What’s Included in a Professional Hurricane Shutter Installation Cost?

When you’re considering a significant home improvement project like installing hurricane shutters, the final price is obviously a major factor. It’s easy to look at a quote and see a single number, but to truly understand the value, it’s important to know what that number represents. The cost to install shutters from a reputable, professional company is far more than just the price of the materials.

At American Hurricane Shutters, we believe in being completely transparent about our pricing. Your quote isn’t just an arbitrary number; it’s a comprehensive investment in a complete, professionally managed safety system. This guide will break down the key components that make up the total installation cost, showing you where every dollar goes and why choosing a professional is the wisest investment you can make.

Component 1: The Product – Custom-Fabricated, Rated Protection

The largest portion of the cost is, of course, the shutters themselves. But these aren’t off-the-shelf items from a big-box store. Every shutter system we install is custom-fabricated to the precise measurements of your home’s unique windows and doors.

• Premium Materials: We only use the best products from industry-leading manufacturers like **ASSA/Bertha HV**, **Alutech United**, and **Town & Country**. These are made from high-grade, virgin aluminum and impact-resistant polycarbonate, not recycled or inferior materials.
• Custom Sizing: Whether you have an arched window or a massive sliding glass door, your shutters are built to fit perfectly, ensuring there are no gaps or weak points.
• Engineering & Testing: The cost of the product includes the millions of dollars the manufacturers have invested in research, development, and the rigorous laboratory testing required to certify that these shutters will perform under extreme conditions.

Component 2: The Labor – The Value of In-House Expertise

A perfect product can be rendered useless by a poor installation. A significant part of the installation cost covers the labor of our skilled technicians. This is a crucial distinction.

• Trained, In-House Crews: We do not use subcontractors. Our technicians are our employees. They are factory-trained, highly experienced, and accountable to our high standards of quality and professionalism.
• Fair Wages & Benefits: We believe in taking care of our team, which allows us to retain the best talent in the industry. The labor cost reflects a fair wage for a highly skilled trade.
• Precision and Care: Our crews take the time to do the job right. That means precise measurements, perfect alignment of tracks, and a meticulous cleanup after the job is done. You can see the results in our past projects.

Component 3: The Hardware – The Unseen Strength

The cost includes all the necessary fasteners and hardware to securely attach the shutters to your home. This is not an area where corners can be cut. We use only code-approved, high-quality fasteners specified by the shutter engineers, ensuring the system is anchored to the structural components of your home for maximum strength.

Component 4: The Overhead – The Cost of Being a Professional, Reliable Business

A portion of the price covers the essential costs of running a legitimate, professional, and stable business that will be here to serve you for years to come. This is what separates a professional contractor from a “guy with a truck.”

• Comprehensive Insurance: We carry full General Liability, Workers’ Compensation, Commercial Auto, and a **$2,000,000 umbrella policy**. This protects you, the homeowner, from any liability in the unlikely event of an accident on your property.
• Licensing and Compliance: We maintain all necessary state and local licenses and are proud members of the Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association (HBA), holding us to a higher ethical standard.
• Permitting Services: We manage the entire permitting process with your local building department, including paying all fees and coordinating the final inspection to ensure your project is fully code-compliant. Furthermore, even when a permit is unnecessary, we always include a free design pressure analysis. This report is custom to your home and ensures that the shutters are correctly fastened and designed for the unique winds at your location. A beachfront home in Myrtle Beach has different storm shutter requirements than one inland in say, Leland, or even a coastal home up in Emerald Isle.

Component 5: The Warranty – Your Long-Term Peace of Mind

Finally, your investment is backed by a robust warranty. This includes both the manufacturer’s warranty on the product itself and our own workmanship guarantee. A professional installation is required to keep the manufacturer’s warranty valid, and our commitment to service means we’ll be there to help if any issues arise down the road.