Roll Up Hurricane Shutters: Pros & Cons For Your FL Home

If you are looking for hurricane protection for your Southwest Florida home you probably have noticed that the options are endless. In fact, it can be overwhelming trying to select the right hurricane shutters for your needs. There are a lot of options of hurricane shutters to pick from. And the best hurricane shutters for you will depend on your needs and preferences. One popular choice for storm protection in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, and throughout Southwest Florida is roll down hurricane shutters. We’ll discuss the pros & cons of rolling hurricane shutters so you can determine if they are a good choice for your home and/or business.

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What are roll up hurricane shutters?

Roll up hurricane shutters are a premium style of permanent impact resistant shutters. They open and close by rolling up and down (vertically).

You can choose between manual and automatic options. Automatic rolling hurricane shutters are powered by an electric motor whereas the manual ones are operated by a hand crank or strap system.

Roll up hurricane shutters are available in both impact resistant aluminum slats and impact resistant, clear polycarbonate inserts.

Watch our quick video to see what our these shutters look like on different homes when opened and closed.

Pros and Cons of Roll Up Hurricane Shutters

Below we provide some of the Pros & Cons of roll up storm shutters.

PRO: Provide the highest level of storm and security protection

Roll down window shutters are generally considered the top of the line when it comes to storm protection and security. They not only offer great storm protection, but they also serve as security shutters and provide top-notch protection from intruders. When locked, these shutters completely close off or block access to the entry points of your home or office. They are a good choice whether you need to protect your home from a category 5 hurricane or intruders.

PRO: Extremely quick and easy to deploy

This style of shutter also offers a high level of convenience. They can be opened and closed by most individuals with a low degree of effort. You can open them from inside your home in minutes, not hours or days.

Both automatic and manual rolling shutters are easy to deploy. Automatic roll down shutters can be operated by a central control system either by a switch or by the Tahoma system app on your mobile phone. The manual version can also be opened and closed inside your home with a hand crank or strap.

Whether you choose motorized vs. non-motorized roll down shutters is up to you. But both options are easier and more convenient than some other types of hurricane shutters.

Operating all three versions are easy. Learn more about how to operate each type by visiting the articles below:

• How to Operate Manual Belt Roll Shutters in FL
• How to Operate Manual Crank Roll Shutters in FL

PRO: High level of functionality including energy savings, light control and sound reduction

Hurricane roll up shutters offer many features and benefits outside of just storm and security protection. They are functional shutters. They offer excellent energy savings, light and UV control, and sound reduction.

You can completely control the opening of the slats almost any way you want. Why is this helpful? This level of control means they can be used to provide light and UV control as well as provide complete privacy. You can partially close the slats to provide shade or you can completely close them for total privacy.

Likewise, the ability to control the shutters also allows you to achieve energy savings and sound reduction.

These are just a few of the ways to use rolling shutters. There are more. See 5 Uses for Roll Down Shutters in FL.

PRO: They don’t significantly change the look of your home

Roll up storm shutters are permanently attached to your home. And like any permanently attached shutter they are visible on your home. However, their sleek design means they will not significantly alter the appearance of your property when they are not deployed. When they are not in use they tuck away cleanly above the opening of your doors and windows. This greatly minimizes the visual appearance of the shutters on your home compared to some other permanent shutter options.

PRO: Roll up hurricane shutters are available in a variety of colors

Some impact shutter styles are limited in terms of color selection. This becomes an issue as the colors might not go well with your home’s color scheme or aesthetics. Our roll up hurricane shutters are available in multiple colors, including white, ivory, beige, and bronze. This allows you to find a color that matches or compliments your home vs. degrading its appearance.

CON: You will see them on your home

We mentioned before that rolling hurricane shutterss are visible on your home. They are less visible than other kinds of permanent shutters, but they are still visible. These may not be the best choice for you if you don’t like the look of permanent hurricane shutters. If that is you then you may prefer storm panels or hurricane fabric panels, which are not permanently installed.

Learn more about the Pros & Cons of Hurricane Fabric.

CON: Cleaning can take some effort

This type of shutter also takes a bit of effort to thoroughly clean. This is true for any window treatment that has horizontal slats. When doing a thorough cleaning you should clean the individual slats with a cleaner vs. just quickly pressure washing or hosing them down. This should be expected as part of the use and care for this type of shutter.

CON: Automatic versions require maintenance

Automatic roll up hurricane shutters are the ultimate in convenience. Their motors and control system allow you to operate them effortlessly. But like with any machinery the motors will require normal maintenance. Similar to an air conditioner or the mechanics of your vehicle, you should expect to perform normal maintenance so they operate as expected.

If you are looking for a maintenance free option then these may not be your best choice.

CON: Cost more than some other storm shutters

This could be either a pro or a con depending on how you look at it. Roll down shutters cost more than low-cost options like storm panels and hurricane fabric. This makes sense when you consider all the benefits they offer over those options. So even though they aren’t the cheapest option, they are priced quite attractively for all of the benefits they provide.

If you are interested to learn how much each type of hurricane shutter costs make sure to read our 2021 guide on Hurricane Shutters Cost.

Why choose roll up hurricane shutters?

They are a good option if you want the following from your shutters:

• a high level of both storm and security protection
• lots of features and uses outside of just storm protection
• ease of use and convenience
• permanently installed shutters

See how roll down shutters compare to accordion shutters as well as our Roll Down Hurricane Shutters: Florida Buyer’s Guide.

Choosing the right hurricane shutters

There are several options available when it comes to protecting your home and family from hurricanes. But one thing is certain. If you live in an area like Southwest Florida then hurricanes are a legitimate risk. So you need to have some form of protection, regardless of which product you choose. Choosing the right option might seem cumbersome. We recommend you explore different options and consider the pros and cons of each one. Talk to a trusted company like ours that can show you every option and explain their pros & cons. In the end it will come down to which product best meets your needs, budget, and preferences.

Contact us with questions and to get your free estimate:

Or call (239) 369-8600 for immediate service.