Hurricane shutters only protect your home if they're up before the wind arrives — and the first time you put them up is always the slowest. This guide walks through how to install, close, take down, and store hurricane shutters the practical way, plus the small tools that turn an all-day job into a couple of hours. It's written for the homeowner doing it themselves; if you'd rather have a contractor handle it, the same steps apply.
One note before you start: installation requirements vary by location. Always follow your local building code and the specific product approval for your shutters, headers, tracks, and hardware, and check with your local building department if you're unsure.
Prep once, before the season
The work that saves you the most time happens long before a storm is named. When your shutters and mounting hardware are first installed, get the permanent parts in place so that each season you're only hanging panels, not drilling:
- Mount your anchors or tracks once. Whether you use direct-mount anchors or a header-and-track system, install the permanent hardware into the wall a single time. After that, panels go on and off with no drilling.
- Measure and label every panel to its opening. Number each panel and mark which window or door it belongs to. Panels are cut to each specific opening, so a labeled panel drops right into place; an unlabeled pile costs you an hour of trial and error.
- Store the fasteners with the panels. Keep wingnuts, bolts, and washers in a labeled bin so you're not hunting for hardware when a storm is two days out.
How storm panels attach: direct mount vs. tracks
There are two ways to hold a storm panel over an opening, and you can mix them on the same house:
Direct mount bolts the panel straight to the wall using panel mates and anchors — no track required. It's the lowest-cost method and works well on flat walls, but you handle each panel edge by edge.
Track systems use a header above the opening and an angle or track below. It costs more up front, but every season after, panels slide into the header and drop into the bottom track in seconds — by far the faster method for a house you'll be closing up repeatedly.
How to put up storm panels, step by step
- Grab the labeled panel for that opening and confirm the orientation — panels mount vertically or horizontally depending on how your openings were set up.
- Set the top first. For a track system, slide the top edge into the header. For direct mount, line the top holes up with your studs or anchors.
- Swing the bottom into place — into the bottom track, or onto the bottom anchors.
- Overlap the next panel by one corrugation and continue across the opening. Panels are designed to overlap so wind and water can't drive between them.
- Fasten it down. Spin a wingnut onto each stud, or drive the bolt into each anchor, and snug them evenly across the panel.
- Work one opening at a time, and check that every panel is locked before moving on.
"Closing" your shutters just means getting every panel fastened and every wingnut tight — a panel that's hung but not snugged down can work loose in high wind.
Tools that cut the time in half
Two things shorten a storm-panel day more than anything else:
- A track system, so panels drop into place instead of being aligned by hand.
- A wingnut driver that chucks into a drill and spins 1/4-20 wingnuts on and off in seconds instead of turning each one by hand. On a house with 40+ wingnuts, this alone saves an hour.
Keep a stepladder, a cordless drill, and your labeled fastener bin together so everything's in one place when you need it.
How to take down and store hurricane shutters
After the storm passes, reverse the process — and set yourself up for next time:
- Number as you go. If your panels weren't labeled, mark each one and its opening as you take it down. The second install is always faster than the first.
- Cap your anchors. Slip rubber caps over exposed studs, anchors, and track bolts so they don't snag or corrode between storms.
- Store panels flat and dry. Stack metal panels flat in a garage or shed; clear polycarbonate panels stack tightly — about seven to the inch — so they take little space. Keep them out of direct sun and off damp concrete.
- Fabric rolls up small. AstroGuard hurricane fabric rolls into a storage bag, so it stores in a fraction of the space of metal panels.
Accordion, roll-down, and fabric — what's different
Not every shutter comes down between storms. Accordion shutters stay mounted year-round — you simply unfold them from the sides and lock them closed in seconds, then push them back and secure them open afterward. Roll-down shutters are even simpler: crank or motor them down over the opening, and roll them back up when it's clear. Hurricane fabric is like panels — it goes up before the storm and rolls up for storage after — but it's light enough for one person to handle large openings. If you're still deciding which system fits your home, see our guide to the types of hurricane shutters.
How early should you put up hurricane shutters?
Don't wait for the watch to become a warning. Put shutters up once a storm is forecast to affect your area and while conditions are still calm — ideally a day or two ahead. A two-story house with a dozen or more openings can take most of a day the first time, and you do not want to be on a ladder in rising wind. Panels can stay up for the duration of the threat; just make sure at least one exit remains accessible so you're never sealed in.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put up hurricane shutters myself?
Yes. Storm panels and hurricane fabric are designed for homeowners to put up and take down themselves — the permanent anchors or tracks are mounted once, and after that it's hanging panels and tightening fasteners. Accordion and roll-down shutters stay mounted and are operated by hand or motor.
How do you close hurricane shutters?
For storm panels, "closing" means fastening every panel over the opening and snugging each wingnut or bolt evenly. For accordions, you unfold them from both sides and lock the center. For roll-downs, you crank or motor the curtain down and secure it.
How do you store hurricane panels?
Stack metal panels flat and dry, out of the sun; clear polycarbonate stacks very tightly; hurricane fabric rolls into a bag. Keep the matching fasteners in a labeled bin with the panels.
How long does it take to put up hurricane shutters?
The first time is the slowest — often most of a day for a larger home. A track system and a drill-mounted wingnut driver cut that dramatically, and labeling your panels makes every install after the first much faster.
Everything you need to put them up
Shop the parts and panels for a faster, easier install:
- Storm panels and instant pricing
- Anchors, bolts, wingnuts and hardware
- Headers and tracks
- Wingnut drivers
- Front Door Shield for glass entry doors
Installation requirements vary by jurisdiction. All shutters, headers, tracks, and hardware must be installed in accordance with your local building code and the applicable product approval. Verify requirements with your local building department before installing.