FAQ
Trusted storm protection across the USVI, BVI, Puerto Rico and the Leeward Islands.
Common questions
Hurricane shutter questions, answered
Real answers from people who install storm shutters every week in the islands. No sales language, no guessing.
What are hurricane shutters and how do they work?
Hurricane shutters are impact-rated systems — panels, folding tracks or rolldown slats — that cover windows, doors and other openings before a storm. When deployed they stop wind-driven debris from breaching the building envelope. If a single opening fails during a storm, internal pressure spikes and the roof is next. Shutters are what prevents that.
Which hurricane shutters are best for a Caribbean home?
It depends on the building and how you use it. For full-time residents accordion shutters are the best balance of protection, ease of use and cost. For owners who are off-island when a storm forms, motorized rolldowns are the gold standard. Where an association controls appearance, Bahama or colonial systems usually satisfy both the board and the code.
How much do hurricane shutters cost?
Aluminum storm panels start at $18 per square foot installed and clear panels at $26. Accordion shutters run from $38, Bahama from $44, colonial from $46 and rolldowns from $52 per square foot, with electric motors adding about $700 per opening. A full home usually lands between $8,000 and $25,000 depending on the system and opening count.
Do you handle permits and association approvals?
Yes. Permits, product approval documentation, architectural modification requests and insurance wind-mitigation forms are all part of the job. Most clients never speak to a building department or board directly.
Will hurricane shutters lower my insurance premium?
In most cases. Carriers writing in the islands offer wind-mitigation credits for impact-rated, professionally installed shutters. We provide the Design Pressure analysis and product approvals your insurer needs.
How long does installation take?
Fabrication runs three to five weeks after final measurement. Installation is typically one to three days for a house, and we schedule larger commercial and resort projects in phases.
What is Design Pressure analysis and why does it matter?
It is a site-specific calculation of the maximum wind load your openings will see, based on exposure, height, opening size and building geometry. It determines the system rating and the exact fastener pattern. Without it, a shutter is rated generically and the anchors are a guess.
Do you service shutters you did not install?
Yes. We repair, re-track, re-tension and replace hardware on most major systems, and we carry track and extrusion inventory on-island so repairs are not a six-week wait.
Still have a question?
Call (340) 555-0142 or send us the details and we will answer honestly.
Trusted across the islands
“They surveyed the villa on a Tuesday and had every opening covered before the next system formed. Clean tracks, straight lines, no drama.”
“We put motorized rolldowns on the whole rental. One switch closes the property when we are off-island — worth every dollar.”
“Third company we called and the only one who explained design pressure. Our insurer applied the wind mitigation credit right away.”
“Had an issue with the finish a year later and they replaced the shutter without an argument. That is rare anywhere, let alone down here.”
“They walked our condo board through the whole approval packet. The association signed off on the first submission.”
“Kevlar screens across the full veranda five years ago. Two hurricanes later they still run smooth and the porch is intact.”
Common questions
Hurricane shutters are impact-rated systems — panels, folding tracks or rolldown slats — that cover windows, doors and other openings before a storm. When deployed they stop wind-driven debris from breaching the building envelope. If a single opening fails during a storm, internal pressure spikes and the roof is next. Shutters are what prevents that.
It depends on the building and how you use it. For full-time residents accordion shutters are the best balance of protection, ease of use and cost. For owners who are off-island when a storm forms, motorized rolldowns are the gold standard. Where an association controls appearance, Bahama or colonial systems usually satisfy both the board and the code.
Aluminum storm panels start at $18 per square foot installed and clear panels at $26. Accordion shutters run from $38, Bahama from $44, colonial from $46 and rolldowns from $52 per square foot, with electric motors adding about $700 per opening. A full home usually lands between $8,000 and $25,000 depending on the system and opening count.
Yes. Permits, product approval documentation, architectural modification requests and insurance wind-mitigation forms are all part of the job. Most clients never speak to a building department or board directly.
In most cases. Carriers writing in the islands offer wind-mitigation credits for impact-rated, professionally installed shutters. We provide the Design Pressure analysis and product approvals your insurer needs.
Fabrication runs three to five weeks after final measurement. Installation is typically one to three days for a house, and we schedule larger commercial and resort projects in phases.
It is a site-specific calculation of the maximum wind load your openings will see, based on exposure, height, opening size and building geometry. It determines the system rating and the exact fastener pattern. Without it, a shutter is rated generically and the anchors are a guess.
Yes. We repair, re-track, re-tension and replace hardware on most major systems, and we carry track and extrusion inventory on-island so repairs are not a six-week wait.
Ready to protect your home?
Get a written, itemized estimate before the next storm season starts.
Get a Free Estimate Call (340) 555-0142Where we work
U.S. Virgin Islands
Our home base. Crews, fabrication and hardware inventory are staged in Charlotte Amalie, so USVI estimates are usually scheduled the same week.
- St. Thomas — Hillside exposure and steep driveways — we survey access before scheduling lifts.
- St. John — Barge scheduling included in every quote; no surprise freight line items.
- St. Croix — Masonry-heavy construction; we anchor into block with sleeve fasteners rated to your DP.
- Water Island — Small-boat access projects handled with pre-fabricated, pre-labeled assemblies.
British Virgin Islands
Weekly crew rotations to Tortola and Virgin Gorda, with customs paperwork prepared before the material leaves the shop.
- Tortola — Villa and marina-front projects with full permit handling.
- Virgin Gorda — Remote-site installs planned around ferry and barge windows.
- Jost Van Dyke — Small commercial and guesthouse packages.
- Anegada — Low-lying exposure — screens and rated panels on the windward side.
Puerto Rico
Island-wide coverage from San Juan to Rincón, including condo boards and multi-building HOA portfolios.
- San Juan — High-rise condo work with association documentation included.
- Fajardo — Marina and east-coast exposure; motorized rolldowns most requested.
- Rincón — West-coast surf-belt homes with heavy salt cycling.
- Culebra — Ferry-scheduled installs with pre-cut, pre-labeled material.
- Vieques — Off-grid and solar properties with battery-backed motor systems.
Leeward Islands
Resort, villa and multi-building projects across the northern Leewards, scheduled as travel packages.
- St. Maarten — Dual-jurisdiction permitting handled on both sides of the island.
- Anguilla — Resort and villa portfolios with phased installation.
- St. Kitts — Hillside villas and commercial storefront security shutters.
- Antigua — Yacht-club and marina commercial packages.
Shutter systems we install
Accordion Shutters
Permanently mounted, they fold to each side of the opening and lock in seconds. No panels…
Rolldown Shutters
Housed above the opening and deployed by crank or motor. The fastest system to close and…
Bahama Shutters
Classic island look with year-round shade and privacy. Top-hinged blades prop open and drop closed when…
Colonial Shutters
Side-hinged pairs that dress the facade and close over the opening. Popular where HOAs require an…
Storm Panels
Removable corrugated aluminum or steel panels on permanent tracks. The most affordable certified protection per opening.
Clear Polycarbonate
Impact-rated translucent panels that keep daylight in the room while the openings stay covered through the…
Hurricane Screens
Engineered fabric screens for wide porches, verandas and lanais where rigid systems will not span the…
Motorized Systems
Motor-driven rolldowns with battery backup and remote or app control. Close the whole house from one…
Guides for island homeowners
How to maintain your hurricane shutters
System-by-system hurricane shutter maintenance: cleaning, silicone lubricant, anti-seize on hardware and the annual schedule that keeps island shutters working for…
Hurricane shutter codes, permits and approvals in the Caribbean
Permits, building codes, Design Pressure analysis, HOA and condo approvals and insurance wind-mitigation credits for hurricane shutters across the USVI,…
A guide to remote control hurricane shutters
How motorized hurricane shutters work, smart-home integration, battery and manual override in a power failure, and why remote shutters suit…
Certified hurricane shutter installers: what credentials actually matter
OSHA-30 safety certification, licensing, insurance, product approvals and installer training — how to verify a hurricane shutter contractor before you…
Licensed, insured, and on the island year-round
- Licensed general contractor USVI & PR
- OSHA-30 certified install crews
- 7-year workmanship warranty
- $2M liability insurance