The United States boasts a vast and diverse geography - one that rivals the most extraneous climates. What makes our country’s landscape so unique is the distinctive weather patterns experienced throughout our nation. In states like Oklahoma and Kansas, you can expect to see vicious tornadoes. In the Dakotas, you’ll witness massive snow storms, and in the Southeastern states hurricanes ravage through coastal cities with winds and rain which could tear apart almost any façade. 

With destructive weather conditions like these, you want to have high performing products in your home which can withstand immense pressure. While your outdoor shading system might not be at the forefront of your mind, it has more exposure to the elements than almost any part of your home. Investing in a powerful shading system with strong shade fabric will allow you to enjoy the outdoors and have confidence your system will hold up during storm season. Fueling your relaxing outdoor experience with resilience and longevity in mind - that’s the difference a robust shading system can make.

This is where Tucson Rolling Shutters comes in - providing top quality outdoor systems with carefully woven Mermet shade fabrics made to weather life’s storms. Tucson Rolling Shutters takes pride in its ability to build intricate, yet reliable systems that supply valuable shade and protection for your outdoor space. In November 2023, TRS put their outdoor shading system featuring Mermet’s fabric through an intense series of wind tunnel tests. Wind levels up to 150 miles per hour were applied against the Tucson s56 Solution Screen. The union between the fabric and the system was tested - and boy, did they get some incredible results. 

To uncover the fascinating details, we spoke with Chris Trafton, El Presidente at Tucson Rolling Shutters. “The goal was to see exactly what kind of wind speed or pressure the screen system and fabric could take,” Chris told us. Two Tucson s56 Solution Screen systems were put to the test - one measuring 84” x 89” and one measuring 126” x 90”, each one testing both Natté™ 5% and 10%. The variation in openness factors was strategic - it’s imperative to know how fabric opacity plays a role in the durability of the overall system. 

One large, powerful fan simulating strong winds aimed at each shading system reached wind speeds up to 150 miles per hour - comparable to those of a Category 4 hurricane, according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Each system paired with each openness passed the test, showing no signs of failure. Better yet, Natté is NOT a conductor of electricity - so it will not attract any additional lightning around your home during a hurricane or any other harsh storm. “We wanted to be able to show our dealers the proof of our claims of having an incredibly strong shading system,” Chris shared with us. Conducting these wind tests proved just how capable TRS systems can be. The partnership between outdoor shading systems by Tucson Rolling Shutters and Mermet fabrics serve as the ultimate powerful combination. A solid outdoor screen with substantial shade fabric is the ideal method to maintain the integrity of your patio space. 

To learn more about the resilient outdoor shading systems at Tucson Rolling Shutters, click here to visit their website. To discover more about Mermet’s Natte outdoor fabric, click here.