Roll-down hurricane shutters are the easiest to use and offer very good protection against both hurricanes and theft. Roll-down hurricane shutters attach above the window and can be cranked down as when the need arises. Now-a-days you can easily get electrical cranks that have the shutters down fast and smooth, so no more manual cranking if you don’t feel like it. It takes just one person to operate these permanently affixed shutters. 

However, the ease of use and sturdiness offered by these shutters makes them an expensive proposition; they can cost $30-$55 per square foot. Another negative with these shutters is that if they are electrically operated then you need to have a battery backup in place to guard against power outages. Check if electrically operated roll-down shutters are equipped with a manual override.

Roll-down shutters are usually made from high-grade aluminum. You should also check the tracks used to run the shutters; check them for strength and maximum width offered. Roll-down hurricane shutters offer protection not just against hurricanes but also against sun, heat, noise, and pollution. These shutters ensure privacy and do not stand out against the façade of your house; they blend in discreetly with your house exteriors. These shutters are effective in cooling homes during summer and they offer insulation against cold by trapping a pocket of air between them and the window.  

Hurricane glass is specially made glass that can withstand hurricane force winds without breaking down. Hurricane glass if installed at the time of construction of a house makes hurricane shutters redundant and also makes the new house compliant with modern building code requirements. Hurricane glass is an expensive proposition costing $30-$50 per square-foot. It becomes that much more expensive if you decide to have it retrofitted. This is because the job has to be done by a contractor and the window frames also need to be changed along with the existing window panes.

Hurricane glass is essentially similar to a car windshield. There is a film of plastic between two layers of glass so in the event of a hurricane, the outer glass may crack or break but the plastic sheet prevents any further damage.  

When going for a hurricane glass installation, ensure that the installation is water-tight and the glass covers the door / window effectively; look for the best available pre-engineered glass that is a fit for the shape and contours of your doors / windows.