Hurricane Protection and Remodeling Services on Lido Key

Coastal Protection on Lido Key

Lido Key sits just past St. Armands Circle, a short drive across the causeway from downtown Sarasota. Most of the island is condominiums and resorts lining Benjamin Franklin Drive, with a smaller number of single family homes, many of them in Lido Shores at the north end. Lido Shores is also where you find some of the best known houses of the Sarasota School of Architecture, including Paul Rudolph’s Umbrella House. In 2024, Helene’s surge flooded streets and ground floors across Lido and St. Armands, and Milton followed with high wind a short distance from its landfall on Siesta Key.

West Shore Construction has installed hurricane protection and handled remodeling along the Gulf Coast since 1985. On Lido Key we work with condo owners, associations and homeowners. Here is how each option fits.

City of Sarasota Rules Apply

Lido Key is inside the City of Sarasota, so permits go through the city rather than the county. The island sits in Florida’s wind borne debris region, which means new and replacement windows and doors have to be impact rated or protected by an approved system.

Beachfront parcels seaward of the state’s Coastal Construction Control Line can need state review as well. For homes in flood zones, the city measures remodeling against the structure’s value under the FEMA substantial improvement rule. We sort out all of it before quoting.

Complete Storm & Home Restoration

Condo Owners and Associations

If you own a unit on Ben Franklin Drive, your association almost certainly decides what can go on the building, often down to the frame color. We work with boards and managers to match the approved product, whether it is one unit’s sliders or a full building project. Larger multifamily work is covered on our commercial hurricane protection page.

Protecting Modern Homes With Big Glass

The mid century homes on Lido Shores were designed around glass, with long sliders, clerestories and walls that open to the water. Protecting them without spoiling the architecture takes some care. Impact windows and sliders with slim frames keep the original lines. Motorized hurricane screens retract out of sight when they are not needed. For homes with historic significance, our page on hurricane protection for historic homes explains how we approach design and approvals.

Impact Windows

Laminated impact glass stays in the frame when struck, keeping the home sealed. For owners who spend the summer away, it is the protection that needs nobody on site. It also cuts the heat and UV coming off the Gulf. We specify frames and hardware made for direct salt exposure.

Shutters, Screens and Fabric

Motorized rolling shutters close in seconds and add security to an empty home. Accordion shutters and storm panels are lower cost choices that still meet code. Magnatrack and other motorized hurricane screens protect balconies, lanais and pool areas. Hurricane fabric covers tall or unusual openings with a light panel that lets daylight in. Compare everything on our shutters page.

Remodeling on Lido Key

Many Lido condos and homes are due for an update, and some still have repairs left from 2024. As a state certified building contractor, West Shore handles whole home remodeling, kitchens and bathrooms, and we can combine interior work with new windows and doors.

Insurance and Grants

Protected openings earn one of the largest wind mitigation credits on a Florida homeowners policy. West Shore is an eligible My Safe Florida Home contractor, a state program offering matching grants to qualifying homesteaded owners, and financing is available.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hurricane Protection on Lido Key

Who issues hurricane protection permits on Lido Key?

The City of Sarasota. Lido Key is inside city limits, so permits do not go through Sarasota County.

Can I add impact windows to a mid century modern home on Lido Shores?

Yes. Slim frame impact windows and sliders can keep the original lines of the house, and motorized screens are another option that stays out of sight.

Will my condo association need to approve the work?

Almost always. We work with the board or manager to match the building’s approved product and handle the paperwork.

Nearby Areas We Serve

West Shore also serves homeowners in Longboat Key, Siesta Key and Sarasota.

Request a Quote on Lido Key

West Shore is a state certified building contractor (CBC044653) with more than 40 years of experience. We handle permits with the City of Sarasota and coordinate with associations and out of town owners.