Hurricane screens are retractable, code-rated barriers that protect lanais, sliding glass doors, and large openings from windborne debris and storm-driven rain.
Mr. Build installs roll-down hurricane screens, motorized storm screens, Kevlar-reinforced hurricane fabric, accordion shutters, and aluminum and polycarbonate storm panels. Every system meets or exceeds the Florida Building Code, with Miami-Dade-approved options available for the highest-velocity hurricane zones along Florida’s coast. Family-owned and serving Gulf Coast homeowners since 1976, the team measures, recommends, and installs the system that fits your openings, your exposure, and the way you actually use your home. Free in-home estimates throughout Manatee and Sarasota Counties.
Hurricane screens protect the parts of a Florida home that bulky shutters and stored panels cannot easily cover. They mount discreetly above the opening, roll down in seconds when a storm is forecast, and retract back into a slim header the rest of the year. For homeowners along the Gulf Coast, they are the system of choice for lanais, pool cages, sliding glass doors, covered patios, and large picture windows where preserving the view matters as much as the protection itself.
The technology behind them is simple but effective. Hurricane screens are built from a high-strength woven fabric, typically Kevlar-reinforced, that flexes under wind loads rather than resisting them head-on. When a piece of windborne debris hits the fabric, the impact energy spreads across the weave and dissipates, allowing the fabric to outperform rigid panels in the widest openings. Top-rated systems are tested to withstand sustained wind loads of 150 to 200-plus miles per hour and meet the Florida Building Code requirements for hurricane protection.
A roll-down hurricane screen is a single continuous panel of hurricane-rated fabric attached to a rolling tube housed in a discreet aluminum casing above the opening. The fabric runs vertically along tracks on either side of the window or doorway, anchoring it to the structure and locking the bottom rail in place during a storm. The whole system disappears into the housing when retracted, so the only visible component the rest of the year is a slim header that paints in to match the home’s trim.
Mr. Build installs roll-down hurricane screens in two configurations, motorized and manual, chosen based on the opening, the homeowner’s preference, and how many systems are being installed across the property.
Motorized systems deploy with a wall switch, a wireless remote, or a smartphone app. For homeowners protecting a large lanai, a pool cage, or multiple openings across the back of the home, motorization turns what would be an afternoon of hand-cranking into a thirty-second task on the way out the door. Battery backups and solar power options keep the screens functional even during the power outages that follow most storms. Most systems integrate with smart-home platforms, so screens can be programmed to deploy automatically when a storm watch is issued.
Manual systems use a removable crank handle to roll the screen down and back up. They cost less than motorized systems, require no electrical work, and have fewer moving parts to maintain over their service life. For a single window, a small entryway, or a homeowner who only needs to deploy once or twice a season, a manual roll-down delivers the same level of protection as a motorized system without the extra investment.
Hurricane fabric is the technical name for the Kevlar and polyester weave that makes roll-down screens possible. It looks like a dense, slightly translucent mesh, and it works by flexing under wind load rather than resisting it.
When a piece of windborne debris hits the fabric, the impact energy spreads across the weave and dissipates, which is what allows a flexible material to outperform rigid panels on the largest openings. Hurricane fabric is also available as a standalone product, sold in panels that anchor to studs around the window for seasonal deployment.
Storm panels are rigid aluminum, steel, or clear polycarbonate sections that bolt over the opening when a storm is forecast and come down once the threat passes. They are the most affordable storm protection product on a square-foot basis, and well-maintained panels can last the lifetime of the home. The tradeoff is storage and deployment. Panels need somewhere to live the rest of the year, and putting them up before a storm is a multi-hour job that often falls on the homeowner. Mr. Build still installs panels for homeowners who want budget-conscious whole-home protection or who need a code-compliant solution for an opening that does not suit a roll-down system.
Lanais, pool cages, covered patios, and outdoor kitchens are the openings where hurricane screens make the most sense for Gulf Coast homes. These spaces are typically too wide for practical storm panels and too visible for permanent shutters. A panoramic lanai or outdoor living area is not something most homeowners want covered by bulky aluminum barriers year-round.
Roll-down hurricane screens solve that problem cleanly. A single screen can span large openings with minimal visible hardware, then retract into a slim housing when not in use. Motorized systems deploy in seconds before a storm, while still preserving the view, airflow, and appearance of the space the rest of the year. Screens also help protect outdoor kitchens, pool areas, and covered patios from wind-driven rain and debris during tropical storms and hurricanes.
Common Mr. Build installations include lanais along the Manatee and Sarasota County coastline, pool cage perimeters in Lakewood Ranch, outdoor kitchens on Anna Maria Island, screened patios in Venice and North Port, and large sliding glass door openings on Gulf-facing homes.
Protecting a lanai or outdoor living space? Mr. Build can measure the opening, recommend a motorized or manual system, and provide a written estimate at no cost.
Choosing between hurricane screens and hurricane shutters depends on the opening, the homeowner’s priorities, and how the space is used. Screens are typically preferred for large outdoor living areas and wide openings, while shutters remain a strong option for smaller windows and security-focused applications.
Feature | Hurricane Screens | Accordion Hurricane Shutters |
Best For | Lanais, pool cages, large openings | Smaller windows and entry doors |
Visibility | Hidden when retracted | Visible year-round |
Deployment | One-touch motorized options available | Manual deployment |
Appearance | Minimal visible hardware | More noticeable exterior look |
Security | Storm protection focused | Storm + added security barrier |
Common Use | Outdoor living spaces and sliding glass doors | Street-facing and smaller openings |
Most Mr. Build installations combine both systems. A typical Gulf Coast home might use roll-down screens across the lanai and sliding glass doors, with accordion shutters on street-facing windows or side entry doors. Because Mr. Build installs multiple categories of storm protection, recommendations are based on the opening, wind exposure, and how the homeowner uses the space.
Every storm protection product Mr. Build installs is rated to the current Florida Building Code. For coastal properties in high-velocity hurricane zones, Mr. Build pulls Miami-Dade NOA-approved, or TAS-201, TAS-202, and TAS-203 rated products, which are tested for large missile impact, cyclic pressure loading, and wind-driven rain resistance. The team coordinates with local Manatee and Sarasota County permitting offices on every install and provides the documentation homeowners need for wind mitigation inspections and insurance discount applications afterward.
Code-compliant hurricane protection is also one of the variables on the OIR-B1-1802 wind mitigation form that most Florida insurers use to calculate premium discounts. Installing a Florida Building Code-rated screen or shutter system on every opening typically qualifies the home for the strongest opening protection credit on the form, though the actual savings vary by carrier and policy.
Mr. Build serves homeowners across Manatee and Sarasota Counties and the broader Gulf Coast. Service areas include
Coastal exposure varies across this footprint, so the team measures each home and specifies products to match its wind zone and code requirements. Free in-home consultations are available across the full service area.
Mr. Build has installed hurricane protection systems across Bradenton, Sarasota, and the surrounding Gulf Coast for nearly five decades. Longstanding experience in coastal Florida matters when dealing with changing code requirements, hurricane exposure, and the large outdoor living spaces common throughout the region.
Owner Joe Long is a licensed Florida General Contractor with a Mechanical Engineering degree from Northern Illinois University and more than 25 years of construction experience. Recommendations are based on opening size, wind exposure, Florida code requirements, and how the homeowner actually uses the space.
Mr. Build installs roll-down hurricane screens, motorized storm screens, hurricane fabric systems, accordion shutters, and storm panels. Because the company operates across multiple product categories, recommendations are driven by what best fits the home rather than pushing a single system.
Every product installed is rated to the current Florida Building Code, with Miami-Dade-approved options available for coastal and high-velocity hurricane zones. The team handles permitting through Manatee and Sarasota County and provides the documentation needed for wind mitigation inspections and insurance applications afterward.
Every consultation includes in-home measurements, written estimates before work begins, and product recommendations tailored to the property, wind exposure, and opening type. Mr. Build serves homeowners across Bradenton, Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Venice, Longboat Key, Anna Maria Island, and surrounding Gulf Coast communities.
Certified products built to endure severe wind loads, flying debris, and high pressure.
Protects both structure and interior.
Storm protection that is rated and certified (Florida Building Code and, where applicable, Miami‑Dade or other high‑velocity endorsements) can help homes pass inspections and may reduce insurance premiums.
Professional installation ensures proper anchoring, hardware, and fit.
Knowing your home is protected gives you confidence during storm season.
We offer styles, colors, finishes, and profiles so protection does not mean compromise.
Many systems stay hidden or retract when not in use.
Well‑installed storm protection preserves home condition, reduces damage risk, and can be a feature buyers value.
Aluminum or steel panels and shutters, with durable framing and corrosion‑resistant finishes.
Durable clear panels that let natural light into your home while still delivering strong hurricane protection. These panels provide a balance of safety and visibility, so you don’t feel closed in during storm season while keeping your property secure.
Durable tracks, locking mechanisms, and mounting brackets installed according to code and manufacturer specifications, providing secure anchoring and dependable storm protection.
All our products are built to conform with Florida Building Code. Accordion shutters are Miami‑Dade approved.
When required, we install NOA or TAS‑rated products for areas with high wind or coastal exposure.
Hurricane screens are better for large openings, lanais, pool cages, and sliding glass doors; shutters are better for smaller windows and security-focused openings. Most Gulf Coast homes use a combination of both, with screens across the back of the home and accordion shutters on street-facing windows.
Roll-down hurricane screens in Southwest Florida typically range from approximately $25 to $50 per square foot installed. Final pricing depends on opening size, whether the system is motorized or manual, the wind zone, and the fabric brand. Mr. Build provides a free in-home measurement and written estimate before any work begins.
Yes, for homeowners protecting a large lanai, multiple openings, or a property they leave unattended for parts of the year. One-touch or app-based deployment turns hours of storm prep into seconds, and battery backups keep the system functional during the power outages that follow most hurricanes. For a single window, a manual hand crank provides the same protection at a lower price.
Yes. Every system Mr. Build installs is rated to the current Florida Building Code, with Miami-Dade NOA-approved options available for high-velocity hurricane zones along the coast. The team handles permitting through Manatee and Sarasota County and provides the documentation needed for wind mitigation inspections after installation.
Most Florida insurers offer a wind mitigation credit when every opening is protected by a code-rated screen or shutter system. The credit is calculated from the OIR-B1-1802 wind mitigation inspection form, and actual savings vary by carrier and policy. Ordering a wind mitigation inspection after installation is usually worth the cost.
Yes. Mr. Build has installed storm protection on the Gulf Coast since 1976. The service area covers Bradenton, Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Palmetto, Parrish, Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Venice, and North Port.
Protect your home with reliable, code‑certified storm protection built for Florida’s climate. Contact Mr. Build today to schedule a free estimate and find the best solution for your windows and doors in the Bradenton‑Sarasota area.
Florida’s hurricane season runs from June through November, and the right time to install storm protection is before the first named storm of the year forms in the Atlantic. Whether you need a motorized roll-down screen across a lanai, accordion shutters on a row of windows, or full-home protection ahead of the season, Mr. Build measures, recommends, and installs the system that fits your openings and your wind zone.
Code-compliant products, written estimates before any work begins, and the documentation needed for wind mitigation insurance credits afterward. Family-owned and serving Bradenton, Sarasota, and the Gulf Coast since 1976. Call (941) 746-5838
