Aluminum, steel, and polycarbonate storm panels installed across Florida’s Gulf Coast. Budget-friendly whole-home protection, Florida code-rated since 1976.
Storm panels are rigid aluminum, steel, or polycarbonate sections that bolt over windows and doors before a hurricane and come down once the storm passes. They are the most affordable storm-protection product on a per-square-foot basis. Mr. Build installs Florida-code-rated storm panel systems throughout Bradenton, Sarasota, and the Gulf Coast.
Storm panels are the original storm-protection product, predating both accordion shutters and roll-down screens, and they remain a practical choice for homeowners seeking code-compliant hurricane protection at the lowest upfront cost. They protect windows, doors, garage openings, and any other vulnerable point on the home, then come down for storage between storms. Mr. Build installs aluminum, steel, and polycarbonate storm panel systems across the Gulf Coast and provides the anchoring hardware that stays on the home year-round.
Storm panels are rigid sections of corrugated metal or impact-rated polycarbonate that span the opening they protect and are bolted into anchor hardware permanently mounted around the window or door frame. When a storm is forecast, the homeowner pulls the panels from storage, slides each into place over its assigned opening, and tightens the wingnuts or bolts that hold it against the structure. The panel sits flush against the home, creating a continuous barrier that stops windborne debris and pressurized rain before they reach the glass.
The panels themselves are removable; the anchor hardware stays on the home. Most installations use a track-and-bolt system, a header-and-sill channel, or a combination of both, depending on the opening size and the building code requirements for the home’s wind zone. Each panel is cut to fit a specific opening, labeled, and stored together with its matching hardware so the homeowner can deploy quickly when a tropical storm or hurricane is forecast.
Mr. Build measures every opening, cuts each panel to fit precisely, and installs the permanent anchor hardware around the window or door. This includes the upper header track, lower sill channel or bolt anchors, and any reinforcement hardware required by the Florida Building Code for the home’s wind zone. The hardware remains permanently attached to the home and is designed to be minimally visible.
Each panel is labeled for the opening it fits and packaged with its mounting hardware and deployment instructions. Most homeowners store panels flat in a garage, shed, or covered exterior area. Smaller panels are usually manageable for one person, while larger sliding glass door panels may require two people to handle safely.
When a storm is forecast, the homeowner mounts the panels onto the pre-installed hardware and secures them. A full-home deployment typically takes several hours, which is the main tradeoff compared to permanently mounted systems like accordion shutters or roll-down screens.
Mr. Build handles permitting in Manatee and Sarasota Counties, provides the documentation required for wind mitigation inspections, and recommends storage solutions to help protect the panels from corrosion between hurricane seasons.
Want a storm panel quote for your home? Mr. Build provides free in-home measurements and written estimates across Bradenton, Sarasota, and the Gulf Coast. Call (941) 746-5838.
Storm panels come in three primary material types, each suited to a different use case. The material choice affects upfront cost, weight, wind rating, and the amount of light entering the protected opening during a storm.
Aluminum is the most common storm panel material on the Gulf Coast. The panels are lightweight enough for one homeowner to install on most windows, corrosion-resistant for decades in Florida’s salt-air environment, and rated to withstand hurricane-force winds when installed in accordance with the Florida Building Code. Aluminum is the default recommendation for most residential applications and the best balance of cost, performance, and ease of handling.
Steel panels are heavier than aluminum, carry the highest wind ratings in the storm panel category, and are typically specified for commercial buildings, oversized residential openings, or homes in the highest-velocity hurricane zones. The added weight makes deployment more demanding, but the level of protection is unmatched among removable storm protection options.
Clear polycarbonate panels are the lightweight, light-transmitting alternative to metal. They are tested to Florida Building Code standards for impact and pressure, but generally carry lower wind ratings than aluminum or steel. Homeowners choose polycarbonate to avoid being in a completely dark home during a multi-day storm, particularly around openings in living spaces where natural light matters.
Storm panels require hands-on deployment before each storm. On a typical Gulf Coast home with eight to twelve protected openings, installation usually takes between two and five hours, depending on the opening size, panel material, and how many people are helping.
Storage is the other major consideration. Panels are designed to stack flat and stay dry between storms, usually in a garage, shed, or covered exterior space. Mr. Build labels each panel to its corresponding opening and provides storage and deployment guidance, making setup faster and more organized as a storm approaches.
Storm panels are the most affordable storm-protection product on a per-square-foot basis. The total project cost depends on the number of openings being protected, the panel material chosen, the home’s wind zone, and the amount of permanent anchor hardware required. A home with eight standard openings costs less than one with sixteen, and aluminum panels cost less than steel for the same opening area.
Because storm panels protect the same openings as accordion shutters or roll-down screens at a lower upfront cost, they remain the practical choice for homeowners on a tight budget, for vacation properties where the owner is willing to deploy ahead of expected storms, and for awkward openings that do not suit a permanently mounted system. Mr. Build provides a free in-home measurement and written estimate that breaks pricing out by opening rather than quoting a generic square-foot figure.
Every storm panel system Mr. Build installs is rated to the current Florida Building Code, with Miami-Dade NOA-approved options available for high-velocity hurricane zones along the immediate coast. The team coordinates with local Manatee and Sarasota County permitting offices on every install and provides the documentation homeowners need for wind mitigation inspections and insurance discount applications afterward. When every opening on the home is protected by code-rated panels and the wind mitigation inspector confirms the installation, the home qualifies for the opening protection credit on the OIR-B1-1802 form.
Storm panels are common on commercial properties along the Gulf Coast because they protect the largest openings at the lowest cost per square foot. Storefronts, restaurant patios, office building entries, and warehouse doors all benefit from the same anchor-and-panel system used on residential applications, scaled to the larger opening sizes commercial buildings typically present. Steel panels are often specified for commercial use because of their higher wind rating and the resilience needed for openings that may take longer to deploy with a smaller staff.
Mr. Build installs storm panel systems on commercial properties across Bradenton, Sarasota, and the surrounding Gulf Coast. The permitting and inspection process is similar to residential work, though commercial projects may require additional documentation depending on the building’s occupancy type and the county’s commercial code requirements.
Mr. Build installs storm panels across Manatee and Sarasota Counties, as well as the broader Gulf Coast. Service areas include
The team measures each opening individually and specifies panel materials and anchor hardware to match the home’s wind zone and Florida Building Code requirements.
Mr. Build has installed hurricane protection on Florida’s Gulf Coast since 1976. Owner Joe Long is a licensed Florida General Contractor with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northern Illinois University and more than 25 years of construction experience.
Because Mr. Build also installs hurricane screens, accordion shutters, and impact windows, the recommendation for any given opening is driven by what the home actually needs rather than by which product the contractor happens to carry. Every specified product is code-rated, every installation is permitted locally, and every homeowner receives the documentation needed for wind mitigation insurance credits.
Mr. Build measures each opening, cuts each panel to fit, and installs permanent anchor hardware around the window or door frame. The anchor hardware stays on the home year-round; the panels themselves are stored separately and bolted into place when a storm is forecast. Whole-home installations typically take one to two days.
Deployment on a typical Gulf Coast home with eight to twelve protected openings takes two to five hours, depending on the panel material, opening size, and the number of people available to help. Most homeowners deploy when a tropical storm watch is issued for the home’s county.
Panels are designed to be stacked flat in a dry, protected space. A garage, a covered shed, or a wall in a covered exterior space all work, as long as the panels stay dry and the deployment hardware is stored with them. Mr. Build provides storage guidance and labels each panel with its destination opening.
Aluminum is the most common choice for residential Gulf Coast homes because it balances cost, weight, and corrosion resistance. Steel is specified for commercial applications and the highest wind zones. Polycarbonate is used when homeowners want light transmission during a storm, typically in living spaces.
Yes. When every opening on the home is protected by a code-rated storm panel system and the wind mitigation inspector confirms the install, the home typically qualifies for the opening protection credit on the OIR-B1-1802 wind mitigation form. The credit is one of the larger line items on the form.
Yes. Mr. Build has installed hurricane storm panels across Florida’s Gulf Coast since 1976. The service area covers Bradenton, Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Palmetto, Parrish, Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Venice, and North Port.
Storm panels give Gulf Coast homeowners a practical way to protect windows and doors without committing to a permanently closed system. Mr. Build installs aluminum, steel, and polycarbonate storm panels sized for each opening and selected to meet applicable Florida code requirements. Our team can also help with permitting and the project documentation you may need after installation. Serving Bradenton, Sarasota, and surrounding Gulf Coast communities since 1976, Mr. Build provides dependable storm protection backed by decades of local experience. Request a free estimate to start planning your storm panel installation.
