Screen Enclosure Structure Needs to be Super Strong for Hurricanes
Your screen enclosure needs to be super strong if you are in the hurricane zone. Even if you are not in a hurricane zone you want your structure to last a long time.
Below is a discription of how a conpany in West Palm Beach, Screen Builders Inc., describes their new structure. It sounds a bit complicated and technical but you get the idea. It is better if you know a little about how an enclosure is built when you hire a company to build one for you.
If you have any questions, post them in the box below and we will try and find the answer.
“ Super Strong” 6061-T6 alloy
Since the first screen porches and patios were fabricated out of aluminum extrusion the alloy used has always been 6063. This dates back over 55 years. The reason for this derives from the window industry. The mechanical construction of the aluminum screen enclosure evolved from aluminum window construction. The window industry primarily uses the 6063 alloy for its products. Thus the aluminum framing for screen enclosures use the 6063 alloy. The 6063 alloy is not an extremely strong alloy and definitely not an alloy to rely on with today’s strict building codes. The construction of enclosures using material made with the 6063 alloy was fine for the first thirty years because most municipalities did not have building codes in place for screen enclosures. Over the past twenty five years we have seen building codes established and meticulously groomed in all municipalities. The building code for screen enclosures has evolved from sustaining 70mph winds to 100mph winds to 120mph winds and now 150mph winds in some communities. This increase has been a positive action for Florida’s residents. The gauge of the aluminum increased, the size of the roof beams and wall uprights have increased, more fasteners were called on and better bracing designed. But one thing remained constant in the extrusions and that is the 6063 alloy. Its time for aluminum extrusions to evolve and catch up with today’s building codes. To do that the alloy has to change.
Aluminum Direct, Inc. is introducing the “Super Strong” 6061-T6 alloy. This alloy is 14% stronger than the traditional 6063-T6 alloy. This means beams will span farther and uprights will reach higher. Take for example a flat 2