What are motorized screens?
Motorized screens are powered outdoor screens that raise and lower with a remote, a wall switch or a smart home control. They close in a patio, lanai, porch or pool cabana in seconds, then roll back up out of sight when you want the open air.
Systems like MagnaTrack by Progressive Screens pair smooth motorized operation with hardware built for the Florida climate. Depending on the screen you choose, one system can give you everyday shade, privacy, temperature control and insect protection, plus hurricane protection when a storm is on the way.
Advanced Hurricane Protection installs MagnaTrack screens for homes and businesses from our shop in Stuart. We are family owned and operated, and we have been protecting Treasure Coast properties for over 20 years.
How do motorized hurricane screens work?
A motorized hurricane screen is a heavy-duty screen fabric that rolls down from a housing above the opening and locks into side tracks. When it is closed, it reduces wind-driven rain and helps stop flying debris while still letting some light through.
Before a storm, you lower the screens with a remote or switch instead of hauling out panels or a ladder. The screens offer up to 97% wind reduction when lowered. After the storm passes, you roll them back up and the housing hides them again.
The MagnaTrack Defender is a motorized hurricane screen we install across the Treasure Coast, and it carries Florida Building Code approval.
Can I have a bug screen and a hurricane screen on the same opening?
Yes. We can install two hidden motorized screens on one opening: a bug screen for daily use and a hurricane screen for storm season. You use the bug screen most days and save the hurricane screen for when you need it.
Both screens tuck away out of sight when they are up. That means you get a screened lanai on a calm evening, a fully open patio on a breezy afternoon, and a hurricane screen to protect the lanai when a storm is coming, all from the same opening.
- Bug and insect screens for everyday comfort
- Shade and privacy screens to cut glare and heat
- Hurricane screens, such as the MagnaTrack Defender, for storm protection
- Stainless steel security screens for openings that need extra strength
Hurricane screens vs hurricane shutters: which is better?
It depends on the opening. Hurricane screens are a good fit for large outdoor openings like lanais, patios and pool cabanas, where you want light and a view. Roll-down shutters are a better fit when you want a solid barrier over windows, doors and entries.
Screens are lighter and let daylight in, so your outdoor space does not feel closed off during a storm. Shutters block light completely, which many people prefer for bedrooms and glass doors. Many homes use both, with screens on the lanai and shutters or impact glass on the house. During your free in-home estimate, we will walk each opening with you and recommend what makes sense.
Where can motorized screens be installed?
Motorized screens work on almost any covered outdoor opening. The most common spots on the Treasure Coast are lanais, screened porches, pool cabanas, patios and summer kitchens.
We also install MagnaTrack commercial screens for restaurants, hotels, condominiums and commercial patios, where large outdoor areas need shade, privacy and hurricane protection. For condos and multi-story buildings, we have experience working well above ground level.
- Lanais and pool enclosures
- Covered patios and porches
- Pool cabanas and summer kitchens
- Restaurant and hotel patios
- Condo balconies and terraces
How do you control motorized screens?
Most people use a handheld remote or a wall switch. MagnaTrack screens can also work with smart home systems, so you can raise or lower them from your phone or set them up with the rest of your home controls.
You can stop a screen at any height. That makes it easy to block low afternoon sun on the west side of the lanai while keeping the top of the opening clear for the breeze.
What do motorized screens cost?
The price depends on the size and number of openings, the type of screen and how it is mounted. A bug or shade screen costs less than a hurricane-rated screen, and adding both on one opening changes the price too.
Other factors include the control options you want, whether the opening needs extra framing, and permit requirements for hurricane screens. The simplest way to get a real number is a free in-home estimate. We measure every opening, explain the screen types and give you a detailed written estimate at no cost.
Do motorized screens need maintenance?
Yes, a little. Annual maintenance is strongly recommended for any engineered screen or shutter system, especially near salt air. A yearly check keeps the motors, tracks and fabric working the way they should.
Advanced Hurricane Protection offers MagnaTrack certified yearly check-ups and testing. We look over the system, test operation and take care of small issues before hurricane season, so your screens are ready when you need them.