Hurricane shutter installation: a guide for pros
What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.
Offering hurricane shutter installation
Hurricane shutter installation is an anchoring and fit job where the wall, the anchor and the opening measurement decide whether the shutters hold in wind. Your win is measuring carefully, testing the anchors and showing the homeowner how the shutters close in practice.
What customers ask
- Will the anchors hold in my stucco, brick or siding?
- How long does it take to close all the shutters?
- Will the shutters damage the frame or the wall?
- Can one person close them by themselves?
- What warranty do I get on the shutters and the anchors?
- Do I need shutters on every opening?
How to win the job
- On the first call, ask for the number of openings, the wall types, the stories and the shutter style the homeowner has in mind, so you plan the anchors and the crew.
- Bring a sample of the track, the anchor and the lock hardware to the visit, and show how the shutter closes and locks.
- Measure every opening and test the wall with an anchor on the site visit, photographing each opening and any soft framing you find.
- Put the shutter type, anchor type and count, track, locking hardware and removal in the quote as separate lines, with each opening listed.
- Explain the anchor test, what you found in the wall, and why the anchor you chose suits it, in plain words.
- Close and open each shutter with the homeowner present, and time the close so they know what to expect before a storm.
- Send a closeout packet with the shutter product name, the anchor specifications, the warranty and the storage plan for each panel.
What to put on your profile
- Photos of finished shutter installs that show the tracks, the anchors and the lock hardware
- Shutter types you install, such as panel, roll-down and accordion
- Wall types you anchor into, such as masonry, stucco, siding and wood
- Service area and whether you do pre-season checks and repairs on existing shutters
Follow-up that helps the customer
- Offer a pre-season check of the anchors, tracks and locks before each storm season.
- Suggest a window and door seal check, since the openings need to be tight as well as protected.
- Recommend a review of the gutters and the roof edge, since storm debris can damage them and affect the shutters.
Licenses and permits
Hurricane shutter installation is commonly done by licensed general or exterior contractors, and some shutter work needs a permit or inspection because it changes the exterior openings. Check your state and local licensing and building office requirements before you bid.
Questions
Do I need a permit for shutters?
Some areas require a permit or inspection for exterior openings and anchors. Check with the local building office before you quote, and put the permit responsibility in the contract.
How do I handle a wall that fails the anchor test?
Stop, photograph the test, and tell the homeowner. Recommend a different anchor or a repair to the framing before you install, and send a priced change order for the repair.
How do I describe the protection the shutters provide?
Describe the product rating and the openings it covers, and be clear that no shutter protects against every storm. Give the homeowner the limits in writing.
About this guide
This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.
Edit history
- Oct 29, 2026: Drafted by infinibell to our content guidelines.
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