Storm Season
Hurricane Shutters vs Impact Windows: A Skye Ranch Homeowner's Guide
September 15, 2026 · 7 min read
Most Skye Ranch homes are recent construction, so the first question is not which protection to buy — it is what your home already has. Start there before you price anything.
Find out what you already have
- Check your builder documents or the etching in the corner of the glass for an impact rating.
- Look in the garage and closets — many builders leave labeled panels and hardware with the home.
- Walk the exterior and count the anchor tracks or bolt holes around each opening.
- Photograph the labels and hardware now, while the weather is calm, and save them with your insurance documents.
The main options, plainly
- Impact glass: nothing to deploy, works for every storm, and the most expensive to retrofit.
- Accordion shutters: permanently mounted, close by hand in minutes, and visible year-round.
- Roll-downs: easiest to operate, often motorized, highest cost of the shutter options.
- Metal or polycarbonate panels: cheapest, but they must be carried, lifted, and bolted on for each storm — a real consideration for a two-story elevation.
- Fabric screens: light and storable, good for lanais and larger openings.
Timing and cost realities
Quotes, permits, manufacturing, and installation take weeks to months, and the queue lengthens sharply once a storm is named. Anything you want in place for a season should be ordered well before June.
Ask any installer about permitting and inspection, product approval numbers, and whether the crew doing the work is employed by them or subcontracted. Get the warranty terms for both the product and the labor in writing.
Association and insurance
Exterior changes in Skye Ranch generally require an architectural review through your association, and the requirements differ by neighborhood. Submit before you schedule installation, not after.
Check with your insurer too. Wind mitigation credits depend on the specific product and on documentation, so keep the approval numbers and the final inspection paperwork together.
Before each season
- Deploy and close everything once in May — tracks seize, motors fail, and missing wing nuts are always discovered at the worst moment.
- Lubricate tracks, replace corroded fasteners, and confirm the manual override on motorized units.
- Label panels by opening so nobody is guessing in the wind.
- Confirm who closes the house if you travel during the season.
Ready to find someone?
Browse the directory or list your own business — free either way. Where good neighbors do great work.