Every hurricane season, Florida homeowners face the same decision: how to protect their home without sacrificing the outdoor living space they love. Traditional accordion and roll-down shutters have long been the standard, but a newer option — motorized impact screens — is quickly becoming the preferred choice for patios, lanais, garages, and pool areas across the state.
At Lafferty Hurricane Protection, we install motorized impact screen systems engineered specifically for Florida's wind, humidity, and salt-air conditions. Here's what to know before you decide which system is right for your home.
Homeowners are increasingly choosing motorized screens because they solve a problem shutters don't: making outdoor spaces usable between storms, not just protected during them.
A patio, lanai, or garage with a motorized screen system stays more comfortable throughout the year — less direct sun, less glare, fewer mosquitoes and no-see-ums — while still retracting fully whenever homeowners want open-air access.
One of the biggest advantages of motorized impact screens is convenience.
Unlike traditional shutters that require manual setup, motorized systems deploy quickly with the push of a button.
This allows homeowners to secure:
…without dealing with heavy manual shutters during stressful weather conditions.
This is especially helpful during:
For many Florida homeowners, the simplicity alone makes motorized systems worth the investment.
Motorized impact screens are engineered to help withstand:
Most systems use high-strength mesh material designed for wind and impact resistance, along with corrosion-resistant aluminum framing. As with any hurricane protection product, performance depends heavily on professional installation and proper structural anchoring — a system is only as strong as its mounting.
Unlike traditional shutters that are only used during storms, motorized impact screens provide everyday benefits homeowners can enjoy year-round.
Florida sun can quickly make patios and outdoor spaces uncomfortable.
Motorized screens help reduce:
This creates a cooler, more comfortable outdoor environment while also helping protect:
from fading over time.
Motorized impact screens also help create a more private and comfortable outdoor space without fully blocking airflow or visibility.
This is especially useful for:
Many homeowners enjoy the ability to create shade and privacy when needed while still maintaining an open feel.
Mosquitoes and no-see-ums are a constant challenge in Florida.
Motorized screens help keep insects out while still allowing airflow and outdoor visibility, making patios and lanais much more enjoyable throughout the year.
The right setup depends on the home's location, exposure, and how the space is used day to day. In most cases, we recommend:
Many homeowners choose hurricane protection based on storm performance alone, without factoring in everyday usability. Older shutter systems protect the home but block views, reduce curb appeal, and sit unused for most of the year.
Another frequent mistake: choosing budget systems not specifically rated for Florida wind and humidity conditions, which often need repair or replacement years sooner than properly engineered systems.
For many Florida homeowners, absolutely.
Motorized impact screens help create outdoor spaces that feel:
They also offer the convenience of fast storm preparation without sacrificing the appearance of the home.
For homeowners who value both protection and outdoor living, motorized impact screens are quickly becoming one of the most practical upgrades available.
Quality motorized impact screens are engineered and tested to meet the same Florida wind and impact codes as traditional shutters. Strength depends on the specific product's rating and, critically, on professional installation and anchoring.
Yes — that's one of their main advantages. Screens can be deployed and retracted daily for sun, privacy, or insect control, and don't require storm conditions to be useful.
Most systems include a manual crank or battery backup override so screens can still be deployed if power is lost — ask your installer to confirm this feature is included.
Cost depends on opening size, mesh type, and add-ons like wind sensors. A free consultation with a specific quote is the most accurate way to budget, since pricing varies significantly by project.
Not necessarily — it depends on the openings involved. Many homeowners use shutters for windows and motorized screens for patios, lanais, or garages, since each is suited to different types of openings and use cases.
The right motorized impact screen system can help protect your home while making patios, lanais, garages, and outdoor living areas dramatically more comfortable throughout the year.
At Lafferty Hurricane Protection, we install high-quality motorized impact screen systems designed specifically for Florida weather conditions and outdoor living.
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Great company and quality work!
Great price and great work. Am very happy with the business.
Great price and the installation technician did an outstanding job.
"We are very satisfied with our new fence and work done by Lafferty Aluminum. Quality, professionalism, and reliability working with Lafferty has been very good and I am happy we chose them."
"Lafferty was one of the easiest and smoothest company's to work with. We are building our home and these guys were so customer friendly, answered all our questions, was available to take our call if we had questions."
"Friendly service, professional attitude of employee, polite and they cleaned up as they worked. We had our pool enclosed redone after hurricane damage and now it looks great. Thanks"
"Lafferty did a fantastic job from start to finish on the patio pavers and aluminum screening. They completed the project on time, and perhaps even a little ahead of schedule!"
"I couldn't be happier with the work performed by Lafferty. They replaced my original screen house in February in a professional and timely manner. I would highly recommend them for your screen enclosure needs."
We're excited to learn more about your needs and provide you with a personalized quote. Please fill out the form, and our team will get back to you with a detailed estimate to kickstart your project.
