Make an Informed Decision When you Explore These Frequently Asked Questions:

Will I receive a discount on my homeowners insurance and how much?

Florida state law mandates that you receive a discount. Certain requirements must be met in most cases however, in order to receive that discount. It will generally be required that all glass openings are covered, products meet Dade County and/or Florida Building Code specifications and that the job has been inspected and approved by the city code inspector. The discount amount varies depending upon the insurance company, but you can generally expect 2-5% savings.

What is the difference between Florida Building Code and Dade County Code?

Shutter codes for Dade County were created shortly after Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Florida Building Code was adopted by Florida in March of 2002 for predominantly all counties that border Florida's coast. Dade County has more stringent regulations— shutters and homes must be built to withstand a 155 mph wind load. Florida Building code requires homes to withstand only a 130 mph wind load. Certain areas around the Gulf Coast (barrier islands) have adopted a higher wind load then 130 mph.

I have insurance. Why do I need shutters?

If you can prevent the destruction of your home, it will benefit you in many ways. You will be responsible for a sizable deductible in the event of severe damage to your home. Insurance companies usually underestimate the cost to rebuild, making your out-of-pocket costs even more. There is no dollar amount you can place on family heirlooms and personal treasures lost during a hurricane. Depending on the damage, you could be waiting up to a year or more to have your home repaired. Your family and pets will be displaced; temporary housing is never quite like home and often in short supply. Shutters can easily pay for themselves in the damages they prevent in one single storm.

Why should I buy shutters when more then likely my roof will blow off?

Your roof is a lot less likely to blow off if winds are not allowed inside your home. The main purpose of shutters is to protect windows and doors from flying debris that can break glass and allow hurricane force winds into your home. Once the winds enter, they force an exit through windows and doors as well as the roof, magnifying the damage to your home.

What part of the home is most vulnerable?

Protecting only part of your home is better then no protection but any exposed window can put your home and family at risk.

How can I be sure that the shutters that I am buying meet code?

In order for a storm protection product to be code approved, it has to be tested by an outside engineering company. Once it is approved, it receives a written notice of Acceptance (NOA). You may request to see this information instead of relying on a company brochure or salesman's word. Just as important however is the installation of the storm panels and/or shutters. If they are improperly installed, the ability of the product to withstand hurricane force winds may be greatly diminished. Florida law requires that contractors pull permits for installation of storm panels and shutters. Although it can sometimes cause delays in installation, permits assure the homeowner that storm protection products will be properly inspected by an outside source (code enforcement) and meet requirements for code.

How can I determine what is the best product for me?

All the products that we offer are code compliant and will offer your home adequate protection during a hurricane or major storm. Your decision will often be based on your budget and whether you are able and willing to install storm panels or shutters during an impeding storm. Some shutters such as accordions, roll shutters and roll screens are more expensive but make it easy and convenient to secure your home. They also provide added benefits of general security, privacy and sun shading year round. Some shutters cannot be installed on certain types of windows and/or doors. A combination of different storm protection products may be the best option with regard to budget and convenience.

Does security window film provide adequate hurricane protection for my home?

Window (security) film will improve the resistance of your window to the impact of debris but does not meet the requirements of large missile impact tests set forth by Florida Building and Dade County codes. Some advertisements of window film are misleading, stating that film meets Dade County protocol. The key word is protocol, meaning the product itself was tested to meet the standards but it has not been approved because of the manner of application. The film is only as strong as the window frame and it can still be blown out of the frame. The bottom line is that no matter how strong the film is, the application is what determines if the product is going to work.

What are the pros and cons of purchasing High Impact Windows?

High Impact windows offer the homeowner the convenience of not putting up shutters and can have some added benefit in insulation. The drawbacks are that they are quite a bit more expensive then shutters and the glass can still crack from impact caused by flying debris. This makes it very costly to replace after a storm. Impact glass is also a fire hazard since firemen cannot penetrate through the glass easily.

Are aluminum panels a better choice then steel since they are lighter in weight and won’t rust?

Depending on the height, there is little difference in weight between each panel. Obviously the longer the panel, the greater the weight. The issue for all panels is that they become awkward to work with when they exceed 7 feet in length. All our steel panels are galvanized to prevent rust. As long as they are stored in a dry area, they should have very little corrosion. For the homeowner who plans to leave them up all season, aluminum may be the better choice.

If I have shutters on all my windows and doors, how can I exit my home after the storm?

According to code, there must be an egress other then the garage door to provide an exit. Roll shutters can be manually operated with a crank from inside the house. Accordions can be
ordered with an inside lock and storm panels can be installed so that one panel can be taken down from the inside of the house.

If I have electric roll shutters, what happens if my electric goes out?

Depending on the size, electric shutters have optional manual over-rides to allow you to crank the shutters. Manual over-rides cost about $100.00 more per shutter. Shutters beyond the size of a standard 6’ x 6’ 8” sliding glass door however, would be nearly impossible to crank by hand because of their weight. You would be better served by applying the additional cost of a manual over-ride to the purchase of a generator.

What are the most important things to look for when choosing a shutter company?

When choosing a shutter company, pay careful attention to the following:
1. Is the contractor licensed and insured?
2. Are the products Dade or Florida Building Code approved?
3. Does the contractor permit the job. Failure to do so could put you at risk for fines and be a red flag that the product and installation will not meet code.
4. When receiving an estimate, make sure the salesperson explains exactly how installation will be performed and that the method of installation is written down on the contract. Price is reflective of materials used, amount of labor and labor skills required to do the job. Remember the old adage, "You get what you pay for."
5. Be skeptical of high pressure sales and large discounts in price. If they are disingenuous in their presentation and proposal, chances are you can expect more of the same conduct during the installation of your shutters. An extremely low estimate can be a red flag for a company that has financial problems and is likely to go out of business—hopefully not with your money.
6. Be wary of companies with extremely high estimates, justified by claims that their products are superior. The truth of the matter is that there is a short list of actual companies that manufacture hurricane products. All shutter companies purchase their products from these same manufacturers. Some companies assemble the product but very few manufacture.

Learn more about Allstar Shutters and why we might be your very best choice.