SolarMax Shade & Insect System
A lightweight roll-down shade and insect screen system for everyday comfort in garages and lanais—not a hurricane shutter or wind-swept flooding solution.
SolarMax is a comfort upgrade only. It is not designed or rated for hurricane winds, wind-swept rain, or pressure protection and must be fully rolled up and secured before any tropical storm or hurricane.
SolarMax – Shade, Ventilation & Comfort
SolarMax is a roll-down shade and insect screen system designed for everyday living, not storm duty. It helps make Florida garages, lanais, and outdoor living areas more usable by adding shade, insect control, airflow, and a bit of privacy—without permanently closing in the space.
Because SolarMax uses lighter, more open fabrics than our hurricane-rated systems, it can provide better natural ventilation and a more open feel while still softening sun and glare on hot Florida days.
We offer SolarMax as an optional add-on for homeowners who want comfort and ventilation alongside true hurricane systems like SuperMax and EZMax. It should always be paired with a separate, rated storm protection solution.
- Helps reduce sun and glare in everyday conditions
- Acts as an insect screen while allowing generous airflow
- Provides light daytime privacy without feeling “closed in”
- Rolls up cleanly into a compact housing when not in use
Why Some Homeowners Choose SolarMax
Compared with heavy hurricane-rated screens, SolarMax focuses on comfort and usability. It is for shade, bugs, and ventilation—not for wind-swept flooding or hurricane protection.
More Open Weave, More Airflow
SolarMax can use more open-weave fabrics that allow substantial ventilation and airflow compared with tighter hurricane fabrics. That helps keep garages and lanais cooler and more comfortable in everyday weather.
Smaller Housing, Cleaner Look
Because SolarMax fabric is lighter and rolls tighter, it fits in a smaller housing than many storm-rated systems. That can be easier to blend with HOA and architectural requirements.
The result is a cleaner profile at the top of the opening, especially on garages and decorative lanai openings.
Better See-Through & Fabric Choices
SolarMax offers better outward visibility than many impact screens and can be ordered with different fabric choices to balance privacy, airflow, and sun control.
It is a lifestyle product first—designed to make outdoor spaces easier to enjoy in normal weather, not during storms.
What SolarMax Is Designed For
SolarMax works well in places where you want shade, insects kept out, and fresh air:
- Garages used as hobby rooms, workshops, or home gyms
- Lanais and patios where insects are a problem in normal weather
- Outdoor living areas that need softer sun and glare
- Spaces where a solid wall or enclosure would feel too closed in
SolarMax is often used alongside SuperMax and EZMax on the same home—comfort and ventilation on some openings, hurricane protection on others.
Important Safety Note
We want to be very clear: SolarMax is not a hurricane shutter. It is not engineered, tested, or approved as a storm or wind-swept flooding system.
- SolarMax is not a hurricane or tropical storm protection product.
- It is not impact rated and not designed for wind loads, wind-swept rain, debris, or pressure cycling.
- SolarMax must be fully rolled up and secured before any tropical storm or hurricane.
For hurricane and Essential Building–oriented protection against wind, pressure, and wind-swept water, please see SuperMax and EZMax.
How SolarMax Compares to Our Storm Systems
SolarMax lives in a different category than SuperMax and EZMax. The chart below shows where each product is intended to be used.
Think of SolarMax as the comfort screen for daily use, and SuperMax / EZMax as the storm systems for when the forecast turns serious.
Many homes benefit from a combination: hurricane shutters on exposed openings, and SolarMax on garages or outdoor rooms where airflow and everyday comfort matter most.
| Feature | SolarMax | EZMax | SuperMax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Shade, insects, ventilation, privacy | Removable hurricane screen | Roll-down Essential Building shutter |
| Hurricane / storm protection | No – not a storm system | Yes – Category 5 oriented | Yes – Essential Building–oriented testing |
| Impact / FBC testing | None – not impact rated | Impact and wind-pressure oriented | Tested to higher Essential-style criteria |
| Ventilation / airflow | High – open weave options | Medium – stronger, tighter fabrics | Medium – stronger, tighter fabrics |
| Housing size / appearance | Smaller housing, lighter fabric | N.A. | Larger housing – heavy-duty shutter |
| Best suited for | Garages, hobby rooms, everyday lanais | Openings to be covered before/after storms | Large lanais, front entrances, Essential-style uses |
| What to do before a storm | Roll up and secure – do not leave down | Install per instructions before arrival | Lower per operating instructions |
Limited Availability as an Add-On
CHPXL’s primary focus is hurricane and impact-oriented protection. SolarMax is available only in select applications where shade, insects, and ventilation are the main goals, and storm exposure can be handled by other systems.
If SolarMax is not appropriate for your exposure or opening, we will say so directly and recommend a better combination of products.
Ask CHPXL About SolarMax for Your Home
Not sure if SolarMax makes sense for your garage or lanai? We can review your openings, sun exposure, and storm risks—and recommend whether SolarMax, SuperMax, EZMax, or a combination is the right fit.