Protect Your Patio & Lanai: Why Hurricane Screens are Myrtle Beach’s Top Choice for Large Openings

Living in Myrtle Beach is all about enjoying the outdoors. Our patios, lanais, porches, and outdoor kitchens are extensions of our homes. But these beautiful, large openings are also our biggest vulnerabilities when a hurricane takes aim at the Grand Strand. How do you protect a 20-foot-wide lanai opening without building a metal wall that ruins your view?

The answer is a modern engineering marvel: motorized hurricane screens. These are not your standard bug screens. This advanced technology provides a fully hurricane-rated barrier that is so strong it can stop flying debris, yet so discreet it disappears at the touch of a button.

For homeowners looking to protect their hurricane screens for patios in SC, this product is a game-changer. At American Hurricane Shutters, we install the premier Alutech StormTex screens, and in this guide, we’ll explain why they are the smartest investment you can make for your outdoor living space.

What Are Hurricane Screens? (And What They’re Not)

It’s crucial to understand the difference between a “patio screen” and a “hurricane screen.”

• A standard patio screen (like a “no-see-um” screen) is made of fiberglass or aluminum. Its only job is to stop insects. A 5-mph wind can pop it out of its frame, and a small twig will tear it.
• A hurricane screen is a high-performance, impact-rated system. It consists of a ballistic-grade, flexible fabric that is securely anchored inside heavy-duty aluminum side tracks.

When deployed, this “fabric shield” is designed to absorb the impact of flying debris and deflect hurricane-force winds, protecting everything on your patio and preventing a catastrophic breach of your home’s envelope.

We trust and install Alutech StormTex hurricane screens, which are woven from OmegaTex fabric. This is a phenomenally strong, UV-resistant material that is so durable, it’s used in military and industrial applications. It is lightweight, yet stronger than many metal shutters.

The “Dual-Function” Advantage: More Than Just Storm Protection

This is why motorized hurricane screens in Myrtle Beach are so popular. Unlike any other shutter system, you will use your hurricane screens almost *every single day* of the year. They are a true 2-in-1 product.

Function 1: Your Daily “Lifestyle” Screen

For 360 days a year, your StormTex screen serves as the ultimate luxury patio screen. At the touch of a button, you can lower it to:

• Block Insects: The tight weave keeps out mosquitoes, gnats, and “no-see-ums,” letting you enjoy your patio in the evening, pest-free.
• Provide Shade & UV Protection: The screen effectively blocks a significant percentage of the sun’s heat and harmful UV rays. This cools your patio and protects your outdoor furniture from fading.
• Offer Privacy: It provides excellent daytime privacy without blocking your view of the golf course or ocean.
• Reduce Wind and Rain: It’s the perfect barrier for a breezy afternoon or a light rain shower, making your patio usable in more weather conditions.

Function 2: Your “On-Demand” Hurricane Barrier

When a hurricane watch is issued, you don’t have to do a thing. Your daily-use screen *is* your hurricane shutter. It is already in place, ready to go. The system is fully tested and certified to meet the toughest building codes in South Carolina. It provides impact-rated protection for your largest openings, all with the same button you use to block the sun.

This dual-functionality means you get value from your investment every day, not just during the 2-3 times a year you need storm protection.

The Ideal Solution for “Problem Openings” in Myrtle Beach

Metal shutters like accordions or rolldowns are fantastic for standard windows and doors. But what about those unique architectural features on so many Myrtle Beach homes? This is where hurricane screens shine.

• Large Lanais and Patios: This is the #1 application. A StormTex screen can span up to 24 feet wide in a single, seamless screen, giving you an unbroken wall of protection for your entire outdoor living room.
• Arched or Curved Openings: It is extremely difficult and expensive to build a metal shutter for a non-square opening. Hurricane screens are the perfect, elegant solution for these custom architectural features.
• Outdoor Kitchens & Cabanas: You can enclose your entire outdoor kitchen, protecting your expensive grill, refrigerator, and cabinetry from wind-driven rain and debris.
• Storefronts and Commercial Patios: They are a sleek, modern, and effective way for restaurants and businesses to protect their outdoor dining areas.

Essentially, any large opening where you don’t want to (or can’t) install a bulky metal shutter is a perfect candidate for a StormTex hurricane screen.

Cost and Operation: What to Expect

Because of their advanced materials and motorized operation, hurricane screens are a premium product. They are priced similarly to high-end motorized roll-down shutters. At American Hurricane Shutters, our pricing is transparent:

While the initial investment is higher than, for example, accordion shutters (at $34/sq ft), you are paying for a 2-in-1 system: a daily-use motorized screen *and* a hurricane barrier. When you factor in the cost of buying separate motorized patio screens, the value becomes immediately clear.

The system is fully electric and operates with a wall switch or remote control. We also offer manual overrides and battery backup options, so you are never stuck if the power goes out before a storm.

Hurricane Screens vs. Roll-Down Shutters: Which is Right for You?

This is a common question, as they are both premium, “roll-up” motorized systems. The choice comes down to your primary goal.

Choose Hurricane Screens if…

• Your primary goal is to protect a large outdoor living space (patio, lanai, etc.).
• You highly value the daily-use benefits of a bug/sun screen.
• You want to preserve your view and an “open-air” feeling.
• You have a non-rectangular opening (like an arch).
• You want protection, but not the “fortress” look or security of a metal shutter.

Choose Roll-Down Shutters if…

• Your primary goal is to protect standard windows and doors.
• You want the absolute highest level of security against break-ins.
• You want the ability to create 100% darkness and privacy.
• You want the added benefit of sound insulation.
• Your primary concern is storm/security, not daily “lifestyle” use.

For many whole-home solutions in the Myrtle Beach area, the best answer is often a combination of both: roll-down shutters on the primary windows and doors, and StormTex hurricane screens on the patios and lanais.

Trust the Installation Experts at American Hurricane Shutters

A motorized hurricane screen is a precision-engineered system. The tracks must be perfectly plumb and the housing perfectly level, or the screen will bind and fail. The electrical work must be done to code by professionals. This is not a job for a “handyman” or a company that uses subcontractors.

At American Hurricane Shutters, we are a local, family-owned, and disabled-owned business. We have been serving the Carolinas since 2007, and our reputation is everything. When you hire us to install your hurricane screens, you get a set of non-negotiable promises:

• No Subcontractors. Ever. Our own full-time, in-house employees perform every installation, including the electrical connections.
• We Are Fully Insured. You are completely protected by our General Liability, Workers’ Compensation, and $2,000,000 umbrella policy.
• We Are Product Masters. We are experts in the Alutech StormTex and OmegaTex systems. We install them to the manufacturer’s exact specifications, validating your warranty.
• We Are Local & Accountable. As a proud member of the Wilmington-Cape Fear HBA, we are part of your community. Our owner, Matthew Burns, is personally invested in ensuring every job is done to the highest standard.