What this guide covers: Shoppers in Brevard County search for “Bermuda shutters” and “Bahama shutters” as if they are two different products. They are not. This guide explains where each name came from, why installers and manufacturers use them interchangeably, and which terms actually describe a genuinely different shutter, so you can compare quotes without getting confused by vocabulary.
If you have called two Melbourne shutter companies and one quoted “Bermuda shutters” while the other quoted “Bahama shutters,” you may have assumed you were comparing two products. In almost every case you were comparing the same product under two names. Here is how the naming actually works.
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The Short Answer
Bermuda shutters and Bahama shutters are the same shutter. Both names describe a shutter hinged along the top edge of the window that props outward at an angle, giving you shade and privacy while open, and folding flat against the wall to lock down when a storm approaches. The name you hear depends on who you are talking to, not on what you are buying.
Where the Names Came From
Both names trace back to the same Caribbean and Atlantic island architecture, where top-hinged louvered shutters solved two problems at once: brutal sun and sudden storms. Builders in Bermuda and the Bahamas used the same design, and as the style spread into Florida, both names came with it. Manufacturers picked one or the other largely by regional habit and marketing preference.
Today in Brevard County you will hear “Bahama” more often from installers and “Bermuda” more often from architects, HOA documents, and homeowners who moved from the Carolinas or the Gulf Coast. Neither is more correct.
Shutter Names That Do Mean Something Different
This is where the confusion becomes expensive. Some names really do describe a different product with a different price, different operation, and different curb appeal. These are the ones worth separating.
Colonial Shutters
Genuinely different. Colonial shutters hinge on the sides of the window and swing closed to meet in the middle, like classic louvered shutters. They give a traditional, stately look rather than a tropical one, and they do not provide standing shade the way a top-hinged shutter does. See our Bahama and Colonial shutter service page for how we install both.
Board and Batten Shutters
A solid-panel side-hinged style with vertical boards joined by horizontal battens. Rustic and farmhouse-leaning rather than tropical. Often decorative only, so always confirm the product carries a hurricane rating before assuming it protects anything.
Plantation Shutters
The most common mix-up of all. Plantation shutters are interior window treatments with wide adjustable louvers. They offer zero storm protection. If someone offers you “plantation shutters for hurricane protection,” that is a red flag.
Shutter Name Decoder
| Name You Hear | What It Actually Is | Hinge Location | Storm Rated? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bermuda | Same as Bahama | Top | ✔ Yes |
| Bahama | Same as Bermuda | Top | ✔ Yes |
| Colonial | Different product | Sides | ✔ Yes |
| Board & Batten | Solid panel style | Sides | Varies, verify |
| Plantation | Interior blind | Interior frame | ✘ No |
Why This Matters When You Compare Quotes
- Compare the spec, not the name. Ask for the product approval number, not the marketing term.
- Confirm the hinge location. Top-hinged and side-hinged behave completely differently day to day.
- Ask whether it is rated or decorative. Some lookalike shutters offer no protection at all.
- Check the louver style. Fixed versus operable louvers changes both airflow and price.
- Match to your HOA language. Community documents often specify one name; the product can still be the same.
Local insight: We see this most often in Palm Bay and Melbourne HOA communities where the architectural guidelines were written years ago and specify “Bermuda style” shutters. Homeowners then call asking for something they think we do not carry. We do. It is the same shutter we install as Bahama, and we supply the documentation your architectural review board needs either way.
Not Sure Which Style You Actually Want?
A local expert will show you both styles on your own windows and explain exactly what each one will look like and cost. Most Brevard County homeowners get a quote within 48 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bermuda and Bahama Shutters
Are Bermuda shutters and Bahama shutters the same thing?
Yes. Both names describe the same top-hinged louvered shutter that props outward for shade and folds flat to lock down for a storm. The difference is regional vocabulary, not product design, rating, or price.
Why do some companies call them Bermuda shutters?
Regional habit. The style appears in both Bermudian and Bahamian architecture, so both names traveled to Florida. Architects, HOA documents, and homeowners relocating from other coastal states often use “Bermuda,” while Florida installers more often say “Bahama.”
What is the difference between Bermuda and Colonial shutters?
This is a real difference. Bermuda shutters hinge at the top and prop outward, giving continuous shade. Colonial shutters hinge at the sides and swing closed to meet in the middle for a traditional look. Both are storm rated when properly manufactured and installed.
Are plantation shutters hurricane shutters?
No. Plantation shutters are interior window treatments and provide no storm protection whatsoever. Only exterior, code-approved products qualify as hurricane protection or for an insurance credit.
Does the name affect the price?
No. Pricing is driven by opening size, louver style, material gauge, finish, and how many windows you protect, not by whether the quote says Bermuda or Bahama. If two quotes differ significantly, compare the specifications rather than the labels.
Serving the Entire Space Coast
Brevard Hurricane Protection installs Bermuda and Bahama shutters, Colonial shutters, and every other hurricane shutter style across Melbourne, Palm Bay, Cocoa Beach, Titusville, Rockledge, Satellite Beach, Viera, Merritt Island, and surrounding Brevard County communities. Whatever your HOA documents call them, all installations are permitted, performed by licensed and insured contractors, and documented for your wind mitigation inspection.
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