Why Orlando Homes Need Hurricane Shutters
Orlando sits about 60 miles from the coast, but hurricanes do not stop at the beach. Charley in 2004, Irma in 2017, Ian in 2022, and Milton in 2024 all brought damaging winds deep into Central Florida. When wind finds an unprotected window, it breaks the glass. Once a window breaks, wind pressure builds up inside the house and pushes up on the roof. That is how roofs come off.
Hurricane shutters stop this chain of events. They cover every glass opening on your home with a tested barrier that stands up to flying debris and extreme wind. The Florida Building Code requires opening protection on homes in wind-borne debris regions, and the Orlando area falls under those rules. Every product we install is tested and approved to meet the code, including products that carry Miami-Dade NOA approval — the strictest product testing standard in Florida.
How Professional Installation Works
It starts with a visit to your home. We measure every opening — windows, sliding glass doors, entry doors with glass, and lanai openings. No two homes are the same, so no two shutter plans are the same. We note the wall material around each opening, check clearances, and look at how you want the shutters to operate day to day.
Next, we match products to your home. An accordion shutter is great for a wide sliding door. A roll-down shutter may be the better pick for a second-story bedroom window you want to close with a button. We walk you through the options in our types of hurricane shutters compared guide so you can decide with clear eyes.
Then we pull the permit. The City of Orlando and Orange County require permits for shutter installation, and the product approvals must be on file. We handle the paperwork and schedule the final inspection. Our Orlando shutter permit guide explains what the process looks like.
On install day, we mount tracks, housings, or hinges with anchors set into the structural wall — concrete block or framing, not just the stucco. Fasteners are corrosion-resistant, because even inland Florida air is humid. We test every shutter open and closed before we leave, and we show you how to operate each one.
Every Opening Gets Protected
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and a house is the same. Protecting nine windows while leaving the tenth bare leaves your home at risk. A full installation covers every glass opening: all windows, sliding glass doors, French doors, entry doors with glass panels, and lanai or patio openings.
Garage doors need a word of their own. Shutters are not typically installed on garage doors. Instead, garage doors must be wind-rated to the code on their own. If your garage door is old, talk to us during your quote visit — we will tell you honestly whether it meets today's standards or needs an upgrade.
Shutter Styles We Install
We install every major style of hurricane protection, so the recommendation fits your home and your budget — not our inventory:
Permanent shutters
Accordion shutters fold to the sides on permanent tracks and lock in the middle. They are the fastest manual option for large openings. Roll-down shutters roll up into a housing above the window and can be motorized for push-button control. Bahama shutters hinge at the top and prop open for shade, closing to protect. Colonial shutters hinge at the sides and fold open like classic shutters.
Removable and flexible options
Storm panels are corrugated steel or aluminum panels that bolt onto tracks before a storm and store away after. Fabric hurricane screens are high-strength mesh anchored with straps — light, easy to store, and tested to the same impact standards as hard shutters.
Permits and the Florida Building Code
Florida takes storm protection seriously, and the code shows it. Opening protection products must pass large-missile impact tests (a 9-pound 2x4 fired at the shutter) and wind-pressure cycling. Miami-Dade NOA approval means a product passed the toughest version of these tests, and it is recognized everywhere in Florida. Learn more in our Florida Building Code shutter guide.
Your installation is only as good as its paperwork. Permitted work with approved products protects you twice: your home meets the code, and your wind-mitigation inspection can document the protection — which may help you qualify for insurance discounts. Read our guide on whether shutters lower insurance for the details.
How Long Does Installation Take
Most full-home installations are completed in one to three days once materials arrive. The bigger variable is lead time: measuring, ordering custom-sized products, and permitting take weeks, and every installer in Florida gets slammed when a storm enters the Gulf. Our guide on how long shutter installation takes breaks down the timeline.
Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. The smart move is to start in the spring — or right now, whenever "now" is. Shutters installed in April protect you all season. Shutters ordered in August may not arrive before the peak of the season.
What Affects the Cost
We never quote prices sight unseen, because honest pricing depends on your home. What moves the number: how many openings you have, their sizes, the shutter style you choose, whether you add motors, and second-story access. Our Orlando shutter cost guide explains each factor so you know what to expect before you request a quote.
What to Expect on Installation Day
Installation day is straightforward. Our crew arrives with your custom-built shutters, protects your landscaping and walkways, and works opening by opening — mount the hardware, hang or fit the shutter, test it, move on. Most homes are done in one to three days. You do not need to take time off work; we just need access to the exterior walls and, for motorized systems, the electrical panel and interior switch locations.
Expect some noise — drilling into concrete block is loud — and keep pets indoors while the crew works around the house. When we finish, we walk the whole house with you, demonstrate every shutter, hand over keys, cranks, remotes, and documentation, and leave the work area clean. The final inspection is scheduled with the city or county, and we handle it.
Get Your Free Shutter Quote
Tell us about your home — how many windows and doors need coverage, what style you prefer, and the best way to reach you. We will respond with next steps and a clear path to your written quote. Request your free quote through our contact form and get your home protected before the next storm.