Hurricane shutter types for Galveston homes
Six kinds of hurricane shutters for Galveston houses, from Bahamas that shade the glass all summer to roll-downs you close from your phone. Each one is measured, built and installed by our own crew.
5.0 from 46 Google reviews 5-year parts and labor warranty 0% for 24 months
Why Galveston owners trade plywood for hurricane shutters
Plywood looks like the cheap answer until a storm has a name. Then it means finding sheets, cutting them, carrying them up a ladder and fastening them over every window, and last season's boards rarely fit the way they did. Plywood also offers minimal impact resistance next to an engineered shutter, and between storms it takes up room in the garage, warps and needs replacing.
Permanent hurricane shutters stay on the house and are designed to close in minutes. There is nothing to store, measure or carry when the forecast turns. They keep working the rest of the year too: shade on west-facing glass, privacy from the street, and a locked cover over the windows while the house sits empty. On a Galveston house, that everyday use is a big part of what you pay for.
We install six kinds of storm protection, and the right one depends on the house and each opening. The table below sets them side by side, and every type has its own page with the full details. Each set is measured on site and installed by our own crew, never subcontractors, with a 5-year parts and labor warranty.
At a glance
Hurricane shutters- Types
- Bahama, roll-down, colonial, accordion, hurricane panels, hurricane fabric
- Material
- Extruded aluminum with a powder-coated finish on our permanent shutters
- Storm rating
- Hurricane-rated models engineered to meet Texas Windstorm (TDI) requirements
- Measuring
- Every opening, on site, free of charge
- Installation
- Our own full-time crew, never subcontractors, with a dedicated project manager
- Warranty
- 5 years, parts and labor
- Financing
- 0% interest, no payments for up to 24 months
- Service area
- 50 miles from our showroom on 51st Street
Price your hurricane shutters
We measure at the house and quote in writing, free. 0% interest for 24 months.
Six types of hurricane shutters, side by side
How each one closes, what it does between storms and the houses it suits. Each type links to its own page.
| Type | How it closes | Between storms | Everyday use | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bahama | Hinged at the top, lowered flat over the window and latched | Mounted above the window | Propped open at an angle for shade, breeze and privacy | Daily sun control and the island look; impact-certified models available |
| Roll-down | Lowers from a housing above the opening by wall switch, remote or smartphone app | Rolled up into its housing | Light control, privacy and security at the push of a button | Wide openings, porches and storefronts; closing up the house from anywhere |
| Colonial | Side-hinged panels swing closed and are secured with an aluminum storm bar | Standing open beside the window | Frames the window, closes for privacy and shade | Historic and traditional houses; louvered, raised panel or board and batten |
| Accordion | Pulled closed from the sides along tracks, locked with a key or thumb turn | Folded back at the sides: a 6.5" stack on a 36" window | Lockable cover whenever you close up the house | Easy, affordable permanent protection; TDI approved |
| Hurricane panels | Fastened to tracks, bolts or clips fitted around the opening ahead of time | Taken down and stored | None; the window stays uncovered between storms | Any window or door size, sliding glass doors included |
| Hurricane fabric | Unrolled and attached to anchors, grommets or clips around the opening | Rolled or folded into a compact space | Stored away until needed; transparent options let daylight in while it is up | Light handling, small storage space and irregular shapes |
Hurricane-rated shutters are engineered to meet Texas Windstorm (TDI) requirements. When we measure, we tell you which models carry the rating for each of your openings.
Every shutter we install, one at a time
A photo of each type, the facts that set it apart, and a link to the full page.
Bahama shutters
Top-hinged aluminum shutters that shade the window all summer and fold down flat over the glass when a storm comes. Propped open, the louvers let the Gulf breeze through and keep direct sun off the window. Heavy-duty extruded aluminum, a high-grade powder coat in a broad palette, and impact-certified models that latch tight against the frame.
- Top-hinged
- Powder-coated colors
- Impact-certified models
Roll-down shutters
A curtain of extruded aluminum slats lowers from a housing above the opening at the push of a button, from a wall switch, a remote or a smartphone app wherever you are. Roll-downs cover windows, doors and whole porch openings, deter intruders when they are down, and roll up out of the way when they are not. They protect storefronts and offices as well as homes.
- Wall switch, remote or app
- Homes and storefronts
- Extruded aluminum
Colonial shutters
Fully operable, powder-coated aluminum shutters hinged at the sides of the window. They stand open to frame it, then swing closed for a storm and are secured with an aluminum storm bar instead of a sheet of plywood. Louvered, raised panel and board and batten styles suit the historic houses of the East End as well as newer builds.
- Side-hinged
- Aluminum storm bar
- Three panel styles
Accordion shutters
Extruded, powder-coated aluminum blades that fold back to the sides of the opening and pull closed along tracks when a storm comes. They lock with a key or a thumb turn, and closing them takes no tools and no batteries. Folded back, the side blade stack is 6.5 inches on a 36-inch window and 13 inches on a 120-inch opening.
- TDI approved
- Key or thumb-turn lock
- No tools or batteries
Hurricane panels
Mounting hardware such as tracks, bolts or clips is fitted around your windows and doors in advance. When a warning is issued, you bring the panels out and secure them to that hardware; after the storm they come down and go back into storage. Panels are custom-fitted to any window or door size, sliding glass doors and unusual shapes included.
- Custom-fitted
- Stored between storms
- Pre-installed hardware
Hurricane fabric
Custom-fit panels of high-tenacity synthetic fabric that attach to anchors, grommets or clips around each opening. Fabric is far lighter than a panel and rolls or folds into a small space for storage. Transparent options let daylight in while it is up, and it fits more irregular shapes than panels do.
- Lightweight
- Compact storage
- Transparent options
Also on the shutters menu
Two more products are listed with our shutters and kept out of the comparison above. Decorative louvers are for privacy and finishing the look of the house. TAPCO screens stay fixed over the windows and doors all year, for hurricane protection, home security and solar control.
Decorative shutters & louvers
High-strength aluminum architectural louvers, customized for the project you have in mind. Use them on accent windows and doors, to close in an outdoor kitchen, to build a privacy wall, or to hide the HVAC unit and pool equipment.
- High-strength aluminum
- Privacy walls
- Equipment screens
TAPCO screens
High-tensile stainless steel mesh in heavy-duty aluminum frames, built to meet impact standards and fitted to windows and doors. The screens stay up between storms, so there is nothing to put up when one is coming, and the mesh blocks up to 90% of the sun's radiant heat before it reaches the glass. From the street they look like standard insect screens.
- Hurricane protection
- Home security
- Solar control
Get measured before a storm has a name
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and its busiest stretch is mid-August to late October. Custom shutters are measured and built for your openings, so they cannot be picked up off a shelf the week a storm shows up in the forecast.
Shutters, impact windows, or both
Impact windows put the protection in the glass. A tough interlayer bonded between two panes holds the fragments in place if the glass is struck, so there is nothing to close before a storm. We install Perfexion impact windows, backed by a double lifetime transferable warranty.
Shutters add a physical barrier in front of the glass that deflects debris before it reaches the window. Pairing the two gives the house layered protection. Some owners choose impact windows for upper floors and hard-to-reach openings, with Bahama or colonial shutters on the lower level where they are easy to close.
- Impact glass works around the clock with nothing to deploy
- Shutters shield the glass itself from the heaviest debris
- One estimate can price both, opening by opening
How a hurricane shutter installation runs
The whole job is handled by our own full-time staff, and a dedicated project manager keeps you posted from the first visit to the finished install.
Measure and assess
A specialist measures every opening and works out the wind and debris protection each one needs.
Design to code
We design a system that meets Texas Windstorm (TDI) standards and fits the architecture of the house.
Build to fit
Each shutter is made to those measurements, in the finish and color you choose.
Install and hand over
Our crew installs to the engineering instructions and shows you how every shutter operates before leaving.
What island homeowners say
Every review here is from our Google listing, word for word.
The process with Galveston Shutter & Shade was simple and easy. From the initial bid process with Harvey, to the coordinated install with Suzy. They took the time to explain everything and get us what we needed. Highly recommend Galveston Shutter & Shade.
We are very pleased with the work they did. They have a good product. It was installed on time for exactly what they quoted. I would definitely recommend them.
Amazing company to work with. They did an incredible job matching a custom color to our existing shutters. Highly recommend!
Installed hurricane shutters both automatic and accordion style and Bahama shutters.
What owners ask before choosing shutters
Anything else, call (409) 502-2231 or ask at the showroom on 51st Street.
Are permanent hurricane shutters worth it compared to plywood?
Plywood costs less up front, but every storm means finding, cutting, hanging and storing heavy sheets that rarely fit the same way twice, and that warp or get damaged between seasons. It also offers minimal impact resistance next to an engineered shutter. Permanent shutters stay on the house, are designed to close in minutes and give you shade, privacy and security the rest of the year. Our article on permanent shutters versus plywood covers it in more detail.
Which type of hurricane shutter is right for my house?
The opening and the way you use it decide that. Bahamas are the pick for daily shade and the island look. For wide openings, porches, storefronts and houses you want to close up from anywhere, roll-downs run from a wall switch, a remote or a smartphone app. Colonial shutters fit historic and traditional houses. Accordions give permanent, lockable cover with no motor at all, while panels and fabric go up only when a storm is coming. At the free estimate we measure every opening and tell you which type suits each one.
Will hurricane shutters lower my insurance?
Ask your insurance agent about discounts for permanent storm protection. Our hurricane-rated shutters are engineered to meet Texas Windstorm (TDI) requirements, and we can show you how we calculate the windstorm needs of your home to maintain TWIA insurability.
Can I finance hurricane shutters?
Yes. Financing at 0% interest with no payments for up to 24 months is available on the shutters we install. Ask about it at the free on-site estimate.
What warranty comes with your shutters?
Every shutter we install carries our 5-year warranty on parts and labor, where the usual installation warranty is one year. Our own crew answers any service call, and we never use subcontractors.
When should I order hurricane shutters?
Before the season, if you can. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with its busiest stretch from mid-August to late October. Custom shutters are measured and built for your openings, so they cannot be picked up off a shelf the week a storm shows up in the forecast.
Reading on storm protection
Plywood against permanent shutters, salt air, historic houses and more, written for Galveston owners. All articles
Storm protection
Are Permanent Hurricane Shutters Worth the Cost Compared to Using Plywood?
Coastal homeowners facing hurricane season often compare temporary plywood to permanent hurricane shutters for home protection.
Storm protection
Storm Shutters in Galveston: Preparing Your Historic or Coastal Home
Galveston homeowners can effectively protect their historic or coastal properties from hurricane season with specialized storm shutters…
Storm protectionGulf Coast Shutter Solutions: Defending Your Galveston Home from Salt Air and Storms
Protecting your Galveston home from the relentless salt air and powerful Gulf Coast storms is essential for homeowners.
Get a price on hurricane shutters
We come to the property, measure every window and door, walk you through styles and colors, and price the products you choose. The visit and the estimate are free.
- We call you to set a time for the visit.
- A specialist measures each opening and walks you through the options.
- You get your price, with 0% financing for up to 24 months if you want it.
- Our own crew installs, and a project manager keeps you posted.
Or stop by the showroom at 902 51st St, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.