Hurricane shutters for Surfside Beach, over San Luis Pass
Surfside Beach is 13 miles down the Bluewater Highway from San Luis Pass, and many of its houses stand on pilings at the edge of the Gulf. We fit them with Bahama, roll-down and accordion shutters, measured and installed by our own crew with the Village's windstorm rules in mind.
5.0 from 46 Google reviews 5-year parts and labor warranty 0% for 24 months
- 85mphBeryl's gust at the Surfside Beach station in 2024
- 3.5ftFollet's Island's average height above sea level
- 130mphThe Seaward zone wind speed on TDI's older maps
- 39miFrom our showroom, over the San Luis Pass bridge
A village on the tip of Follet's Island
Surfside Beach is a village of 640 people on the southwestern tip of Follet's Island, a barrier island about 13 miles long that averages three and a half feet above sea level. The entrance to Freeport Harbor marks its southwest edge, with Quintana across the channel, and the Intracoastal Waterway cuts through its northwest corner. The 2020 census counted 1,044 homes here.
The Village calls itself the Cradle of Texas. Fort Velasco stood near today's City Hall, and on June 26, 1832, John Austin led 112 Texans against it in what the historical marker calls the first collision in arms between Texas colonists and the Mexican military.
Storms come straight in off the Gulf. During Ike in 2008 the mayor counted as many as 40 Surfside homes destroyed and 50 more badly damaged, some torn off their pilings. In July 2024, Beryl's surge washed over the whole island at about 1 a.m. and destroyed at least four of its A-frame houses, and a station in the village recorded an 85 mph gust. Shutters cannot hold back that water. What they protect is the glass on the floors you live on, against wind and the debris it carries.
Surfside Beach at a glance
For your estimate- Government
- Village of Surfside Beach, Brazoria County
- From our showroom
- 39 miles, about an hour
- Island
- Follet's Island, seaward of the Intracoastal
- Older TDI wind zone
- Seaward, 130 mph
- Windstorm insurance
- Inside the TWIA area
- Permits
- Village permit, TDI inspection out of Angleton
- Warranty
- 5 years, parts and labor
Price your Surfside house
We measure at the house and quote in writing, free. 0% interest for 24 months.
The Village's storm rules, read for shutters
The Village spells out its building and hurricane rules on its own website. Here is what they say, and what each one means for the shutters on your house.
| The Village says | For your shutters |
|---|---|
| “You need a permit for all work done to the envelope of the home.” | Windows and exterior doors are on the list, which the Village says is not complete. Shutters cover both, so ask about yours when you apply. |
| Envelope products must be windstorm approved and inspected, free by TDI's Angleton office or by a certified windstorm engineer. | Our hurricane-rated shutters are engineered to meet Texas Windstorm (TDI) requirements, and our crew installs them to the engineering instructions. |
| The windstorm and flood codes “are not optional or dependent upon whether you carry insurance.” | A rental, a weekend house and a full-time home are held to the same standard. |
| “Keep approved window coverings ready.” | Permanent shutters stay mounted on the house, so there is nothing to store under it and nothing to hunt for when a watch goes up. |
| Beachfront lots, seaward of the Bluewater Highway or Fort Velasco Drive or within 1,000 feet of mean high tide, need a General Land Office review. | That review takes 10 business days, so plan a beachfront job before the season, not during it. |
From the Village of Surfside Beach building permit and hurricane preparation pages. Rules change, so check with the Village before work starts.
What goes on a Surfside house
Our job in the photo at the top is Bahamas. The other two are the ones we would price beside them.
Bahamas for the Gulf side
Top-hinged and propped open, Bahama shutters keep the sun and glare off the glass while the breeze comes through the louvers, and you still see the water. When a storm comes they fold down over the window. On our Surfside job they went on the upper floor of a house on pilings, white against gray siding.
- Shade every day
- Powder-coated colors
- Impact-certified models
Roll-downs for a house you leave empty
Roll-down shutters live in a box over each opening and lower at the push of a button, from a wall switch, a remote or a smartphone app. With the island cleared of boats and carts within hours of a watch, being able to close the house without driving out to it counts for a lot.
- Switch, remote or app
- Windows, doors and porches
- Locks the house up between visits
Accordions for the porch
Accordion shutters fold flat beside the porch windows and pull closed along a track by hand, then lock with a key or a thumb turn. They need no power, so they close the same way when a storm has already knocked the power out.
- TDI approved
- Key or thumb-turn lock
- No power needed
Less sun, same view
A Bahama shutter customer on shade and the view. 5.0 stars from 46 reviews on Google.
We are so happy with our new eyebrow shutters from Galveston Shutter & Shade Co.! Harvey was very patient and helpful throughout the process while we worked through the style, sizing, color, and placement. We chose matte black adjustable eyebrow shutters for our kitchen windows, and they turned out beautifully. They look amazing from the outside and have already made a noticeable difference with the direct sun and heat coming into our kitchen, while still allowing us to enjoy the view. The installation team was professional, and everything came together exactly as we hoped. We would definitely recommend Galveston Shutter & Shade Co.!
Surfside Beach questions we hear most
Anything else, call (409) 502-2231. The showroom on 51st Street is on your way to San Luis Pass.
How do you get to Surfside Beach from Galveston?
Down Seawall Boulevard and FM 3005 to the west end of the island, over the San Luis Pass bridge, then 13 miles along the Bluewater Highway. From our showroom at 902 51st St that is about 39 miles and an hour, and the bridge has been toll-free since 2025.
Does the Village require a permit for shutters?
The Village of Surfside Beach requires a permit for all work on a home's envelope. Its list names windows and exterior doors and says it is not complete, so ask the Village about your shutters when you apply. Envelope products must be windstorm approved and inspected by the Texas Department of Insurance's Angleton office, free, or by a certified windstorm engineer.
My house is a rental or a weekend place. How do I close it before a storm?
Plan to close it early. Boats, RVs and golf carts have to be off the island within four hours of a hurricane watch, and fire trucks and ambulances leave once the wind reaches 50 mph. Motorized roll-downs close from a wall switch, a remote or a phone app. Bahamas and accordions are closed by hand at the house, and take minutes.
What wind speed does a Surfside house have to meet?
On the Texas Department of Insurance's older zone maps, Surfside Beach sat in the Seaward zone, seaward of the Intracoastal Waterway, at 130 mph, the highest in Brazoria County. Since April 1, 2026, the required wind speed is worked out for each building under the 2024 codes. Our hurricane-rated shutters are engineered to meet TDI requirements, and we can show you how we work out the windstorm needs of your house.
Is Surfside Beach in the TWIA windstorm area?
Yes. Surfside Beach is in Brazoria County, one of the 14 first-tier coastal counties the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association covers. The Village applies the windstorm and flood codes to every house, whether or not it carries TWIA insurance.
Get a free estimate in Surfside Beach
We cross San Luis Pass, measure every window, door and porch opening on the house, show you the Bahama, roll-down and accordion options, and price the ones you choose. The visit and the estimate are free, and you do not need to be there full time to book one.
- 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.