Should You Cut Your Screen Enclosure Before a Hurricane?

Simple Answer: No

During a visit to a customer’s home recently, they asked me a question I hear every hurricane season.

“I’ve heard you’re supposed to cut the screens before a storm. Is that true?”

It’s a fair question and one a lot of homeowners ask. The short answer is no. Cutting your screen enclosure before a hurricane is not a good idea and often causes more damage than the storm itself.

We’ve seen this happen in real storms

Several years ago, South Florida was warned about a major Category 5 hurricane. The news made it sound like the worst storm imaginable. The storm stayed offshore near Jupiter and moved north. We had little to no storm damage in most areas.

But after the storm, our phone rang nonstop.

The damage we saw was not from the hurricane.

It was from homeowners who cut their screen fabric ahead of time.

Screen enclosures that were left alone were fine.

Screen enclosures that were cut ended up twisted, loose, or damaged.

Screen fabric helps hold the enclosure together

A screen enclosure is not just metal poles with fabric inside. When the screen is installed tight, it helps keep the whole structure strong and square.

Cutting the screen:

Removes tension

Makes the frame weaker

Lets the structure move too much in the wind

Hurricane winds are wild and unpredictable. Wind does not calmly pass through holes. Cutting the screens does not help with pressure. It weakens the enclosure.

Do yourself a favor and don’t cut the screens

Do yourself a favor and don’t cut the screens.

If something flies into the enclosure during a storm, the screen fabric is meant to tear on its own. Cutting it ahead of time only weakens the enclosure and makes it easier for damage to happen. Let the structure stay tight and intact.

The real weak point is usually the door

One of the biggest problems we see during storms is the screen door latch.

With strong wind and constant shaking, door latches can come loose. Once the door opens, it can swing hard, catch wind, and cause serious damage.

A simple tip that actually helps is to tie the screen door shut using fishing line or light wire. This helps keep the door from opening if the latch fails and keeps the enclosure closed as one unit.

Be careful who you listen to during hurricane season

Many people who tell homeowners to cut their screens are the same people handing out business cards after the storm and charging double or triple for repairs.

Fear leads to bad advice. Bad advice leads to unnecessary damage.

A well-built Florida screen enclosure is designed to handle storms better when it is left intact.

Our recommendation

Do not cut your screen enclosure before a hurricane.

Instead:

Leave the screens in place

Secure the screen doors

Fix loose or damaged areas before storm season

Have your enclosure checked by a licensed professional

Most screen enclosure hurricane damage we see could have been avoided.

Questions before the next storm?

If you are unsure how your pool screen enclosure or patio enclosure will hold up during a storm, we’re happy to help.

Home Service

 561-252-9899

Written by:

Alex Hejazi

Florida Licensed Specialty Building Contractor

License #: SCC131151613

Home Service