Types of Miami Hurricane Shutters

Since your house is probably your single biggest investment, if you live in places where hurricanes are at all common you should do your best to protect it. One common way is with hurricane shutters. Hurricane shutters will protect your windows as well as keep out wind and rain due to broken windows. Miami is one area where every house should have window protections of some kind. Here are some of the most common Miami hurricane shutters.

Accordian Hurricane Shutters

Accordian shutters are permanently attached and normally stored beside the window when not in use. These shutters pull across the window and unfold like an accordian when deployed. They are easy to pull out and set by a single person and some can be locked to prevent theft while you are away from the house. Unfortunately, they don’t fit in with the style of the house and can be ugly.

Colonial Hurricane Shutters

These shutters attach to the wall beside the window and then come together over the window when deployed. They are permanently attached and unlike the accoridan style, can enhance the look of the house. They can’t, however, protect doors so you must use some other type of shutter system for doors. Also, some require a bar down the center to keep them closed.

Bahama Hurricane Shutters

These are one piece shutters that are permanently attached to the house above the window and prop open to shade the window. They can be nice looking and the shade they provide can also be beneficial. They are easy to drop down by one person. Some types aren’t as strong as other systems so be sure to check. Also, like colonial style, they can’t be used to protect doors.

Roll-Down Hurricane Shutters

This type of hurricane shutter attaches above the window. The shutter rolls up into a housing when not in use. They can be lowered either with a hand crank or by an electric motor. Electric roll-down shutters are easy for one person to lower, but you should have a battery back-up system to make sure that you can roll them up and down if the electricity goes out. Roll-down shutters are more expensive than other types of hurricane shutters.

Storm Panels

These are metal shutters that attach to the walls over windows. This type of hurricane shutters are removed completely when not in use so they don’t detract from the look of the home. Because of this, however, it can be difficult for a single person to deploy in the event of a hurricane. They are quite strong and can protect both windows and doors. You’ll need somewhere to store the panels when not in use and you should periodically inspect the panels to make sure that they are all present and in good shape.

No matter which type you choose, be sure to get a reputable and professional installer to make sure that your home is properly protected. Your installer can discuss the different types of shutters and help you select the best type for your specific house.