First: Make It Safe
After a storm, walk the enclosure carefully. Loose aluminum framing can have sharp edges, and a partially collapsed roof section can come down the rest of the way. Keep kids and pets away from damaged areas. If framing is bent or hanging, do not try to bend it back yourself — aluminum work-hardens and snaps. Tape or tie off flapping screen so it does not whip in the next gust and cause more damage.
Second: Photograph Everything Before You Touch It
Take wide shots of the whole enclosure from all four sides, then close-ups of every damaged panel, bent member, and broken door. Get the roof too. These photos serve two purposes: your insurance claim will want them, and they let us triage and quote your repair without an immediate site visit. Do this before any cleanup — "after" photos without "before" photos weaken a claim.
Third: Get on a Repair List
After a major storm, every screen company in Pinellas County is booked for weeks. Send us the form with your photos as soon as you can — we triage by urgency. Enclosures that are unsafe, wide open to the pool (a drowning hazard for small kids and pets), or letting debris pour in get priority. We will tell you honestly where you stand in line.
What Storm Damage Usually Looks Like
- Torn panels. The most common damage — wind-driven debris punches through mesh, and gusts rip already-tired screens. Usually panel replacement, sometimes many of them.
- Bent or broken frame members. Aluminum beams bent by wind or falling branches. These need frame repair — screens cannot be re-tensioned on a bent frame.
- Doors ripped off. Screen doors are wind catchers. Hinges tear out, closers snap. We repair and replace doors.
- Roof sections. The worst damage — a collapsed or partially collapsed roof. This can be a structural rebuild, not a screen job. We will tell you straight which one it is.
Repair or Full Rescreen After a Storm?
If the storm took out a handful of panels and the rest of the mesh is healthy, repair the damaged ones. If it took out a third or more — or if the surviving mesh is old and brittle — a full rescreen usually makes more sense. Our rescreen vs. repair guide covers the math.
Will Insurance Cover It?
Storm damage to screen enclosures is often covered under homeowners policies, subject to your deductible and any windstorm exclusions. Document everything, file promptly, and get a written repair quote to give your adjuster. Our insurance claims guide walks through how homeowners usually handle it. We are screen people, not adjusters — your agent is the authority on your policy.
Before the Next Storm
The best storm prep is maintenance: replace brittle panels before hurricane season (June through November), make sure doors latch and closers work, and check that frame screws are tight. A healthy cage sheds wind; a tired one catches it. Our maintenance guide has the full checklist.