🌪️ How to Prepare Your Lanai for a Hurricane

Protecting Your Outdoor Space Before the Storm Hits

Living in Southwest Florida means enjoying sunshine, palm trees, and outdoor living — but it also means being ready for hurricane season. Your lanai or pool cage is one of the most exposed parts of your home, and taking the right steps before a storm can prevent thousands of dollars in damage.

At The Lanai Guys, we help homeowners protect and strengthen their lanais every year. Here’s how to prepare your enclosure properly — and what not to do.

⚠️ Don’t Cut Your Screens

One of the biggest misconceptions we hear is that you should cut or remove your lanai screens before a hurricane. Don’t do it. Your screens actually help strengthen the structure by distributing wind pressure across the frame. Cutting them weakens the entire enclosure, making it more likely to twist, bend, or collapse under high winds.

If your screens do get damaged during a storm, we can always replace them — but if your frame is compromised, that’s a much bigger problem.

🚪 Secure or Remove the Lanai Doors

Lanai doors can become dangerous during strong winds if they’re not properly secured. We recommend locking or removing the doors ahead of time to prevent them from flapping or being ripped off. If you’re unsure how to do this safely, our team can help secure them for you before a storm hits.

🔩 Check Structural Anchors and Fasteners

Inspect where your lanai connects to the concrete slab and the house. Make sure the screws, anchors, and brackets are:

• Tight

• Not rusted or corroded

• Securely fastened into solid material

Rusty or loose anchors can cause sections of the cage to pull free under stress. If you’re not sure your structure is properly secured, we offer lanai inspections to identify weak points before they become failures.

🔧 Inspect Tension Cables and Hardware

Your lanai may have tension cables that help keep the structure rigid during high winds. Make sure they are tight and properly anchored. If they’re loose or rusted, we can adjust or replace them for you to ensure your enclosure is ready to handle storm pressure safely.

🧰 Let the Professionals Help

Hurricane prep isn’t just about boarding windows — your lanai needs care too. The Lanai Guys can come out before any major storm to:

• Inspect your lanai for weaknesses

• Secure doors and structural fasteners

• Tighten tensioners

• Make recommendations to help minimize damage

We’ll give you honest advice and hands-on help to make sure your lanai is as ready as possible before the weather turns.

🌴 Stay Ready, Stay Safe

Your lanai is an important part of your Florida lifestyle — don’t let the next hurricane take it away. Call or text The Lanai Guys at (239) 522-2378 to schedule a pre-storm lanai inspection. We’ll help you prepare, protect, and keep your outdoor space strong — season after season.