How to Prepare Opening Measurements for a Hurricane Shutter Quote

By Hurricane Shutters Florida Team · Updated 2026-10-19

Good measurement notes let the office and installer discuss the same opening without guessing. Give every window or door an ID, record the dimensions the selected product instructions request, and photograph the area around it. Keep an opening measurement separate from a finished shutter size.

Make one useful record

Here is a fictional quote-planning entry: “W1, kitchen east window. Opening width 48 inches, height 48 inches. Photo W1-A shows the full opening; W1-B shows the nearby downspout. Considering accordion shutters. Mounting surface and final dimensions awaiting installer review.”

The entry identifies what was measured and what remains unresolved. It does not add a guessed allowance for tracks or declare that a finished 48-by-48 shutter will fit. Repeat that record for each opening, even when two windows look identical.

Follow the product’s measuring instructions

Different products and mounting methods can require different dimensions. Before measuring, check what the quote field or current instructions mean by opening width and height. Ask the office when the reference points are unclear. Do not assume glass size, frame size, rough opening, and finished shutter dimensions are interchangeable.

Record width and height clearly with units. Where requested, keep measurements from several positions rather than choosing a final size from a general rule. Note uneven conditions or discrepancies for review. Do not round a value simply to make the order look tidy.

Photograph the space the system needs

Accordion systems need room for their tracks and folded blades. Rolling systems need suitable space for the housing and side guides. Hinged systems need the appropriate movement and attachment space. The required clearances depend on the selected configuration; a generic minimum is not a manufacturing specification.

Include soffits, trim, lights, downspouts, railings, handles, corners, and nearby openings in the photos. For doors, state the swing direction and how the doorway is used. Keep required exit access part of the review. Use qualified help for inaccessible openings rather than taking unsafe ladder measurements.

Review changes before approving manufacture

Have the responsible installer verify final dimensions, the actual supporting construction, and applicable product and project requirements. If a wall, door, or window is being replaced, explain that before treating existing measurements as final.

During the office review, reconcile each opening ID, product, dimension, operation, finish, and included hardware. Ask how revised measurements affect the quote and order. Keep the approved version so a later phone conversation does not leave people referring to different schedules.

Prepare one labeled opening record and ask the office whether it contains the information needed for your chosen product. Once the method is clear, complete the rest of the property using the same format. Start with the measuring information and call before guessing at an uncertain dimension.