Mantenimiento
How to prepare your home or rental for hurricane season in Puerto Rico: shutters, trimming, generator and the cleanup after
Preparing your home or rental for hurricanes in Puerto Rico happens before June 1, when the season starts (it ends November 30 and peaks from August to October). 2026 reference: installing shutters you already own costs $40 to $80 per window, a new set of aluminum panels $250 to $600 per window installed, tree and palm trimming $150 to $600 per tree, generator service $100 to $200, roof sealing $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot and post-storm debris cleanup $150 to $600. Hire between March and May: in June prices go up and calendars fill.
Enedy Figueroa, Founder and CEO · Published September 10, 2026
Key takeaways
- Hurricane season in Puerto Rico runs June 1 to November 30; the peak is August to October and both María (2017) and Fiona (2022) hit in September.
- Installing shutters you already own costs $40 to $80 per window in 2026 (or $200 to $500 for the whole house); a new set of aluminum panels runs $250 to $600 per window installed.
- Tree and palm trimming ($150 to $600 per tree) gets done in March, April or May; in June it costs 20% to 30% more and there is a waiting list.
- A generator service before the season costs $100 to $200 and keeps you from finding out during the blackout that it will not start.
- A host needs three names in writing before June: who installs the shutters, who cleans up after and what message the guest gets when a warning is issued (36 hours out).
When hurricane season is in Puerto Rico
June 1 to November 30, with the peak between August and October. Most seasons pass without a hurricane reaching the island, but the ones that did (María on September 20, 2017, Fiona on September 18, 2022) came at the peak. That is why the heavy work happens in March, April and May, when businesses have open calendars and normal prices.
Watch versus warning, in plain English
The National Hurricane Center issues a watch when hurricane conditions are possible within 48 hours and a warning when they are expected within 36 hours. A watch means "activate the plan"; a warning means "close the house today". The National Weather Service office in San Juan publishes the local advisories.
Checklist by date: before June, at the watch, 48 hours before and after
- 1
Before June 1: hire what takes time
Between March and May: tree and palm trimming ($150 to $600 per tree), generator service ($100 to $200), roof sealing if needed ($1.50 to $3.50 per square foot), gutter cleaning ($100 to $250) and a check that your shutters are complete with their bolts. Save the number of whoever installs them.
- 2
When a watch is issued (72 to 48 hours): activate the plan
Confirm the date with your shutter installer, buy water (one gallon per person per day, for three days), fill the car and the generator cans, charge batteries and photograph the house inside and out for insurance.
- 3
48 hours before (warning): close the house
Shutters up, patio furniture and planters inside, cistern full, generator tested, documents in a sealed bag, fridge at its coldest. If you have guests, send the message with instructions and the cancellation policy. After this, nobody goes on the roof.
- 4
After: photos, debris and an inspection before anyone stays
Before moving anything, photos and video of every bit of damage. Then: take the shutters down, put vegetative debris at the curb separate from trash, clean gutters, have a handyman check the roof and leaks and, if there was moisture for several days, a deep clean against mold.
If you do not live on the island, every step needs the name and phone number of the person doing it. Our guide to managing your Airbnb remotely covers how to build that regular team.
What to hire and what it costs in 2026
| Service | 2026 reference | When |
|---|---|---|
| Install or remove shutters you already own | $40 to $80 per window; $200 to $500 per house | At the watch; removed the week after |
| New shutters (aluminum panels) | $250 to $600 per window installed | March to May, they must be measured and made |
| Tree or palm trimming | $150 to $600 per tree | March to May |
| Generator service (oil, filters, load test) | $100 to $200 | April to May; fuel separate |
| Roof sealing (elastomeric coating) | $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot | March to May, on dry days |
| Gutter and drain cleaning | $100 to $250 | May and after every storm |
| Post-storm cleanup and debris removal | $150 to $600 per crew day or truckload | The first 7 days after |
A handyman ($35 to $60 per hour) and a landscaper ($40 to $70 per mow) cover most of this list. For the roof and a fixed propane generator install, use a licensed contractor; a good handyman tells you when a job is not for them.
What to tell your guests if you are a host
A guest with a September booking will write "is something coming?". Have the answer ready before June, not on the day of the watch.
- In the listing: "Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. If a warning is issued for your dates, we refund or move the booking." Check how your platform's extenuating circumstances policy applies.
- At the watch: one message with what you are doing (shutters on which day, who is coming, whether there is a generator and how many hours it runs).
- In the unit, all year: flashlight, batteries, radio, one gallon of water per person and the generator or cistern instructions taped to the fridge.
- If the guest decides to stay: evacuating them is never your job, but giving them in writing the nearest municipal shelter and the 9-1-1 emergency number is.
- After: no check-ins until someone you trust checks water, power, roof and mold and sends you photos.
Tell us the town, how many windows and what you need (shutters, trimming, generator, cleanup after). We confirm a price with a vetted business before June.
Message us on WhatsAppAfter the storm: cleanup, debris and claims
- Photos and video of everything before touching anything, with dates. That is what the insurer asks for and what FEMA asks for if aid opens.
- File the insurance claim in the first days; adjusters book up fast after a big event.
- Vegetative debris (branches, palm fronds) at the curb, separate from trash and metal; municipalities collect by type and make several passes.
- Take the shutters down the following week; a closed-up house with humidity grows mold in five to seven days.
- If water got inside or the power was out for days, a deep clean (1.5 to 2 times the price of a regular clean) before anyone stays.
- Have a handyman check the roof, window seals and leaks; drips show up with the second rain, not the first.
Frequently asked questions
When is hurricane season in Puerto Rico?
June 1 to November 30. The peak is August to October; María (2017) and Fiona (2022) both hit in September.
How much does it cost to install hurricane shutters in Puerto Rico?
In 2026, installing shutters you already own costs $40 to $80 per window or $200 to $500 for the whole house. A new set of aluminum panels runs $250 to $600 per window installed and is ordered between March and May.
When should I trim trees before hurricane season?
Between March and May. Trimming a tree or palm costs $150 to $600 in 2026; in June it goes up 20% to 30% and landscapers have waiting lists.
What do I do with my Airbnb if a hurricane watch is issued?
At the watch (48 hours) message the guest with your plan and the cancellation policy; at the warning (36 hours) put the shutters up and accept no new arrivals. After the storm, someone you trust checks water, power, roof and mold before you reopen.
How much does cleanup cost after a hurricane?
Debris removal and yard cleanup $150 to $600 per crew day in 2026, gutter cleaning $100 to $250 and a deep clean against mold at 1.5 to 2 times the price of a regular clean.
Shutters, trimming, generator and cleanup after, priced before June
Send the town, photos of the house and what you need. We confirm price and date with vetted businesses, and they stay in your history for next season.
Message us on WhatsAppAbout the author
Enedy Figueroa
Founder and CEO of Brega PR, born and raised in Puerto Rico. She writes these guides from what she learns every day connecting service businesses on the island with their customers.
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