There are many options when it comes to picking a shutter material to protect your home or business from storms. One popular option is aluminum hurricane shutters. Are they the right choice for you? Let’s find out. We discuss what aluminum storm shutters are so you can decide if they are right for you.
But first, we briefly introduce what aluminum is.
What is aluminum?
First, you may have noticed that some people say the word differently. Aluminum is also called aluminium in other countries, such as Great Britain. But in the USA the word aluminum is generally used.
So what is it? Britannica.com describes aluminum as “a lightweight silvery white metal.”
It is the most widely used non-ferrous metal. Non-ferrous just means that it doesn’t contain iron. On the other hand ferrous metals, such as steel and cast iron do contain iron.
But the intention of this article is not to dig into the science of aluminum. The key take-away is that aluminum is a readily available, widely-used type of (non-ferrous) metal.
Now you know what aluminum is (if you didn’t already). So let’s discuss why it is a popular choice to make hurricane shutters.
Benefits of Aluminum hurricane shutters: strong, light, and durable
Aluminum storm shutters are a popular choice for hurricane shutters in Fort Myers and other parts of Florida. More so compared to metal and clear plastic shutters. Why? Because storm shutters that are made from aluminum provide many benefits to homeowners and business owners. These benefits include their strength, weight and durability vs metal (steel) shutters. Their benefits are:
- Aluminum hurricane shutters are strong. They are much lighter than steel shutters and they are still really strong. For instance, Eurex Shutters impact shutters made from high-quality aluminum meet and exceed the latest Florida Building Codes and are strong enough to withstand up to a category 5 hurricane.
- Aluminum shutters are lighter than metal. Aluminum storm shutters are surprisingly lightweight given how strong they are. This makes lifting, handling and storing your aluminum shutters, especially storm panels easier than metal versions.
- Aluminum is durable and is rust resistant, unlike metal. Rust happens when iron reacts with oxygen in the air. But as we said above aluminum does not contain iron. Aluminum also forms a hard protective layer of aluminum oxide when exposed to oxygen. The important take-away is that aluminum hurricane shutters are naturally rust proof. This reduces the need for protective coatings and helps your shutters last for many years.
Types: Aluminum Hurricane Panels and Shutters
Aluminum is used to make pretty much every type of storm shutter. This means you can choose aluminum regardless of what type of shutter you opt for. Depending on the supplier, you can typically order any of the following types of shutters in aluminum:
Learn more about the different styles of hurricane shutters.
- Aluminum hurricane panels (shown above)
- Aluminum Rolling hurricane shutters
- Accordion hurricane shutters
- Aluminum clamshell shutters (shown below)
- Aluminum Colonial shutters
- Bahama shutters made from aluminum
Cost of aluminum storm shutters
The cost of aluminum hurricane shutters vary. They can range anywhere from $12 a square foot to $50+ per square foot depending on which style/type you select and the specifications and difficulty of your project. In other words, the pricing is not one-size fits all. For an entire house or commercial location you could expect to pay a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars.
To get a better idea of pricing check out our comprehensive guide on hurricane shutter cost. And when you are ready get an exact quote. Give us a call at (239) 369-8600 or request a complimentary in-home estimate.
