What Storm Panels Are
Storm panels are corrugated sheets of steel or aluminum, cut to fit each window and door on your home. Before a storm, you mount them over the openings using permanent tracks or anchors installed on your walls. After the storm, you take them down and stack them in storage. They are the most affordable hurricane protection per opening — the trade-off is that you do the work each time a storm threatens.
Panels overlap each other across the opening and fasten with wing nuts or bolts to the track system. Once up, they form a continuous metal barrier tested to Florida Building Code standards. See how they compare to permanent options in our guide on storm panels vs. permanent shutters.
How the Mounting System Works
The panels are only half the system — the permanent hardware on your house is the other half. We install that hardware once, and it stays ready year-round:
Track systems
Aluminum tracks mount permanently above and below (or on the sides of) each opening. The panels slide into the tracks and are secured with wing-nut fasteners. Tracks are the fastest panel system to deploy and the easiest on your walls over time.
Direct-mount anchors
For some openings, panels bolt directly to anchors set into the wall around the opening. This costs less in hardware but takes longer to install each storm, and repeated bolting wears on the anchor points.
Either way, every anchor is set into structural material — concrete block or framing — with corrosion-resistant fasteners. The hardware is low-profile when panels are not mounted, though tracks remain visible.
Steel vs. Aluminum Panels
Steel panels are the strongest and the least expensive per panel, but they are heavy — a full-length steel panel can be awkward for one person to handle, especially on a ladder. They must be kept painted or coated to prevent rust.
Aluminum panels cost more but weigh far less, will not rust, and are much easier for a homeowner to put up and take down. For second-story windows or for anyone who will be installing panels solo, aluminum is usually worth it.
Both meet the Florida Building Code when they carry proper product approvals — many panel systems hold Miami-Dade NOA approval. Strength is not the question; handling and maintenance are.
The Honest Trade-Off: Effort
Here is what panel ownership really looks like. When a storm enters the forecast, you (or someone you hire) carry every panel to its opening, lift it into the tracks, and tighten the fasteners. A whole house takes several hours for an experienced pair of hands — longer if you are learning, working around landscaping, or covering second-story windows from a ladder.
Then you store them: stacked flat in a garage, shed, or under a cover, labeled by opening so next time goes faster. Panels last for many years when stored dry and kept coated.
Ask yourself honestly: when a storm is three days out, it is 95 degrees, and the forecast track keeps shifting — will you put them up? Many homeowners start with panels for the price, then upgrade high-traffic openings (sliders, master bedroom) to permanent shutters later. That is a perfectly sensible plan, and we can phase it.
What Panels Cost (Relatively)
We do not quote prices without seeing your home, but relatively speaking: panels are the lowest material cost of any code-approved protection, while permanent shutters cost more upfront and zero effort per storm. Our Orlando cost guide walks through what drives the numbers for each style, and our panels vs. permanent guide helps you weigh price against effort.
Permits, Code, and Insurance
Panel systems need permits and Florida product approvals just like permanent shutters. The City of Orlando and Orange County require permits for the installation of the track/anchor hardware — our permit guide covers the process. Approved panels count as opening protection under the Florida Building Code and can be documented on a wind-mitigation inspection, which may help with insurance discounts (details in our insurance guide).
Labeling and Storing: The System That Saves You Hours
The difference between a miserable panel deployment and a smooth one is organization. When we install your panel system, we label every panel with its opening — "MBR-1," "MBR-2," "LIVING-EAST" — and provide a simple map showing which label goes where. Next storm, there is no trial and error, no holding panels up to windows to see which fits.
Store panels flat, stacked in order, in a dry place. Steel panels should not sit directly on bare concrete for months — moisture wicks up and starts rust on the bottom panel. A couple of wood strips underneath solves it. Keep all wing nuts, bolts, and the wrench in one labeled container, stored with the panels — not in a junk drawer somewhere.
Before each season, do a dry run: put up two or three panels to confirm you remember the process and that all hardware is present. Finding out you are missing wing nuts during a hurricane warning is a preventable crisis. A 20-minute practice session in May is the cheapest preparedness you will ever do.
If You Cannot Deploy Panels Yourself
Arrange help before hurricane season, not during it — whether because of age, mobility, travel, or second-story openings. Some homeowners keep a handyman on call for storm season; others coordinate with neighbors. What does not work is assuming you will figure it out when the warning comes. Decide your deployment plan in May, write down who does what, and keep our contact information with the plan in case you need professional help. One more tip: photograph your labeled panel map and hardware storage spot with your phone. If the paper map goes missing, the photos are your backup — and you can text them to whoever is helping you deploy.
Get Your Free Storm Panel Quote
Tell us how many openings you need covered and whether you prefer steel or aluminum. We will measure, install the permanent hardware, cut and label every panel, and handle permits and inspection. Request your free quote through our contact form today.