Roll-down and motorized hurricane screens for lanais, sliding glass doors, pool cages, and large openings. Florida code-rated. Installed across the Gulf Coast since 1976.
Hurricane screens are deployable barriers made from high-strength woven fabric, typically Kevlar reinforced, designed to absorb wind pressure and stop windborne debris before it reaches the glass or structure behind it. Unlike rigid shutters that resist force directly, hurricane screens flex under wind load and dissipate impact energy across the weave, making them especially effective for the wide openings common on Florida homes, including lanais and large sliding glass doors.
Most systems install permanently in a slim aluminum housing above the opening. When a storm is forecast, the screen rolls down into side tracks anchored to the structure. Once the storm passes, it retracts back into the housing, preserving the home’s view, airflow, and appearance. Top-rated systems are tested to withstand sustained wind loads exceeding 150 to 200 miles per hour and meet Florida Building Code requirements for opening 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 through tracks on either side of the window or doorway, which anchor it to the structure and lock 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.
Feature | Motorized | Manual |
Deployment | Wall switch, remote, or app | Removable hand crank |
Time per opening | ~10 seconds | 1 to 2 minutes |
Power required | Yes (battery backup available) | None |
Cost premium | Higher upfront | Most affordable roll-down option |
Best for | Lanais, multiple openings, properties left unattended | Single openings, budget-conscious whole-home |
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 tropical storm warning is issued in the home’s county.
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.
Request a free estimate on a motorized or manual roll-down hurricane screen for your Bradenton or Sarasota home. Call (941) 746-5838 or visit our page..
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 without permanent housing.
Choosing between hurricane screens and hurricane shutters depends on the opening, how the space is used, and the homeowner’s priorities. Hurricane screens are the better fit for large openings, lanais, covered outdoor spaces, and homeowners who want one-touch deployment with minimal visible hardware. Accordion shutters are better suited for smaller windows, side entry doors, and security-focused openings where a permanent mechanical barrier matters more than appearance.
Most Mr. Build installations combine multiple systems. A Gulf Coast home might use roll-down screens across the lanai and rear sliding glass doors, accordion shutters on street-facing windows, and storm panels for smaller or less visible openings. Because Mr. Build installs multiple categories of storm protection, recommendations are based on the home itself rather than a single product line.
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 delivers 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. See the main Storm Protection page for a full breakdown of insurance savings.
Yes, in most cases. Mr. Build measures the opening, verifies the structure can support the housing and side tracks, and recommends any reinforcement needed before install. Lanais with wood beams, aluminum framing, and concrete columns can all typically accommodate a roll-down screen system.
Yes. Mr. Build has installed hurricane protection on Florida’s 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.
Florida’s hurricane season runs from June through November, and the right time to install a hurricane screen is before the first named storm of the year forms in the Atlantic. Whether you need a motorized roll-down screen across a lanai, a manual hand-crank system on a single window, or a full-home package combined with accordion shutters and impact windows, 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.
Contact Mr Build today to request a free estimate.
