The Ultimate Convenience: A Guide to Remote Control Hurricane Shutters

Preparing your home for a hurricane is a serious task, but it doesn’t have to be a stressful or physically demanding one. The pinnacle of modern storm protection technology is the **electric, remote control hurricane shutter**. This sophisticated system transforms the daunting task of securing your home into a simple, effortless process that takes just minutes to complete.

At American Hurricane Shutters, we specialize in installing these premium, motorized **rolldown shutter systems** from industry leaders **ASSA/Bertha HV** and **Alutech United**. This guide will explore how these systems work, who they are best for, and what to expect from this incredible investment in safety and convenience.

How Do Electric Hurricane Shutters Work?

A motorized rolldown shutter is a marvel of engineering. The system consists of several key components:

• The Housing Box: A discreet aluminum box mounted above the window or door that houses the shutter curtain.
• The Shutter Curtain: A series of interlocking, heavy-duty aluminum slats that form a solid, continuous barrier when deployed. We also have hurricane screens that can be used on porches/lanais/some brick pockets.
• The Side Tracks: Heavy-duty vertical rails that guide the shutter curtain up and down and lock it securely in place.
• The Tubular Motor: This is the heart of the system. A powerful, quiet, and compact motor is housed inside the axle that the shutter curtain rolls onto. It’s completely sealed and protected from the elements.
• The Controls: The system can be operated by a simple wall-mounted switch (like a light switch), a handheld remote control, or even integrated into a smart home system.

When you press the “down” button, the motor engages, smoothly and quietly lowering the shutter curtain until it is fully closed and locked. When the storm has passed, you simply press “up,” and the shutter retracts completely out of sight into its housing box.

The Unbeatable Advantages of Motorization

Choosing an electric shutter system provides a range of benefits that no other form of protection can match.

1. Speed and Ease of Deployment

This is the number one advantage. Securing an entire house full of manual storm panels can take half a day. With remote control shutters, you can secure that same house in under five minutes, all from the comfort of your living room. There is no physical effort required—no lifting, no climbing ladders, no cranking.

2. Perfect for “Hard-to-Reach” Places

Motorized shutters are the only practical solution for protecting windows that are on the second or third story, or those that are located behind thorny bushes or other landscaping obstacles. They make every window on your home equally easy to protect.

3. Ideal for Vacation Homes and Rental Properties

If you own a second home on the Carolina coast, you know the anxiety of watching a storm approach when you’re hundreds of miles away. Motorized shutters can often be integrated with smart home technology, allowing you to deploy them remotely from your smartphone, ensuring your property is protected even when you’re not there.

4. Enhanced Security and Privacy

These systems are not just for storms. They are an incredibly effective security feature. When you go on vacation, you can close your shutters to create a strong, visible deterrent to intruders. They also provide complete blackout privacy and can help reduce heat gain from the sun.

Understanding the Cost of Convenience

As a premium, automated system, electric roll-down shutters represent the top tier of the market. The investment reflects their advanced technology, robust construction, and professional installation requirements.

• Base Cost: The foundation of the price is the manual roll-down shutter itself, which costs approximately **$48 per square foot**. Screens are **$44 per square foot**.
• Motorization Cost: To electrify the system, the cost is an additional **$700 per opening**. This covers the high-quality tubular motor, the electrical components, the remote or switch, and the specialized labor to wire and install the system.
• Upkeep Cost: Many more things can go wrong with these shutters, so frequent use and biyearly (or more) maintenance is required. Additionally, a technician is often necessary to fix malfunctions, so if you have an issue right before a storm, there is no guarantee it will be repaired. And whenever you need a repair, it will usually be more costly.

While this is a significant investment, most homeowners see it as a worthwhile price for the unparalleled peace of mind, ease of use, and added security and value it brings to their property. You can explore the possibilities with our online cost estimator.