Hurricane screens in Florida are motorized fabric or vinyl barriers that roll down over a lanai, patio, window or door opening to block storm wind and wind-driven debris, then retract into a housing when the storm passes. They protect the openings on a home that have no glass to protect.
The National Hurricane Center classifies a storm as a hurricane once sustained winds reach 74 mph, and as Category 5 at 157 mph or higher. A lanai or pool cage sits open to all of it. Commercial Residential Aluminum installs MagnaTrack hurricane screen systems for Florida homes. That range includes the Defender System, which CRA describes as Category 5 hurricane protection that deploys in seconds and disappears into a compact housing when you don’t need it.
How Do Hurricane Screens Work?
Hurricane screens close off an opening that would otherwise be wide open to a storm. On a lanai or pool cage, that means the screen takes the wind and debris load instead of the enclosure’s screening, furniture and sliding doors behind it.
CRA’s Defender System uses patented MagnaTrack technology, described as magnetic fields that dampen the impact of wind loads and flying debris. CRA states its screen systems have been tested against sustained winds exceeding 150 mph and Category 5 hurricane conditions, and that they meet Miami-Dade and Florida Building Code standards. The fixed-track version, built for window and door openings rather than large spans, is certified by CRA for Category 5 protection at 156+ mph.
The same system works the rest of the year. Solar screen fabrics block 70% to 97% of harmful UV rays, which reduces heat and energy costs. Insect mesh comes in two weaves: 16/14 for flies and mosquitoes, and 17/20 for smaller insects. Clear or tinted vinyl panels keep rain and wind out of an outdoor room so it stays usable through the wet season. They span up to 26 feet wide and 18 feet tall and run on remote control or home automation.
About the MagnaTrack Screen
MagnaTrack replaces the zipper or fixed side track used by most retractable screen systems with a magnetic edge retention system. Rare-earth neodymium magnets, the strongest naturally occurring magnets used in retractable screen manufacturing, are integrated into the aluminum side channels. The system is built on US Patent No. 9,719,272 and uses opposing polarity for dual magnetic pull. The manufacturer, Progressive Screens, rates that pull at more than 10 times the force of any other system in the market.
The practical difference is what happens under load. The magnetic track is self-tensioning, so the screen edge can expand outward under wind pressure and then self-adjust back into the channel when the pressure subsides, rather than tearing free or jamming. Progressive Screens attributes a 98% reduction in common service issues to this design compared with fixed-track and zipper systems. The hardware is built for a salt-air climate: extruded aluminum housing and tracks, glass-filled nylon end caps to prevent corrosion, and stainless steel fasteners.
Screen types compared
| System | Built for | Key spec | Warranty |
| Defender System | Category 5 storm protection on large openings | Magnetic fields dampen wind loads and flying debris | 15-year fabric warranty |
| Vinyl system | Year-round rain and wind protection | Up to 26’W x 18’H, clear or tinted, remote or home automation | Per CRA warranty terms |
| Solar screen | Heat, glare and UV reduction | Blocks 70%-97% of UV rays | Per CRA warranty terms |
| Insect screen | Airflow with bug protection | 16/14 mesh for flies and mosquitoes; 17/20 for tiny insects | Per CRA warranty terms |
| Fixed screen | Window and door openings | Certified Category 5 (156+ mph); max 10’W x 20’H or 20’W x 10’H | Per CRA warranty terms |
What is the Installation Timeline for a Hurricane Screen?
CRA manages all permitting and regulatory requirements as specified by the State of Florida and local authorities, using its own design staff, chief engineer and permitting team. Products are pre-fabricated in a controlled environment and then installed on site in line with engineering and permitting requirements. The stages run in this order:
- Free estimate and consultation: CRA offers free estimates for all projects. A customer experience specialist reviews the opening and the use case.
- Measurement and design: Openings are measured and the system is specified: screen type, fabric, color, motor and control method.
- Engineering and permitting: CRA’s engineering and permitting team prepares and submits the documentation required by the state and the local building authority.
- Fabrication: The system is built to the measured dimensions in CRA’s controlled fabrication environment.
- Installation: The housing, side channels and motor are installed on site. MagnaTrack can be fitted as a recessed system or retrofitted to an existing structure. Inspection and handover: Final inspection, then a walkthrough of remote and wall-switch operation. Deployment itself takes seconds.
Planning a screen project alongside enclosure work is usually easier than doing it twice. If you are weighing that up, CRA’s guide to whether pool enclosures are hurricane proof covers what an aluminum cage is and is not rated to handle.
Why Homeowners Choose CRA & MagnaTrack Screens
Commercial Residential Aluminum & Fabricating, LLC has operated since 1992. The company runs a team of more than 200 professionals and has completed more than 30,000 screening projects in the last five years. It holds Florida state contractor licences SCC056736 and CGC058897 and is a BBB-accredited business with an A+ rating.
Installation quality decides whether a screen holds. Anchoring, side-channel alignment and motor placement are what transfer wind load into the structure, and MagnaTrack’s magnetic edge retention only performs if the channels are set correctly.
CRA installs across eleven Florida counties, including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake. That covers Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Sarasota, Venice, Bradenton, Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Orlando, Kissimmee and Clermont, among others. The full service area list shows every city covered.
Next step: Request a free estimate or call 855-272-2243 to have a CRA specialist measure your lanai and quote a MagnaTrack system. See the full MagnaTrack hurricane screen range first if you want to narrow down the screen type before you call.
FAQs
Do I need a permit to install hurricane screens in Florida?
Yes. Hurricane screens are permitted opening protection in Florida and the work must meet state and local building authority requirements. CRA manages all permitting and regulatory requirements as specified by the State of Florida and local authorities, using its in-house design staff, chief engineer and permitting team, so the homeowner does not file separately.
Can hurricane screens lower my Florida homeowners insurance premium?
Possibly. Florida Statute 627.0629 requires residential property insurance rate filings to include actuarially reasonable discounts, credits or other rate differentials for properties where fixtures or construction techniques demonstrated to reduce windstorm loss have been installed, and it lists opening protection among them. Ask your carrier what documentation it needs.
Will CRA install hurricane screens on a mobile or manufactured home?
No. CRA specializes exclusively in residential and commercial properties and does not provide services for mobile homes or manufactured homes. Homeowners in those categories will need a contractor who works on manufactured housing.
What warranty comes with a CRA hurricane screen installation?
CRA’s Defender System carries a 15-year fabric warranty. CRA’s general terms include a 3-year structural warranty covering defects in workmanship and materials, plus one-year limited warranties on hardware, painted surfaces and standard screening. Damage, abuse, acts of nature or lack of maintenance voids the warranty, as does modifying the structure.
Can MagnaTrack screens be added to a lanai that is already built?
Yes. MagnaTrack can be installed as a recessed system in new construction or retrofitted to an existing structure, so an existing lanai or pool cage does not have to be rebuilt. The housing mounts above the opening and the magnetic side channels attach to the existing columns or walls.
What should I do with my screens before a storm arrives?
Deploy them and confirm they seat fully in the side channels, then clear the enclosed space of loose furniture and objects that could become debris. CRA’s storm preparation guide for pool and screen enclosures covers the rest of the pre-storm checklist.
