Hurricane season is an everyday reality for us folks here in Southwest Florida. Between June 1st and November 30th, many homeowners are busy running down their checklists making sure their home is hurricane-proof. Roof? Check. Windows? Shutters. Emergency supplies? Restocked. But have you checked your pool enclosures? As a top installer of Fort Lauderdale pool screen enclosures, one thing we notice many of our customers forget to hurricane-proof are their pool screens. Taking preventative steps to protect your pool enclosures is essential if you don’t want to end up spending a lot of money on repairs. Here’s what you should be doing to prepare your pool against storms.
Getting Your Pool Enclosures Hurricane Ready
1. Inspect every detail
First, do a full walk-around of your screen enclosure to spot any potential weaknesses or early signs of wear or tear that could fail when winds reach high speeds. Here are some things to watch for:
- Rusted, missing or loose screws and fasteners
- Check your screen mesh for holes, tears, or panels pulling away from the frame
- Inspect the foundation and anchoring to see if the concrete footers or anchors have any cracks or shifting
2. Keep the surrounding landscape clear
The area around your enclosure is just as essential as the structure. When a hurricane strikes, airborne debris and fallen debris are usually what causes damage to the screen. You should trim the trees on your property and get rid of any overhanging dead limbs, cut back vines or shrubs growing against the frame, and make sure there are no parts of your landscaping leaning or touching the enclosure beams or mesh.
3. Securing loose items
Decor, furniture, and equipment are all parts of a well-done outdoor space – but when hurricane season comes, all these items need to be locked down or removed. You don’t want unsecured lawn chairs to be borne on the high wind through aluminum frames or screen doors. Some things you should anchor or bring indoors:
- Potted plants, outdoor rubs, and umbrellas
- Patio chairs, dining sets, and loungers
- BBQ grills, side tables, and lighting accessories
- Pool cleaning equipment, toys, and floats
4. Taking out screen panels
Screens act like sails against strong winds, and high-quality screens that don’t tear can end up stressing the aluminum frame until it collapses. Sometimes, removing a few panels on the wind-facing side can minimize structural strain, reduce internal wind pressure, and prevent the entire enclosure from collapsing. Of course, this step depends on the type and condition of your enclosure, and you should check with professionals to see if it’s the best decision for saving your pool enclosure.
5. Schedule a professional check-up
A professional inspection will ensure the integrity of your screen before a hurricane hits, and the professional can also help you ensure anchoring systems are stable and replace worn screens and faulty hardware. The professional will pinpoint any failing areas that require reinforcement and offer recommendations to secure your screen enclosure area.
Contact Us Today
The professionals at Hammond Industries can help you hurricane-proof your pool enclosures and get ready for incoming storms. Contact Hammond Industries for Fort Lauderdale screen enclosures the community trusts today!
