Phantom Screens vs. StormTex: What’s the Difference?
In the world of home improvement, “screens” can mean many different things. This has led to a common and potentially dangerous point of confusion for coastal homeowners: the difference between a retractable lifestyle screen (like a Phantom Screen) and a true, impact-rated hurricane screen. While both products can enhance your home, they have completely different purposes and are not interchangeable.
At American Hurricane Shutters, a critical part of our job is education. We want to ensure every homeowner understands the tools available for storm safety. This guide will clearly and directly compare a popular lifestyle screen with our lab-tested **Alutech StormTex Hurricane Screens** to eliminate any confusion and help you make a safe choice.
This is a Critical Distinction
Mistaking a lifestyle screen for a hurricane screen can have catastrophic consequences. A standard retractable screen offers **ZERO** protection against flying debris and hurricane-force winds. Relying on one for storm safety is as dangerous as having no protection at all.
Defining the Products: Two Screens, Two Different Jobs
Let’s define what each product is designed to do.
What is a Phantom Screen?
Phantom Screens is a popular and high-quality brand of retractable “lifestyle” screens. Their primary purpose is to enhance your comfort and enjoyment of your home. They are designed to:
- Keep insects out while allowing fresh air in.
- Provide shade and reduce sun glare.
- Offer a degree of privacy for your porch or garage.
The screen material is typically a vinyl-coated fiberglass mesh, similar to what’s in a standard window screen. It is not designed to resist impacts.
What is an Alutech StormTex Hurricane Screen?
An Alutech StormTex screen is a dedicated, life-safety system. Its one and only purpose is to protect your home’s windows and doors from breaching during a hurricane. It is designed to:
- Stop high-velocity impacts from flying debris like lumber and roof tiles.
- Drastically reduce the wind pressure exerted on your windows and doors.
- Meet or exceed the most stringent building codes for hurricane protection.
The screen material, **OmegaTex**, is a tightly woven, ballistic-grade polypropylene fabric engineered for immense strength and energy absorption.
Head-to-Head Comparison Chart
The easiest way to see the difference is a direct comparison.
| Feature | Lifestyle Screen (e.g., Phantom) | Hurricane Screen (Alutech StormTex) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Insect control, shade, privacy | Impact and wind pressure protection |
| Material | Fiberglass or vinyl mesh | Ballistic-grade OmegaTex woven fabric |
| Impact Rating | None. Will be easily punctured. | Lab-tested to stop impacts from a 9-lb 2×4 at 34 mph. |
| Anchoring System | Light-duty tracks for smooth operation. | Heavy-duty, structurally mounted anchors designed to handle thousands of pounds of force. |
| Cost | Varies by size and application. | Approximately $44 per square foot, reflecting its status as an engineered safety system. |
Phantom for Everyday Comfort and StormTex for Hurricane Protection
Yes, and this is often an excellent strategy! You can use a retractable lifestyle screen for everyday enjoyment of your porch or garage. Then, our permanent anchor system for your StormTex hurricane screen can be installed on the exterior of the same opening. When a storm approaches, you simply retract your lifestyle screen and deploy your hurricane screen. This gives you the best of both worlds: everyday comfort and life-saving storm protection.
Don’t Settle for Anything Less than Rated Protection
Your family’s safety is too important to leave to a product that isn’t designed for the job. When it comes to protecting your home from a hurricane, there is no substitute for a dedicated, lab-tested, and professionally installed storm protection system.
If you have any questions or want to see the incredible strength of our Alutech StormTex fabric for yourself, contact us today. Call American Hurricane Shutters at (910) 256-1288 or email the owner, Matthew Burns, at matt.burns@ahscarolinas.com for a free, no-obligation consultation.
