Bahama & Colonial Shutters

What is the difference between Bahama and Colonial shutters?

The hinge position. A Bahama shutter is hinged along the top of the opening and props outward from the bottom, so it sits above the window like an awning when it is open. A Colonial shutter is hinged at the sides in two leaves that swing in against the opening and meet in the middle when closed. That single difference drives almost everything else — how they look, how they are closed, and how much clear space each one needs.

Are these hurricane-rated systems or decorative shutters?

Both exist, and they are not the same thing. A decorative shutter is an appearance product only and is not storm protection. A tested, approved Bahama or Colonial system is storm protection, and what makes it so is the documented approval and the engineering drawings it is installed to. We will tell you plainly which one we are quoting for your home, and we do not describe a decorative shutter as hurricane protection.

Confirmed at your property assessment: We confirm in writing, before you decide, whether the shutter quoted for each opening is an approved storm system or a decorative one.

What do they look like open and closed?

A Bahama shutter is visible above the opening all year: propped outward when open, and lowered flat against the opening when closed. A Colonial shutter sits folded back flat against the wall on either side of the opening, and the two leaves swing across to meet in the middle when closed. Both styles remain part of the front of your home every day, which is usually why homeowners choose them.

What does preparing and securing them involve?

Both styles are already on the openings, so nothing is carried out of storage. Closing them is a hands-on job done from outside at each opening, and each opening takes its own time. We do not describe it as effortless, and how long a whole home takes depends on how many openings you have and how easy each one is to reach.

Confirmed at your property assessment: We walk your openings with you and are frank about which ones would be awkward for you to close yourself.

Will they suit my openings and mounting surfaces?

It depends on the opening size, on what the shutter can be fastened to — the wall material and the framing behind it — and on the clear space around the opening. A Bahama shutter needs room above the opening and space to swing outward; a Colonial shutter needs clear wall on both sides for the leaves to fold back into. The approved system's own size limits also apply, and they differ by style. We will not tell you every opening on your home can take either style.

Confirmed at your property assessment: We measure each opening and check the mounting surface before anything is quoted or ordered.

How could they affect daylight and views?

When closed, both styles cover the opening, so the room behind is much darker. When open, a Bahama shutter sits above the window and shades the top of it, which some homeowners like and some do not; a Colonial shutter sits to the sides and leaves the glass itself clear. We do not publish a shading or light-reduction figure for either style, because that is specific to the system, the opening and the angle it is set at.

What affects price and maintenance?

Price: the style, the number and size of openings, whether an approved storm system or a decorative shutter is specified, the mounting surface and any reinforcement it needs, access and height, and whether permitting is included. Maintenance: rinsing, keeping hinges and fasteners sound, and checking that everything still sits and closes as it should. You get a written estimate for your actual openings rather than a price per opening over the phone.

Can a decorative shutter be made into storm protection?

No. Storm protection comes from a system that was tested and approved as a whole — the shutter, its hardware and how it is fastened — and that approval belongs to that specific system. A decorative shutter cannot be upgraded into an approved one by adding hardware to it.

Can I have Bahama on some openings and something else on others?

Yes, and many homes do exactly that. Bahama or Colonial shutters on the street-facing windows, and a different product on the large or awkward openings around the back, is a common and practical combination.

Will these shutters lower my insurance?

We cannot promise a saving. Any credit depends on your insurer, your policy and your wind-mitigation inspection, and it is their decision, not ours. What we can do is give you the documentation for the system installed so your inspector and insurer have what they need.

Do I need a permit?

Hurricane protection generally requires a permit in our area, and the permit is issued against the approved system's documentation and drawings. We handle permitting as part of the project and explain what your jurisdiction requires.

Confirmed at your property assessment: Requirements vary by city and county, so we confirm what applies at your address.

What about HOA approval?

Many associations have rules on shutter style and colour, and some prefer these styles precisely because they read as architecture. We can provide product information and drawings to support your application, but the association makes the decision.

Which style should I choose?

It usually comes down to the look you want and the space around your openings — clear space above for Bahama, clear wall to the sides for Colonial. We measure your openings and show you which styles are genuinely workable on your home before you decide.