Living in Southwest Florida means hurricane season is a fact of life. Whether you’re in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Sarasota, or Bradenton, preparing your pool enclosure and outdoor aluminum structures before a storm hits can mean the difference between minor repairs and a total rebuild. Here’s how we help homeowners create a customized plan to give their structures the best chance of surviving.
Pre-Season Inspection: What We Look For
Before hurricane season starts (June 1), we recommend a professional inspection of your enclosure. What we check: loose or corroded fasteners and connections, screen panels that are deteriorating or pulling away from the frame, roof-to-wall tie connections, foundation anchoring condition, door hardware and latching mechanisms, and any previous repair work that may not have been done to code.
Weak points that go unaddressed become failure points in a storm. A $200 repair in May can prevent a $15,000 rebuild in October.
Customized Storm Preparation Plans
Not every enclosure is the same, and not every storm threat is the same. We work with homeowners to develop a preparation plan based on their specific structure. For older enclosures built before current code requirements, we identify which connections and members are most vulnerable and prioritize reinforcement. For newer hurricane-rated structures, the prep is simpler — mostly inspection and maintenance.
Key elements of a storm prep plan include: identifying which screen panels to remove if a major hurricane is approaching (removing screen reduces wind load on the frame dramatically), securing loose items inside the enclosure, ensuring all doors are properly latched, and knowing when professional help is needed versus what you can handle yourself.
Roll-Down Screens and Shutters
For homeowners who want maximum protection, we install roll-down hurricane screens and shutters. These systems deploy quickly when a storm approaches and provide engineered wind protection for your outdoor living spaces. They’re especially popular for enclosed lanais, pergolas, and patio areas where you want everyday openness but storm-ready protection on demand.
After the Storm: What to Do
If your enclosure sustains damage, document everything with photos and video before touching anything — this is critical for insurance claims. Don’t attempt structural repairs yourself. And remember: post-storm rebuilds must meet current building code, which is more stringent than when most original structures were built. That means your rebuild will actually be stronger.
Get Your Enclosure Storm-Ready
Don’t wait until a storm is in the forecast. Call (239) 264-5914 or contact us online to schedule a pre-season inspection. We’ll assess your structure, identify vulnerabilities, and recommend specific steps to maximize your enclosure’s storm survival chances.
Related
Hurricane-rated systems and roll-down screens · What to do after storm damage · Pool enclosure services
Leave a Reply