Can You Put Impact Windows and Shutters on the Same House?
Short answer: yes — and for a lot of South Florida homeowners, it’s the smartest way to protect a house without paying to wrap every single opening in impact glass.
We call it a combination job. Impact windows go where you see them and use them most (the front of the house, the back patio, the big living-room openings.) Accordion shutters cover the rest: side windows, the garage-facing wall, the second-floor openings nobody looks at.
It’s also one of the things that sets us apart. We’re one of the only companies in South Florida that installs both on the same home — so we can build your protection around your house and your budget instead of selling you one product for every opening.
Hurricane season runs June 1 – November 30.
If you’re protecting your home this year, the time to plan a combination job is before a storm is on the cone — not when everyone in the tri-county is calling at once.
What a Combination Job Actually Means
A combination job is exactly what it sounds like: impact windows on some openings, accordion shutters on others, on the same house, permitted and installed together as one project.
Most companies sell you one or the other. If they only do impact windows, every opening gets glass — and your quote climbs fast. If they only do shutters, you live with shutters on the front of your house whether you like the look or not.
Because we manufacture our own accordion shutters and carry the top 5 impact window brands — ES, PGT, ECO, Eastern, and CWS — we’re not steering you toward whatever happens to be in stock. We put the right product on each opening.
Why Does a Combination Job Cost Less?
Impact windows are the premium option. You’re paying for laminated, impact-rated glass in every frame. Accordion shutters protect the same opening for a fraction of that cost — and they’re tested to the same Florida standards.
Covering the openings that don’t need glass with shutters instead can cut the cost of protecting a whole house by up to 50% versus an all-impact-window job.
Here’s where the savings come from:
- Fewer impact windows: only the openings you see and use most get glass.
- Shutters cover the rest: side and rear openings get strong, code-approved protection at a much lower price per opening.
- One project, one crew: we handle the city and county permitting and install everything together, instead of you juggling two companies.
Which Openings Get Impact Windows, and Which Get Shutters?
There’s no fixed rule, it’s your house and your call. But after 35+ years and 200,000+ installations across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach, here’s how most homeowners tend to split it:
| Opening | Usual pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Front windows & entry | Impact windows | Curb appeal, used daily, nothing to close |
| Living room & big sliders | Impact windows | Large openings where light and view matter |
| Side & rear windows | Accordion shutters | Less visible, strong protection for less money |
| Second-floor / hard-to-reach | Accordion shutters | Close from inside or with a pole — no ladder in a storm |
| Garage-facing or utility walls | Accordion shutters | Function over looks |
How To Mix and Match (By Floor or By Side)
You’re not locked into a formula. There are a few common ways to draw the line:
- By side of the home: impact glass on the street-facing sides, shutters on the rest.
- By floor: impact windows downstairs where you live, shutters on the upstairs openings.
- By opening type: glass on the picture windows and sliders, shutters on everything standard.
On a walkthrough we’ll go opening by opening with you and figure out what makes sense for how you actually live in the house — not a one-size template.
Get a Free Quote on a Combination Job
A free quote only costs a few minutes but can save you thousands on hurricane protection.
Will a Combination Home Still Pass Code and Qualify for Insurance Discounts?
Yes. Both impact windows and our accordion shutters meet and exceed Miami-Dade HVHZ guidelines and the Florida Building Code. Every opening ends up protected to the same standard — the products just get there differently.
What matters for a wind-mitigation credit is that every opening is protected, not that every opening has the same product. Our accordion shutters are Miami-Dade approved, TAS-tested, ASTM-tested, and Florida Building Council-approved.
Insurance discounts depend on your carrier and your specific home, so confirm the details with your agent. But a fully protected home — however you protect it — is what they’re looking for.
Note: Both halves of a combination job are covered. Our standard 10-year warranty on parts and labor applies, with optional extended coverage available — up to +10 years on shutters and +15 years on windows.
So Is a Combination Job Right for Your Home?
If you want every opening in impact glass and the budget’s there, do it — it’s the most hands-off protection you can buy, with nothing to close before a storm.
But if you’re trying to protect the whole house without overspending on openings nobody sees, a combination job is hard to beat. It comes down to where you want to spend: glass where it shows and gets used, shutters where it doesn’t.
The Short Version
Impact windows where you live and look. Shutters where you don’t. One permit, one crew, protection across the whole home — often for up to half the price of an all-impact job.
Get a Free Quote on Hurricane Protection
A free quote only costs a few minutes but can save you thousands on hurricane protection.
