Why the installer matters as much as the shutter
A top-rated shutter installed badly is worse than a mid-range shutter installed perfectly. The anchors, the tracks, the flashing, the permit, the inspection — all of that is the installer's work, and all of it is what holds your shutters to the house in a 130-mph wind. Here is how to pick someone you can trust.
Get three written quotes
Always get at least two or three written quotes. Not phone guesses — written quotes you can compare side by side. Each one should list:
- The exact product: brand, model, and Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade NOA number
- Price per opening or a clear whole-house total
- What is included: motors, remotes, battery backup, color upgrades
- Permit fees — and confirmation that the installer pulls the permit
- Install timeline and how long the quote is good for
- Warranty terms on both product and labor, in writing
If one quote is dramatically cheaper than the others, ask why. Sometimes it is efficiency; sometimes it is thinner material, no permit, or missing items the others include. A useful trick: ask the cheapest bidder to explain, line by line, what the most expensive bidder includes that they do not. The answer tells you whether you found a bargain or a gap. Our cost guide gives you ballpark ranges to sanity-check quotes against.
Questions to ask every installer
"What is the product approval number?" Then look it up on the Florida Building Commission site. This one question filters out most bad actors. Our code guide shows you how.
"Do you pull the permit and handle the inspection?" The answer must be yes. See our permits guide for why this is non-negotiable.
"How do you anchor to my wall type?" Block, stucco over frame, and siding each need different anchors. A pro knows immediately; a hand-waver does not.
"What is the current lead time?" Get the manufacturing and install schedule in writing, especially in spring.
"What does the warranty cover, and for how long?" Product warranties and labor warranties are different things. Get both in writing.
"Can you show me a recent local install?" Photos of nearby work — or better, a finished job you can drive past — tell you more than any brochure.
Check their reputation
- Reviews: read recent reviews on Google and the BBB, and read the bad ones closely — look for patterns (missed dates, permit problems, ghosting after payment).
- References: ask for two or three recent customers nearby. A good installer hands them over happily.
- Time in business locally: storm-chaser companies appear after every hurricane and vanish after. A local track record matters.
- Payment terms: a reasonable deposit is normal; paying most or all upfront is not. Tie final payment to completed install and passed inspection.
Red flags — walk away
- Cannot or will not provide a product approval number
- Suggests skipping the permit "to save you money"
- Demands full payment before work starts
- Quote is vague — no brand, no model, no line items
- High-pressure tactics: "this price expires today" or "we have leftover material from your neighbor's job"
- No physical local presence — just a cell number and a truck
- Shows up unsolicited right after a storm with a too-good deal
After the install: what you should receive
A finished job is not done until you have: the signed-off permit card, product approval documents, warranty paperwork, and a walkthrough where they show you how to operate and maintain every shutter. Do the walkthrough yourself — open and close each shutter with the installer watching — so you know it all works before the crew leaves. File it all with your wind mitigation paperwork — your insurance agent will thank you. Our maintenance guide covers the ongoing care.
We welcome the checklist
Ask us every question on this page. We will give you product approval numbers you can verify, pull every permit, and put the warranty in writing. Send the free quote form below and put us to the test.