By Romano's Shutters ·
Why waiting for the next storm is the worst time to buy
When a storm is a few days out, everyone wants shutters at once. Phones ring nonstop, homeowners who put it off all year are calling at the same time, and there is simply no way to measure, build, permit and install a full house of shutters in the few days before landfall. At that point the options are plywood, panels if you already own them, or hoping for the best.
Custom shutters are made to fit your openings. They have to be measured, built, permitted and installed, and every one of those steps takes time. Starting in the off season means none of it is rushed.
What the off season gives you
- Time to compare shutter types and pick the right one for each opening, instead of taking whatever can be done fastest.
- Time for the permit. Shutter installations generally need one, and we handle the permit for you.
- Better weather for the work. Installs go smoother in the dry season than in the middle of summer storms.
- Shutters that are installed, tested and working before June 1, not still on order when the first named storm forms.
- Peace of mind for the whole season instead of a scramble every time the forecast changes.
Pick the right shutter for each opening
Most homes do not need one type of shutter everywhere. The right answer depends on the opening, how often you want to close it, and who will be closing it.
- Roll-down shutters sit in a housing above the opening and lower in seconds, by hand crank or motor. They are a popular choice for lanais, sliding doors and large windows.
- Motorized roll-down shutters close with a switch or remote, which matters if you travel, own a second home, or do not want to be cranking shutters by hand with a storm on the way.
- Accordion shutters fold to the side of the opening and slide closed along a track. They are a durable, budget friendly option for windows and doors.
- Bahama and colonial shutters are mounted beside or above the window and add a look to the house as well as protection.
- Roll-down hurricane screens can stay down for shade and privacy most of the year and protect the opening when a storm comes.
What to do now, while the weather is calm
- Walk around the house and list every opening: windows, sliding doors, entry doors, garage, lanai.
- Note which openings you use most and which ones are hard to reach. Those are often the best spots for roll-down or motorized shutters.
- If you own a second home or travel during the summer, think about who will close the shutters when you are not there.
- If you are in a condo, check with your association about its rules for shutters before you choose a style.
- Get an in-home estimate, so the shutters are measured for your actual openings instead of guessed from a photo.
Already have shutters? Use the off season for those too
If your home already has shutters, the months after hurricane season are the time to make sure they will work next year. Salt air, sand and summer storms are hard on tracks, motors and moving parts. Open and close every shutter, clean the tracks, and listen for grinding or sticking.
If a shutter is stuck, bent, noisy or the motor is not responding, get it repaired now, not the week a storm is coming. We repair shutters on all makes and models, not just the ones we installed.
Condos and HOAs: start even earlier
Condo shutter projects usually need approval from the board or association, and some buildings have rules about style, color and how shutters are mounted. That approval takes time on its own, so the off season is the right time to start. We also handle shutter removal and reinstallation for condo buildings, including when work like concrete restoration or painting means shutters have to come down and go back up.
Why it pays to decide before a storm, not during one
Decisions made with a storm on the way are rarely the best ones. Homeowners end up picking whatever can be done fastest, covering only some of the openings, or spending a weekend on a ladder with plywood and a drill. Then the storm passes, the plywood goes in the garage, and the same scramble happens again next time.
Planning in the off season turns that around. You can see the shutter types in person, ask every question you have, think about how each one fits the way you live in the house, and make the decision once. When the next warning goes up, closing the house takes minutes instead of a weekend.
It also gives you time to plan for the whole house at once, or to phase the work, starting with the openings that matter most, like the lanai and the large sliding doors, and adding the rest over time.
Get your estimate before the rush
Romano's Shutters is a family owned hurricane shutter company in Cape Coral, licensed under CGC1510872. We measure, permit and install shutters for homes, condos and businesses across Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Bradenton, Sarasota and the rest of Southwest Florida, and we repair shutters on all makes and models.
Call us or request an estimate now, while there is time to get it right, and have your shutters on the house before the next season starts.