Hurricane Screens —
The Best Way to Protect Porches & Patios

Hurricane screens start at $44 per square foot installed. Motorized systems add $700 per opening on top of the base price. A typical large porch or lanai enclosure (20-30 feet wide) runs $5,000 to $14,000 depending on the span, height, and site conditions. Use our cost calculator for a personalized estimate, or call for a free in-home quote.

Hurricane screens use woven Aramid fiber fabric — the same material used in ballistic body armor and high-performance safety gear. The Aramid weave is flexible enough to roll into a compact housing when retracted, yet stiff enough under wind load to resist hurricane-force debris. Alutech United’s systems are the Aramid screens we install, engineered specifically for coastal salt-air environments and certified to ASTM and TAS hurricane standards.

No — this is the most important limitation to understand about hurricane screens. We do not recommend installing fabric screens directly against glass. Under extreme wind-borne debris impact, the fabric can transmit energy to the glass surface and cause breakage. Screens work best on porch and lanai openings, or on windows where there is at least 4-6 inches of air gap between the screen and the glass. For windows and doors, accordion shutters, rolldown shutters, or storm panels are the right choice.

Hurricane screens can span 30+ feet with no center post — which is the primary reason they are used on large porch and lanai openings where rigid shutters would require an obstructive center track. The exact maximum span depends on the wind load requirements for your specific address and the height of the opening. Our estimator will confirm the right system specification for your opening dimensions during the free in-home visit.

Motorized hurricane screens require power to operate normally. Every Alutech United system includes a manual override that allows you to deploy or retract the screen by hand if power is unavailable. We walk every customer through the manual override procedure at installation. If you are in an area with frequent pre-storm power loss, having your screens deployed before you lose power is the best practice.

Yes, when installed on eligible openings. Alutech United hurricane screens meet ASTM and TAS certification requirements and qualify for wind mitigation credits in NC and SC when used to protect porch and lanai openings that are included in your home’s wind mitigation assessment. We provide all product approval documentation and complete the wind mitigation form for your insurer. Call us if you have specific questions about how your insurer categorizes porch openings.

For very large openings (12+ feet wide), screens are often the better choice. Rigid aluminum rolldown slats on a 20-foot span are extremely heavy, require a large housing box, and are difficult to install without significant structural reinforcement. Hurricane screens handle wide spans more elegantly, with a lower-profile housing and no center post. For openings under 12 feet, rolldown shutters and hurricane screens are both viable — we will compare them at your estimate visit and recommend based on your specific situation.

Installation itself is typically half a day to one full day for a single large porch opening. Because every screen is custom-fabricated to your exact opening dimensions, the lead time from signed contract to installation day is typically 4 to 8 weeks. Order before May to ensure coverage before hurricane season peaks in August and September.

Yes — significantly. Beyond hurricane protection, Alutech United screens block pollen, rain, insects, and wind from entering your porch year-round. They reduce solar heat gain through the opening in summer, provide privacy from neighbors when deployed, and can function as a full porch enclosure system. Many of our customers use their screens throughout spring and fall to extend their outdoor living season, not just during storm season.

We provide a 7-year workmanship warranty on every installation — the longest in the region. Full Alutech United manufacturer product warranties apply on top of our workmanship warranty. We deliver a signed warranty document at completion and return for paid service at any point during the lifetime of the screens. We have been in business since 2007 and will still be here.