-tier brand is useless if it’s installed incorrectly. A $5,000 Bertha HV accordion shutter, if installed by an uninsured, untrained “handyman,” will fail. Its rating will be void, and your home will not be protected.

When you hire American Hurricane Shutters, you are hiring an expert team that is certified to install these elite systems *to the exact engineering specifications*. This is our “E-E-A-T” (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) promise.

• We Are Trustworthy: We are a local, family-owned (Matthew Burns, Founder) and disabled-owned business. We’ve been here since 2007.
• We Are Experts: Our teams are in-house employees, not subcontractors. They are trained and certified to install Bertha, Alutech, and ClearTek systems.
• We Are Authoritative: We are fully insured with a **$2,000,000 Umbrella Policy** and full Workers’ Comp. This is the professional-grade protection that HOAs in Myrtle Beach *demand* and that you deserve.
• We Are Your Partner: We are a registered contractor for the **SC Safe Home Grant program**. We can help you use this fantastic South Carolina grant to help pay for your new, top-brand shutters.

We’ve done the research for you. We’ve put our 15-year reputation on the line by choosing Bertha, Alutech, and ClearTek. We’ve seen them perform for thousands of our customers on the Grand Strand, and we know they are the right choice for your home.

Myrtle Beach Brand FAQs

Q: Is Bertha HV really the best accordion shutter?

A: In our expert opinion, yes. For the value, strength, and durability in our sandy, salty climate, the Bertha HV system’s superior track and wheel design make it the most reliable “workhorse” accordion on the market.

Q: What’s the difference between a StormTex screen and a ClearTek panel?

A: A StormTex screen (made with OmegaTex) is a flexible, retractable fabric screen. A ClearTek panel is a rigid, clear, removable panel. Both are impact-rated. We recommend screens for large lanais and patios, and panels for standard windows where affordability is the top priority.

Q: Are the Alutech motors reliable in the Myrtle Beach salt air?

A: Yes. The motors are fully sealed within the housing, protected from direct exposure. They are high-torque, German-engineered motors known for their long-term reliability. We also provide a full maintenance guide and service to keep them in perfect shape.

Q: Can I use the SC Safe Home grant for any of these brands?

A: Yes! The grant applies to any *rated* wind-mitigation product. All of our *rated* systems—from Bertha HV, Alutech, ClearTek, and even our Town & Country Bahama shutters—are eligible for the grant.

Get the Best Brands, Installed by the Grand Strand’s Best Team

Don’t gamble on an unknown brand or an uninsured installer. Your home in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, or Conway is your biggest investment. Protect it with brands you can trust, installed by a local, family-owned company with a 15-year reputation for quality.

Call American Hurricane Shutters today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll show you samples of these top-tier products and provide a transparent, all-inclusive quote. See our past projects to see our quality for yourself.