Hey folks, Harry Cane here. Getting ready for storm season isn’t just about buying hurricane shutters or the latest storm protection. It’s about having a smart plan customized to your home’s needs and your budget. Let’s break it down!

Step 1: Assess Your Risk, Honestly

• Location Matters: Are you coastal, inland, or in a High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ, the area where the Florida Building Code sets its strictest hurricane requirements)? Each location has different vulnerabilities.
• It’s Not Just Wind: Think about flying debris too. It shapes your hurricane protection choices.
• Home Sweet Home: Age, construction, existing windows… an expert helps you identify weak points objectively.

Step 2: Prioritize Your Protection

• Smart Spending: Focus on areas of greatest risk first. This might be your most exposed windows, a vulnerable garage door, or ensuring your roof is properly strapped.
• Layered Approach: Often, combining different hurricane protection products provides the most balanced storm defense AND budget efficiency. (Ex: impact windows on the front, storm screens elsewhere). If you are weighing screens against shutters, our guide to hurricane screens vs. hurricane shutters walks through the trade-offs.
• Don’t Forget the ‘Extras’: Landscape cleanup, securing loose items…simple but vital!

Step 3: Choose the Right Partner, Not Just Products

• Experience Counts: How long has the company been around? What’s their track record with severe storms?
• Beyond the Price Tag: Warranties, installation quality, and customer care after the sale are key to a fair deal.
• Ask the Tough Questions:
  • Do your techs have specific certifications or extensive training?
  • Are your hurricane protection systems up to the latest building codes? Ask for the Florida Product Approval number (the product’s listing in the state’s product approval system) or the Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) number of each product they quote. The permit application at your local building department lists that number for every product.
  • Are you insured?
  • Do you handle permitting and/or any HOA-related tasks?
  • How will the installation timeline work, and what disruptions should I expect?
  • What are the terms of your warranty, and how quickly are issues resolved?
  • Can you provide references from past clients in my area?

Harry’s Pro Tip: Think Long-Term!

Investing in quality storm protection pays off in several ways:

• Insurance Premiums: Florida’s wind mitigation inspection form documents the protection on your home’s openings, and your insurance carrier decides whether any discount applies.
• Home Value: Well-protected homes are more attractive to buyers.
• Storm After Storm: Durable products you maintain will serve you for years, and our team can help with maintenance and repair when they need it.

The AHT Advantage

At AHT, we believe every homeowner deserves a hurricane protection plan that fits. That’s why we offer:

• A free in-home consultation: an honest look at your openings so you can get informed.
• A range of storm protection products to meet different needs: hurricane screens, roll-down shutters, accordion shutters, Bahama screens and impact windows and doors.
• Expert installation by our own crews: your protection is only as good as how it’s put on.
• Homeowner financing through Regions Bank, Member FDIC, subject to credit approval, so the plan can fit your budget. Ask us for the full program terms.

As for how long we’ve been around: Advanced Hurricane Technology was founded in Fort Myers in 1994. We have more than 50,000 finished projects behind us, and we serve seven counties, from Collier to Pinellas.

Products in this article

Empower yourself with a plan, not just products. Book your free in-home consultation or call (239) 251-0856, and we’ll help you build your home’s hurricane defense with confidence. We measure every opening and quote protection for each one.

Advanced Hurricane Technology · FL Lic. CBC1258522 | SCC131153977