MaxForce™ News Article Archive
Hurricane screen and hurricane protection guides
Every MaxForce™ article in one place: plain-language guides to hurricane window protection, what each hurricane category means for your home, when to install, what insurance covers, and how motorized hurricane screens compare with shutters and impact glass.
New guides added as they publish
38 articles in 8 categories
Updated November 4, 2026
7 articles
Hurricane Protection Tips
Practical, timing-driven guidance for homeowners: when to install, what insurance actually covers, and why waiting until storm season costs more than acting in the off-season.
The 90-Day Hurricane Preparation Plan: Week-by-Week Guide from March Through May
A week-by-week hurricane preparation plan for March through May, so the work is finished before the season starts on June 1.
Full articleWhat Your Insurance Actually Covers in a Hurricane — And the Gaps That Could Cost You Everything
Most homeowners learn their hurricane deductible after the storm. What a policy covers, what it leaves out, and the gaps that cost the most.
Full articleThe March-to-May Window: When Hurricane Protection Prices, Lead Times & Availability Shift
Prices, lead times and installer availability for hurricane protection shift between March and May. What that means for when you order.
Full article5 Hurricane Preparation ‘Rules’ That Science Has Exposed as Dangerous
Taping windows, cracking one open, nailing up plywood: the hurricane prep "rules" you grew up with. Engineering and science show why each myth can make storm damage worse, not better. Here's what actually protects your home.
Full articleThe Single Point of Failure That Determines If Your Home Survives a Hurricane
Most hurricane damage starts with a single opening. Learn the building science behind cascading structural failure and the one intervention that prevents it.
Full articleThe Real Cost of Waiting: Why January Installations Save You Money (and Stress)
The Martins installed in January; the Delgados waited until June. How timing changes the price, the wait and the insurance savings.
Full articleComplete Hurricane Preparation Checklist: What Lists Miss
The ultimate hurricane preparation checklist with critical items other lists overlook. From freezer strategies to evacuation reality, be truly ready.
Full article
9 articles
The Hurricane Zone
A category-by-category breakdown of what each hurricane classification actually means for your home, plus the expanding geography of risk reaching well beyond the coastline homeowners used to worry about.
What Makes a Hurricane
Learn what actually makes a hurricane dangerous, how these storms form, and why categories matter. Expert guide to hurricane anatomy and storm structure.
Full articleCategory 1: The Deceptive Beginning
Category 1 hurricanes bring 74–95 mph winds and are the storms people most often underestimate. What they damage and why they matter.
Full articleCategory 2: When Protection Becomes Critical
Category 2 hurricanes bring 96–110 mph winds and extensive damage. Why this is the point where protecting openings becomes critical.
Full articleCategory 3 Major Hurricane: 111-129 MPH Winds & Devastating Damage
Category 3 major hurricanes cause devastating damage with 111-129 mph winds. Learn why Katrina and Alicia changed communities forever at this threshold.
Full articleCategory 4: Catastrophic Force
Category 4 hurricanes cause catastrophic damage with 130-156 mph winds, weeks-long power outages, and complete devastation. Learn about Harvey and Ian.
Full articleCategory 5: The Ultimate Storm
Category 5 hurricanes cause total destruction with 157+ mph winds. Learn about Hurricane Andrew and why only evacuation saves lives at this intensity.
Full articleOne Decision, Every Season After: Permanent Protection vs. Annual Scrambling
Two homeowners, one warning, two Thursdays. One scrambles for plywood; one presses a button. See the real lifetime math behind permanent hurricane protection vs. annual scrambling, and why the decision costs less than you think.
Full articleBeyond Florida: The Expanding Geography of Hurricane Risk Most Homeowners Aren't Preparing For
Asheville sits 300 miles inland at 2,134 feet, then Hurricane Helene flooded it. Discover how hurricane risk now reaches the Gulf Coast, the Carolinas, and 25+ inland states never designed for this kind of damage.
Full articleWhy Most Hurricane Preparation Fails Before the Storm
The pattern of reactive hurricane preparation is predictable and preventable. Learn the psychology behind delay and how to break the cycle before June 1.
Full article
4 articles
Hurricane Preparedness
Hurricane history, season records and the building codes past storms left behind, to help homeowners in hurricane zones decide when and how to prepare.
What El Niño Does to Hurricanes, and What It Doesn't
El Niño cuts US hurricane landfalls roughly in half. Forty years of research says so. What none of it says is that the storms which do form are any weaker.
Full articleThe Only Two Seasons the Atlantic Never Made a Hurricane
1907 and 1914 are the only Atlantic seasons on record with no hurricane. Both were followed by busy years, but two cases is not a pattern. Here is what the record actually supports.
Full articleThe Building Code Hurricane Andrew Wrote
Before Andrew, South Florida required nothing over your windows and the state had 400+ separate codes. Here is how that changed, and why the HVHZ regulates the whole building.
Full articleA Quiet Hurricane Season Is Not a Safe One
The 2026 Atlantic season has produced no hurricanes and broken a record standing since 1914. Here is what a quiet season does and does not tell a Florida homeowner.
Full article
4 articles
Buyers Guides
Honest, side-by-side comparisons of shutters, screens and impact glass, and what to check before you buy, built to help you decide with real information instead of manufacturer marketing.
Are Motorized Patio Screens Worth It? An Honest Look at the Trade-Offs
Motorized patio screens are worth it if you use the space year-round. The honest math, including four situations where they are the wrong purchase.
Full articleWhat Is the Best Hurricane Screen? How to Judge One Without the Marketing
There is no single best hurricane screen. Four things separate a system worth buying from one that only looks good in a brochure. Here is the checklist.
Full articleYour 2026 Hurricane Prep Checklist
Don't wait for June to scramble. Our 2026 Hurricane Prep Checklist explains why January is the best time to review insurance, fortify your home, and install storm protection. Get ahead of the season and stay calm when the storms arrive.
Full articleShutters vs. Screens vs. Impact Glass: An Honest Comparison for 2026
Hurricane shutters vs. impact windows vs. screens: compare protection, cost, daily use and deploy speed to pick the right system for your home.
Full article
5 articles
Insights & Technology
The engineering behind the product: how the self-adjusting track works, how a hurricane screen seals a building envelope in seconds, and what "hurricane rated" actually means versus what gets marketed as such.
Are Motorized Screens Noisy? Why MaxForce™ 365 Is Quiet
Most screen noise comes from loose tension or magnetic tracks. Why MaxForce™ 365 runs nearly silent, tested and certified for the 185 mph wind zone (HVHZ).
Full articleHow the MaxForce™ 365 Self-Adjusting Track Works
Inside MaxForce™ 365's self-adjusting spring-retention track: how it holds fabric tension even through heat and humidity for quiet, smooth, year-round operation.
Full articleWhat 'Hurricane Rated' Actually Means: Testing Standards vs. Marketing Language
'Hurricane rated' isn't a regulated term, and anyone can print it on a box. Learn what ASTM E1996 and Miami-Dade TAS 201/202/203 actually test, and seven questions to ask before you trust any contractor's claim.
Full articleInside the Engineering: How Motorized Hurricane Screens Seal a Building Envelope in 60 Seconds
How a motorized hurricane screen closes a home's openings in about 60 seconds, and why sealing the building envelope matters in a storm.
Full articleHurricane Helene Changed Everything: Why Inland Homeowners Are Now Prioritizing Storm Protection
Hurricane Helene flooded towns hundreds of miles from the coast. Why inland homeowners in Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas now plan for storms.
Full article
1 article
Lanai and Patio Transformation Ideas
Protecting the outdoor spaces Florida homeowners use most (lanais, pool cages and outdoor kitchens) and what it takes to keep them standing through storm season.
Your Lanai, Pool Cage and Outdoor Kitchen: The Most Expensive Hurricane Vulnerability on Your Property
Your lanai, pool cage, and outdoor kitchen are the weakest structures on your property. Standard screen enclosures aren't hurricane-rated, and replacement can cost $30,000 to $80,000, often uninsured.
Full article
6 articles
MaxForce™ 365
MaxForce™ 365 isn't a new product. It's a new way to live with the screen you trust. One screen, powered by Quiet Spring Technology™, for every day, every season, every storm.
Thank You — From the Crew Behind Every Screen
A Labor Day thank-you to the team that measures, builds, and installs every MaxForce™ system. No pitch, just gratitude.
Full articleThe Weekend-Before-Labor-Day Checklist — You're Closer to Peak Hurricane Season Than You Think
A 6-point weekend checklist for a screened lanai or patio before Labor Day, plus why the holiday sits closer to hurricane season’s peak than most think.
Full articleHosting at Home vs. Hosting at the Restaurant: What Changes for Storm-Rated Screening on Labor Day
A home lanai and a restaurant patio need the same certification, but almost nothing else about the installation is the same. Here’s what actually changes.
Full articleWhat Actually Ruins a Labor Day Lanai Party in Florida — And It's Not Always the Storm
Sun and mosquitoes usually ruin a Florida Labor Day gathering before a storm does, and the holiday sits closer to peak hurricane season than most think.
Full articleMaxForce™ Hurricane Screens | Proven Florida Wind Protection
Motorized MaxForce™ Hurricane Screens, tested and certified for the 185 mph wind zone (HVHZ). Storm protection and everyday outdoor living in one screen.
Full articleWhat MaxForce™ 365 Means: One Screen for Every Day
MaxForce™ 365 isn't a hurricane screen you wait to use. It's built for all 365 days: daily comfort, year-round readiness, and tested and certified for the 185 mph wind zone (HVHZ).
Full article
2 articles
Press Releases
Official announcements from MaxForce™ and Fenetex®: new product launches, network updates, seasonal series, and news straight from the source.
Introducing MaxForce™ 365 | Every Season, Every Storm
MaxForce™ 365: the screen you trust in a storm, now quiet and self-adjusting for everyday use. Tested and certified for the 185 mph wind zone (HVHZ).
Full articleWelcome to MaxForce™ Hurricane News
Your source for hurricane protection tips, motorized screen insights, storm prep guides, and expert advice on safeguarding your home during hurricane season.
Full article
MaxForce™ Hurricane Screens are a Fenetex® product with Quiet Spring Technology™, tested and certified for the 185 mph wind zone and approved for use in Miami-Dade County and the HVHZ under Florida Product Approval FL8637-R15.
MAXFORCE™ MOTORIZED HURRICANE SCREEN
Contact Authorized MaxForce™ Screen Dealer Today...
MaxForce™ News Article Archive
Hurricane screen and hurricane protection guides
Every MaxForce™ article in one place: plain-language guides to hurricane window protection, what each hurricane category means for your home, when to install, what insurance covers, and how motorized hurricane screens compare with shutters and impact glass.
Browse the guides New guides added as they publish38 articles in 8 categories
Updated November 4, 2026
7 articles
Hurricane Protection Tips
Practical, timing-driven guidance for homeowners: when to install, what insurance actually covers, and why waiting until storm season costs more than acting in the off-season.
The 90-Day Hurricane Preparation Plan: Week-by-Week Guide from March Through May
A week-by-week hurricane preparation plan for March through May, so the work is finished before the season starts on June 1.
Full articleWhat Your Insurance Actually Covers in a Hurricane — And the Gaps That Could Cost You Everything
Most homeowners learn their hurricane deductible after the storm. What a policy covers, what it leaves out, and the gaps that cost the most.
Full articleThe March-to-May Window: When Hurricane Protection Prices, Lead Times & Availability Shift
Prices, lead times and installer availability for hurricane protection shift between March and May. What that means for when you order.
Full article5 Hurricane Preparation ‘Rules’ That Science Has Exposed as Dangerous
Taping windows, cracking one open, nailing up plywood: the hurricane prep "rules" you grew up with. Engineering and science show why each myth can make storm damage worse, not better. Here's what actually protects your home.
Full articleThe Single Point of Failure That Determines If Your Home Survives a Hurricane
Most hurricane damage starts with a single opening. Learn the building science behind cascading structural failure and the one intervention that prevents it.
Full articleThe Real Cost of Waiting: Why January Installations Save You Money (and Stress)
The Martins installed in January; the Delgados waited until June. How timing changes the price, the wait and the insurance savings.
Full articleComplete Hurricane Preparation Checklist: What Lists Miss
The ultimate hurricane preparation checklist with critical items other lists overlook. From freezer strategies to evacuation reality, be truly ready.
Full article
9 articles
The Hurricane Zone
A category-by-category breakdown of what each hurricane classification actually means for your home, plus the expanding geography of risk reaching well beyond the coastline homeowners used to worry about.
What Makes a Hurricane
Learn what actually makes a hurricane dangerous, how these storms form, and why categories matter. Expert guide to hurricane anatomy and storm structure.
Full articleCategory 1: The Deceptive Beginning
Category 1 hurricanes bring 74–95 mph winds and are the storms people most often underestimate. What they damage and why they matter.
Full articleCategory 2: When Protection Becomes Critical
Category 2 hurricanes bring 96–110 mph winds and extensive damage. Why this is the point where protecting openings becomes critical.
Full articleCategory 3 Major Hurricane: 111-129 MPH Winds & Devastating Damage
Category 3 major hurricanes cause devastating damage with 111-129 mph winds. Learn why Katrina and Alicia changed communities forever at this threshold.
Full articleCategory 4: Catastrophic Force
Category 4 hurricanes cause catastrophic damage with 130-156 mph winds, weeks-long power outages, and complete devastation. Learn about Harvey and Ian.
Full articleCategory 5: The Ultimate Storm
Category 5 hurricanes cause total destruction with 157+ mph winds. Learn about Hurricane Andrew and why only evacuation saves lives at this intensity.
Full articleOne Decision, Every Season After: Permanent Protection vs. Annual Scrambling
Two homeowners, one warning, two Thursdays. One scrambles for plywood; one presses a button. See the real lifetime math behind permanent hurricane protection vs. annual scrambling, and why the decision costs less than you think.
Full articleBeyond Florida: The Expanding Geography of Hurricane Risk Most Homeowners Aren't Preparing For
Asheville sits 300 miles inland at 2,134 feet, then Hurricane Helene flooded it. Discover how hurricane risk now reaches the Gulf Coast, the Carolinas, and 25+ inland states never designed for this kind of damage.
Full articleWhy Most Hurricane Preparation Fails Before the Storm
The pattern of reactive hurricane preparation is predictable and preventable. Learn the psychology behind delay and how to break the cycle before June 1.
Full article
4 articles
Hurricane Preparedness
Hurricane history, season records and the building codes past storms left behind, to help homeowners in hurricane zones decide when and how to prepare.
What El Niño Does to Hurricanes, and What It Doesn't
El Niño cuts US hurricane landfalls roughly in half. Forty years of research says so. What none of it says is that the storms which do form are any weaker.
Full articleThe Only Two Seasons the Atlantic Never Made a Hurricane
1907 and 1914 are the only Atlantic seasons on record with no hurricane. Both were followed by busy years, but two cases is not a pattern. Here is what the record actually supports.
Full articleThe Building Code Hurricane Andrew Wrote
Before Andrew, South Florida required nothing over your windows and the state had 400+ separate codes. Here is how that changed, and why the HVHZ regulates the whole building.
Full articleA Quiet Hurricane Season Is Not a Safe One
The 2026 Atlantic season has produced no hurricanes and broken a record standing since 1914. Here is what a quiet season does and does not tell a Florida homeowner.
Full article
4 articles
Buyers Guides
Honest, side-by-side comparisons of shutters, screens and impact glass, and what to check before you buy, built to help you decide with real information instead of manufacturer marketing.
Are Motorized Patio Screens Worth It? An Honest Look at the Trade-Offs
Motorized patio screens are worth it if you use the space year-round. The honest math, including four situations where they are the wrong purchase.
Full articleWhat Is the Best Hurricane Screen? How to Judge One Without the Marketing
There is no single best hurricane screen. Four things separate a system worth buying from one that only looks good in a brochure. Here is the checklist.
Full articleYour 2026 Hurricane Prep Checklist
Don't wait for June to scramble. Our 2026 Hurricane Prep Checklist explains why January is the best time to review insurance, fortify your home, and install storm protection. Get ahead of the season and stay calm when the storms arrive.
Full articleShutters vs. Screens vs. Impact Glass: An Honest Comparison for 2026
Hurricane shutters vs. impact windows vs. screens: compare protection, cost, daily use and deploy speed to pick the right system for your home.
Full article
5 articles
Insights & Technology
The engineering behind the product: how the self-adjusting track works, how a hurricane screen seals a building envelope in seconds, and what "hurricane rated" actually means versus what gets marketed as such.
Are Motorized Screens Noisy? Why MaxForce™ 365 Is Quiet
Most screen noise comes from loose tension or magnetic tracks. Why MaxForce™ 365 runs nearly silent, tested and certified for the 185 mph wind zone (HVHZ).
Full articleHow the MaxForce™ 365 Self-Adjusting Track Works
Inside MaxForce™ 365's self-adjusting spring-retention track: how it holds fabric tension even through heat and humidity for quiet, smooth, year-round operation.
Full articleWhat 'Hurricane Rated' Actually Means: Testing Standards vs. Marketing Language
'Hurricane rated' isn't a regulated term, and anyone can print it on a box. Learn what ASTM E1996 and Miami-Dade TAS 201/202/203 actually test, and seven questions to ask before you trust any contractor's claim.
Full articleInside the Engineering: How Motorized Hurricane Screens Seal a Building Envelope in 60 Seconds
How a motorized hurricane screen closes a home's openings in about 60 seconds, and why sealing the building envelope matters in a storm.
Full articleHurricane Helene Changed Everything: Why Inland Homeowners Are Now Prioritizing Storm Protection
Hurricane Helene flooded towns hundreds of miles from the coast. Why inland homeowners in Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas now plan for storms.
Full article
1 article
Lanai and Patio Transformation Ideas
Protecting the outdoor spaces Florida homeowners use most (lanais, pool cages and outdoor kitchens) and what it takes to keep them standing through storm season.
Your Lanai, Pool Cage and Outdoor Kitchen: The Most Expensive Hurricane Vulnerability on Your Property
Your lanai, pool cage, and outdoor kitchen are the weakest structures on your property. Standard screen enclosures aren't hurricane-rated, and replacement can cost $30,000 to $80,000, often uninsured.
Full article
6 articles
MaxForce™ 365
MaxForce™ 365 isn't a new product. It's a new way to live with the screen you trust. One screen, powered by Quiet Spring Technology™, for every day, every season, every storm.
Thank You — From the Crew Behind Every Screen
A Labor Day thank-you to the team that measures, builds, and installs every MaxForce™ system. No pitch, just gratitude.
Full articleThe Weekend-Before-Labor-Day Checklist — You're Closer to Peak Hurricane Season Than You Think
A 6-point weekend checklist for a screened lanai or patio before Labor Day, plus why the holiday sits closer to hurricane season’s peak than most think.
Full articleHosting at Home vs. Hosting at the Restaurant: What Changes for Storm-Rated Screening on Labor Day
A home lanai and a restaurant patio need the same certification, but almost nothing else about the installation is the same. Here’s what actually changes.
Full articleWhat Actually Ruins a Labor Day Lanai Party in Florida — And It's Not Always the Storm
Sun and mosquitoes usually ruin a Florida Labor Day gathering before a storm does, and the holiday sits closer to peak hurricane season than most think.
Full articleMaxForce™ Hurricane Screens | Proven Florida Wind Protection
Motorized MaxForce™ Hurricane Screens, tested and certified for the 185 mph wind zone (HVHZ). Storm protection and everyday outdoor living in one screen.
Full articleWhat MaxForce™ 365 Means: One Screen for Every Day
MaxForce™ 365 isn't a hurricane screen you wait to use. It's built for all 365 days: daily comfort, year-round readiness, and tested and certified for the 185 mph wind zone (HVHZ).
Full article
2 articles
Press Releases
Official announcements from MaxForce™ and Fenetex®: new product launches, network updates, seasonal series, and news straight from the source.
Introducing MaxForce™ 365 | Every Season, Every Storm
MaxForce™ 365: the screen you trust in a storm, now quiet and self-adjusting for everyday use. Tested and certified for the 185 mph wind zone (HVHZ).
Full articleWelcome to MaxForce™ Hurricane News
Your source for hurricane protection tips, motorized screen insights, storm prep guides, and expert advice on safeguarding your home during hurricane season.
Full article
MaxForce™ Hurricane Screens are a Fenetex® product with Quiet Spring Technology™, tested and certified for the 185 mph wind zone and approved for use in Miami-Dade County and the HVHZ under Florida Product Approval FL8637-R15.
MAXFORCE™ MOTORIZED HURRICANE SCREEN
Contact Authorized MaxForce™ Screen Dealer Today...
Get Started With An Authorized Dealer