Storm panels are the most affordable approved way to protect windows and doors from hurricanes. Depending on who you ask they get called hurricane shutters, storm shutters, metal shutters, hurricane window covers, storm covers, hurricane blinds, or window shades — they are all the same thing: removable panels that bolt over an opening before a storm and come down afterward.
We cut every panel to your exact opening, any length from 12" to 150" in 1-1/4 inch increments, in aluminum, galvanized steel, or clear polycarbonate.
The three materials trade off differently on weight, cost, and whether light gets through. Approval zone does not follow price or material — check the row before you order.
| Panel | Material | Approval | See through? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2" 28-Gauge Galvanized Steel | Metal — steel | FBC HVHZ + Non-HVHZ | No |
| 2" 24-Gauge Galvanized Steel | Metal — steel | FBC Non-HVHZ only | No |
| 2¼" 24-Gauge Galvanized Steel | Metal — steel | FBC Non-HVHZ + TDI | No |
| 2.25" .030 Galvanized Steel | Metal — steel | FBC HVHZ | No |
| 2" .050 Aluminum | Metal — aluminum | FBC HVHZ + Non-HVHZ, IBC, IRC | No |
| 2.25" .050 Aluminum | Metal — aluminum | FBC HVHZ + Non-HVHZ, TDI | No |
| 2¼" .040 Aluminum | Metal — aluminum | FBC Non-HVHZ, IBC, IRC | No |
| 2" Clear Polycarbonate | Clear Lexan | FBC HVHZ + Non-HVHZ, TDI, IRC, IBC | Yes |
| 2.25" Clear Polycarbonate | Clear Lexan | FBC Non-HVHZ + TDI | Yes |
Building in Miami-Dade or Broward? You need a panel approved for High Velocity Hurricane Zones. Not every panel here is — and the approved ones are not always the more expensive ones. Match the approval column to your county before ordering.
Aluminum and galvanized steel panels are the lowest cost per opening and the most common choice. Steel is heavier and stronger for the money; aluminum is lighter to carry up a ladder and will not rust.
Clear polycarbonate panels are made of Lexan and let daylight through, so the house does not go dark for three days and a business can stay open with customers able to see in. They cost more per square foot and are typically mixed with metal panels rather than used everywhere. About seven clear panels stack into one inch for storage.
Two options, and you can mix them on the same house. Panels can be direct mounted, bolted straight into the wall using panel mates and anchors with no track at all. Or they can be installed into a track system — a header above the opening and an angle or track below — which costs more up front and makes putting panels up and taking them down far faster every season after.
Panels mount vertically or horizontally, and can be installed by one person.
Honestly, longer than anyone wants. A two-story house with 12 to 24 openings can take most of a day the first time. Two things cut that down more than anything else: a track system so panels drop into place instead of being aligned by hand, and a wingnut driver that chucks into a drill instead of turning every wingnut by hand. Number your panels on the way down and label which opening each one came from — the second time is always faster than the first.
Price depends on the size of each opening, the material, and how many panels the opening needs. Because every panel is cut to your exact measurement, the only accurate number comes from your own dimensions. Get instant pricing for your openings — enter width and height and see the price before you order.
Glass front doors are the opening most people put off. The Front Door Hurricane Shield installs in minutes with no tools and no drilling into your home, works on in-swing and out-swing doors, and still lets the door open — so you are not sealed inside.
Bertha Storm Panel Installation and Specification Guide (PDF) — manufacturer reference covering panel installation sequence, header and angle mounting, fastener and drill charts for wood and concrete construction, required tools, and storage and maintenance.
This document is a manufacturer reference only. 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 all requirements with your local building department before installing.
