Roll-Down Hurricane Shutter Types
Fixr likens a roll-down to a small garage door: the curtain sits in a box fixed above the opening and lowers along tracks. HomeGuide notes they suit large openings and add security and light control when lowered. HomeGuide's overall roll-down range is $25 to $120 a square foot installed, or $175 to $840 per window. The main split is how the curtain moves.
Manual Crank and Strap Roll-Downs
A hand crank or pull strap lowers the curtain. Manual units are the cheapest roll-down and, per Fixr, cheaper to repair because there are no electronics. The trade-off is time: Fixr says closing every one on a house can take hours and sometimes two people.
- Fixr: $25 to $35 per square foot, $175 to $245 for a 24 by 42 inch window
- HomeGuide: $20 to $50 per square foot installed
Electric (Hard-Wired) Roll-Downs
A motor runs the curtain from a switch, remote or smart device. HomeGuide says these take up to 2 hours each to install, plus wiring.
- Fixr: $40 to $55 per square foot, $280 to $385 for a 24 by 42 inch window
- HomeGuide: $50 to $175 per square foot installed
- Electrician for motors and switches: $40 to $100 an hour (HomeGuide)
Battery-Powered Roll-Downs
Battery models work like electric ones without a dedicated power source. Fixr calls them the most expensive shutter type and the better pick for homes without a generator in areas that lose power in storms.
- Fixr: $45 to $60 per square foot, $315 to $420 for a 24 by 42 inch window
Roll-Down Fabric Storm Screens
A fabric screen rolls up into a permanently mounted housing, by hand or by motor. HomeGuide describes the fabric as Kevlar, PVC or UV-resistant coated material. It lets light through and can be lowered on ordinary days for sun and insects. HomeGuide also rates it less protective than some permanent shutters, and a manual one takes effort in an outage. As with any shutter here, check that the exact product is approved for the HVHZ.
- Roll-down fabric screens: $25 to $50 per square foot installed (HomeGuide)
Roll-Downs for Sliders, Lanais and Balconies
HomeGuide says motorized units work well on lanais, patios and balconies, and Fixr names roll-ups and accordions as the usual shutters for sliding doors. On a roll-down, Florida code puts the approval label on the bottom of the hood or the bottom slat, facing out.
- Sliding door shutters: $12 to $60 per square foot installed, by type (Fixr)
Why Pompano Beach homeowners call Pompano Windows
- One independent installer calls back, not a list of five
- The request costs you nothing
- Ask for approval numbers and design pressures on the quote
- Permit, removal and stucco patching priced in writing
Roll-Down Shutter Rules in Pompano Beach
Approval for the HVHZ
Shutters need Florida product approval. In Broward, HomeGuide says to look for approval to the TAS 201, 202 and 203 tests; ASTM testing alone isn't enough here.Installed as approved
The label carries the Florida or Miami-Dade approval number, and the installation instructions must be on site for the inspector.Electrical permit
The city's own list of work that always needs a standard permit includes wiring and new circuits.Egress
Closing shutters over bedroom egress windows is allowed during a storm threat, if one first-floor exit stays usable.Insurance
Undocumented shutters are graded lower on the wind mitigation form; keep the approval and the final inspection.
Before You Sign a Roll-Down Quote
Ask which operator each opening gets, and what happens in an outage. Check whether the price includes the electrician and the electrical permit, and get the approval number for the series. Fixr's upkeep list is short: clean the tracks so the curtain doesn't jam, and run each shutter once or twice a year. HomeGuide adds that installing outside hurricane season may cost less. For a lower-cost manual option on smaller windows, compare accordion shutters.