Should I Put Shutters on My House for Hurricanes?

Last Updated: March 2026
Yes. If you live in Florida or any other hurricane-prone region, installing hurricane shutters or an equivalent opening protection system is one of the most effective steps you can take to protect your home, your family, and your finances.   

This is not a matter of opinion. A peer-reviewed study by the University of Alabama’s Center for Risk and Insurance Research found that homes built to fortified construction standards (which include opening protection) had 73% fewer insurance claims, 15% lower claim amounts, and 72% lower total losses than conventionally built homes during Hurricane Sally in 2020. When combining the reductions in claim frequency and severity, protected homeowners paid over 60% less in out-of-pocket deductibles.

The 2024 hurricane season made the case even more urgent. Three major hurricanes struck Florida within three months: Debby in August, Helene in September (140 mph sustained winds, $78.7 billion in total U.S. damages), and Milton in October (120 mph sustained winds, $34.3 billion in damages). Homeowners with permanent opening protection did not need to scramble between storms. Those relying on plywood or no protection at all faced the exhausting and dangerous task of preparing twice in two weeks.

Below you will find answers to additional frequently asked questions from our readers about hurricane shutters.

Do Hurricane Shutters Make Sense for Your Geographic Risk Zone?

Florida is one of the most hurricane-exposed states in the country. According to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), between 70% and 90% of hurricane-related insurance claims include damage to the roof. Window and door failures are the primary mechanism by which wind enters a building and causes that roof to fail.

Here is where hurricane shutters are essential versus recommended:

Location	Shutters Required?	Details
High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ)	Yes (by code)	All exterior glazed openings must have impact-rated Hurricane Shutters or Impact Windows. Design wind speeds of 170-200+ mph.
Wind-borne debris region (coastal FL)	Yes (by code for new construction/renovations)	Areas within ~1 mile of coast where design wind speed is 110+ mph, or anywhere design wind speed is 120+ mph.
Inland FL (outside debris region)	Strongly recommended	Not code-required for existing homes, but may qualify for insurance discounts and significantly reduces storm damage risk.
Pre-2002 homes (statewide)	Strongly recommended	Homes built before the 2002 Florida Building Code lack modern wind resistance standards. Shutters are an effective retrofit option.

Even if your home is not in a code-required zone, the financial math still works in favor of protection. A University of Alabama study commissioned by the Alabama Department of Insurance estimated that insurers would have saved $105.6 million if all homes in Hurricane Sally’s path had been built to fortified roof standards alone. Scaled to the individual homeowner, that translates to thousands of dollars in avoided damage per storm event.

How Do Hurricane Shutters Improve Safety During Storms?

The safety benefit of hurricane shutters comes down to one critical principle: keeping the building envelope intact.

When a window or door is breached during a hurricane, wind enters the structure and internal air pressure rises rapidly. This increased pressure pushes outward on the walls and upward on the roof, often with enough force to cause catastrophic structural failure. According to the IBHS FORTIFIED study results, homes with comprehensive opening protection experienced at least 55% lower loss frequency and up to 74% lower loss frequency than homes without such protection.

Beyond structural protection, shutters provide several safety advantages during a storm:

• Debris containment: Shutters prevent flying objects from breaking through windows and sending broken glass into living areas where your family is sheltering.
• Water intrusion prevention: Intact windows behind shutters keep wind-driven rain out of your home’s interior, preventing the water damage that accounts for a large share of hurricane repair costs.
• Reduced stress and preparation time: Permanent shutter systems (Accordion Shutters, Roll Down Shutters, or Hurricane Screens) can be deployed in minutes. This eliminates the dangerous last-minute scramble that leads to injuries every hurricane season when homeowners climb ladders to install plywood in deteriorating conditions.
• Post-storm security: After a hurricane, shutters keep your home secured against opportunistic break-ins during the chaotic days before power and normal services are restored.

Which Hurricane Protection Option Is the Best Fit for Your Home?

There is no single best option. The right choice depends on your budget, your home’s architecture, how many openings need protection, and how much hands-on effort you want during storm preparation.

Option	Best For	Key Trade-Off
Hurricane Screens	Large openings, lanais, visibility during storms	Not as rigid as metal; requires proper certification
Accordion Shutters	Whole-home coverage, quick deployment	Blocks all light and visibility when closed
Roll Down Shutters	Convenience, security, noise reduction	Motorized models require electrical work
Storm Panels	Budget-conscious homeowners	Requires storage; manual install per storm
Impact Windows	Year-round protection, no deployment	Requires full window replacement
Plywood	Last-resort emergency only	Not code-compliant; no insurance discount; degrades quickly

Many homeowners combine protection types based on their home’s layout. For example, Accordion Shutters on standard windows, Roll Down Hurricane Screens on large sliding glass doors and lanais, and Impact Windows on hard-to-reach upper-story windows. A professional assessment of your home can identify the most effective combination for your specific situation.

Can Hurricane Shutters Increase Home Value?

Yes. In Florida’s real estate market, hurricane protection is not just a safety feature. It is a selling point that directly influences buyer decisions, insurance costs, and appraised value.

Here is why shutters add financial value beyond storm protection:

• Potential insurance premium reduction: Florida law (Fla. Stat. §627.0629) requires insurers to offer actuarially reasonable premium discounts for approved wind mitigation features. Hurricane Shutters on all openings may qualify for the “opening protection” credit on a wind mitigation inspection. The potential discount may range from 5 to 25% of the wind portion of your premium, which could mean hundreds of dollars in potential annual savings.
• Buyer confidence: Buyers actively seek homes that already have hurricane protection installed. A protected home means potentially lower insurance costs, less pre-storm stress, and fewer potential damage claims for the new owner.
• Appraisal impact: Homes with professionally installed, code-compliant hurricane protection consistently sell faster and face fewer buyer objections in coastal Florida markets.
• HOA compatibility: Florida’s House Bill 293 (2024) prohibits HOAs from denying hurricane protection installations that conform to adopted specifications. Homeowners in HOA communities can install shutters, screens, or Impact Windows without fear of rejection, as long as the products meet the association’s color and style guidelines.

What Happens If You Do Not Have Hurricane Shutters?

The consequences of leaving your home unprotected extend beyond physical damage:

• Higher insurance costs: Homes without approved opening protection miss out on potential wind mitigation credits. In Florida’s current insurance market, this may mean hundreds to thousands of dollars in additional premiums every year.
• Claim denial risk: After the 2024 hurricanes, 53% of residential insurance claims were denied after Hurricane Helene and 39% were denied after Milton in Florida. Shutters do not guarantee a claim will be approved. However, having code-compliant protection strengthens your position and reduces the likelihood of preventable damage that an insurer might attribute to negligence.
• Structural vulnerability: A single broken window can lead to roof failure. IBHS research consistently shows that maintaining the building envelope is the most critical factor in a home’s survival during a hurricane. Without opening protection, every window and glass door is a potential point of catastrophic failure.
• Resale complications: Selling an unprotected home in coastal Florida is increasingly difficult. Buyers face insurance challenges on homes without wind mitigation features, and lenders may require protection as a condition of financing.

Learn More about Storm Smart Hurricane Protection

Storm Smart offers a full range of hurricane protection products, including Storm Catcher® Hurricane Screens (Roll Down Hurricane Screens, Easy Hurricane Screen, Slide Hurricane Screens, and Strap and Buckle Hurricane Screens), Accordion Shutters, Roll Down Shutters, Storm Panels, and Smart View Impact Windows and Doors. With over 28 million feet of Storm Catcher® fabric installed since 1996, Storm Smart manufactures products in-house at their Florida facility and handles all permits, installation, and inspection with their trained, in-house team.

Contact Storm Smart for a free in-home assessment to determine which combination of products provides the best protection for your specific home.

Related Questions About Hurricane Shutters

• Are Hurricane Shutters Worth the Cost? – ROI analysis including insurance savings and damage prevention.
• At What Wind Speed Do You Need Hurricane Shutters? – Saffir-Simpson scale and building code thresholds.
• Do Hurricane Shutters Lower Insurance? – Wind mitigation credits and how to maximize your potential discount.
• Who Can Put Up My Hurricane Shutters? – Licensing, permits, and installation requirements in Florida.
• Should I Board My Windows Up for a Hurricane? – Why plywood falls short and what works better.