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Hurricane shutters: accordion, panels, roll-down or impact glass
By the Roofing of Miami team · Updated October 2026
The National Weather Service says permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. If you don't have them, the fallback is 5/8-inch exterior-grade or marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. Accordion shutters stay on the house and close by hand, which is why many Florida owners choose them. In Miami-Dade, any shutter must carry a product approval for the High Velocity Hurricane Zone.
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The main options
- Accordion shutters: fixed beside each window, pulled closed and locked. No storage, no ladder work at the last minute for most windows.
- Roll-down shutters: fixed above the window, lowered by crank or motor. Fast to close.
- Storm panels: metal or clear panels that bolt onto tracks. Lower cost, but stored and installed before each storm.
- Impact windows: the glass itself is the protection, so there is nothing to close.
- Plywood: the NWS and FEMA name 5/8-inch exterior-grade plywood as the do-it-yourself option. Cut and mark it in advance.
How to pick
Ask three things. Who closes them, and how long does it take? Where do they live between storms? Do they carry a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance or Florida Product Approval for your zone? Installers need a license and a permit for permanent shutters; check the license at myfloridalicense.com.
Before you rely on this
This guide is general information, not legal, insurance or engineering advice. In a storm, follow your county emergency managers and the National Hurricane Center. If you are told to evacuate, go.
Common questions
Shutter questions
What is the best hurricane protection for windows?
The National Weather Service says permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows.
What thickness plywood for hurricane windows?
5/8-inch exterior-grade or marine plywood, per the National Weather Service and FEMA, cut to fit and ready to install.
Do I need a permit for hurricane shutters in Miami-Dade?
Permanent shutters are installed under a permit, using products approved for the High Velocity Hurricane Zone. Ask the installer for the approval number.
Hurricane Prep
More of the hurricane-prep guide
Roof Check
What to look at before June, and the Florida roof-age insurance rule.
Generator
Size it to what you need, and set it up so it can't hurt anyone.
Insurance Claim
Florida claim deadlines, flood claims, and what to do first.
Contractor Scams
The after-storm pitches that are illegal in Florida, and how to check a license.
Sources
- National Weather Service: hurricane safety actions
- FEMA: Avoiding Hurricane Damage (fact sheet)
- Ready.gov: hurricanes
- Florida DBPR: hurricane guide and license check
Checked October 6, 2026. Official guidance changes; the linked source always wins over this page.