How to Install Accordion Hurricane Shutters

  • 2-20 hours
  • Beginner
  • 250-2,000
What You'll Need
Socket set
Caulking
Level
A pair of extra hands
Drill and drill bit
Fixings
Accordion shutters
Screwdriver
What You'll Need
Socket set
Caulking
Level
A pair of extra hands
Drill and drill bit
Fixings
Accordion shutters
Screwdriver

Accordion hurricane shutters are used as a way to protect your home from damage. If there are any openings into your house then these must be protected. Failure to protect these openings could result in extensive damage to your entire home. Modern hurricane shutters are very strong and able to cope with even the strongest of storms. To protect your home from storms once accordion hurricane shutters are installed, all you will need to do is close them and lock them shut. Fitting accordion hurricane shutters is actually very easy.

Step 1 - Preparation

The first thing you should do is unpack the accordion hurricane shutter and lay all of the components out. There will be four main sections inside the kit and these should all be labeled depending on where they go. Lay the pieces out on the floor as if it was being fitted onto the wall. This will give you an idea of how everything will go together.

Step 2 - Assembly

Once you are confident where everything goes you can start screwing the frame together. This is very easy and it's simply a matter of screwing the top to both the left and right stack and then repeating the same on the bottom piece. The corner of each of the pieces of frame will have two holes which are already drilled, simply line the holes up so that you can screw it together. Don't tighten the screws until you have attached all of the pieces because if you do it will often make the frame too rigid to work with.

Step 3 - Standing the Shutter up

Now you need to lift the shutter up and stand it against the wall. Check that everything is tight and that nothing falls off. If any of the screws are still lose then give them a quick tighten now. Open the shutter to the position where it will spend most of its time. There is a locking pin which can be used to open the shutter to certain amounts. Use a drill slightly bigger than the pin to drill new holes in the frame if you want to make any adjustments to where the shutter will lock shut.

Step 4 - Fixing to the Wall

Drill a hole in the wall in one of the corners outside your building where the hurricane shutter will be fitted. Then use the supplied fixings and screw them through the frame and into the wall. The socket set should be used to tighten these bolts up. Using your level, check that the frame is level and then mark and drill another hole. Screw in another fixing holding the shutter in place. You will need to continue drilling and fixing all of the holes along the top rail. Just make sure that the frame is level and that you aren't twisting it.

Step 5 - Fixing the Sides

Now use the level to check your vertical sides. The frame might be out of square slightly. Before fixing the bottom you need to ensure that the accordion shutter is completely square. Drill and fix the bottom of the hurricane shutter. All the time you are fixing this you should make sure that the track is perfectly level.

Step 6 - Filling the Gap

Stop water from getting inside the frame by running a bead of caulking at the joint between the hurricane shutter frame and the wall. This will also help to keep the wind out. However, don't caulk along the bottom of the frame. A gap at the bottom will allow air to circulate and prevent mold if any moisture does get in.