There are an estimated 1,590,000 residential swimming pools in the state of Florida. That’s one pool for every fourteen residents! This may not come as a surprise since Floridians have a longer season in which they can enjoy their pools compared to other states. And when the weather is hot there is no better way to cool off than in your own pool.
But what is surprising is the number of residential pools that have a pool cage is far fewer. Pool cages provide numerous benefits, add value to your home, and come in a wide array of styles.
In this article, we’ll break down the benefits of enclosing your pool, talk about the types of pool enclosures, how much they cost, maintenance for pool enclosures, and the installation process. If you’re interested in installing a pool screen enclosure, keep reading!
What are Pool Cages?
Just as the name suggests, a pool cage is a cage that encloses your pool. They can also be called pool enclosures, screen pool enclosures, or bird cage enclosures. At Screen enclosures and More, we build beautiful custom pool cages out of high-quality aluminum. The end result is a stunning custom enclosure that will last for years with proper maintenance.
Benefits of a Pool Cage
You may be asking yourself, do I really need a pool enclosure? What are the benefits of enclosing my pool? We understand there are a lot of factors to consider before enclosing your pool. We’ve listed some of the top benefits below.
Pool Cage Safety
If you have children or pets, a pool enclosure is a must! Sure a fence around the pool may enhance safety, but kids are pretty resourceful and many of them will not be stopped by a fence. There’s no climbing over a pool enclosure. Put a good lock on the door and you won’t have to worry about your kids and pets or neighborhood kids and pets getting into your pool without supervision.
Increased Property Value
Adding a high-quality screen enclosure around your pool is likely to add to your property value. If two homes are for sale in the same neighborhood, and both homes are similar except one has a pool cage and the other has a pool that is not enclosed, chances are your screened-in pool may help seal the deal.
Some real estate experts suggest that a pool enclosure’s return on investment is around 70-75%. That’s excellent news! Outdoor living spaces like a screened lanai or screened patio, in general, are a good investment because they are so desirable to prospective homebuyers.
There are several factors that go into calculating the exact return on investment for your pool cage. These include:
- Is the pool cage a custom design for your home?
- What kind of materials were used in construction?
- Does it have a fireplace or other custom features?
As a rule of thumb, the more custom features, the more value your pool enclosure will add to your home. And, it’s hard to put a price tag on all the enjoyment you will receive from enjoying your pool when it is enclosed.
Decrease Pool Maintenance
One of the biggest benefits of having a custom pool cage built for your pool is cutting down on the time you spend maintaining your pool. Many of our customers have told us that their pool enclosure allows them to spend more time enjoying their pool instead of cleaning it.
First, you won’t have to worry about debris and falling leaves getting into your pool. No dirt, sticks, frogs, palm tree dates, or other organic materials means less time cleaning, skimming, and vacuuming!
Reduce Pool Chemicals and Evaporation
And, by reducing or eliminating the amount of debris that gets into your pool, you can start to use fewer chemicals to keep up the water quality. A screened pool enclosure also helps regulate the air temperature surrounding the pool which leads to a reduction in evaporation.
That means the pool water will retain a good amount of chlorine, which saves you the money and effort needed to maintain the chemical levels in your pool.
Prolong Pool Equipment and Outdoor Furniture
A pool cage can also help prolong the life of your pool’s equipment. The screening on the pool enclosure helps block harmful UV rays from the sun and prevents fading of outdoor furniture. Without any shade, those harmful rays can cause damage to pool equipment causing them to become brittle and crack.
Pool Privacy
Your enclosed pool can also bring increased privacy to your pool and patio area. There are special types of screen that allow you to see out but decreases the ability for your neighbors to see in. Screen Enclosures and More also offers weatherproof privacy curtains for enhanced privacy. Our privacy curtains turn your enclosed pool into your own private oasis in your backyard.
Types of Pool Screen Enclosures
There are many different types of pool enclosures that you can choose from to meet your desired aesthetic. To make the process easier we wrote a previous blog on all the design styles and options. Check out the article here!
Stand-Alone or Connected?
A pool enclosure can be a stand-alone feature or connect to your home. Many homeowners with jacuzzis or pools that are not near the main house like having a screen enclosure that is free-standing. If your pool is in close proximity to the home then it may be ideal to connect your screen enclosure to the roof of your home.
Two Story Enclosures
A two-story pool cage is built to include the second story of your home in the design. Enclosing your balconies adds even more enclosed outdoor living space to your design. Two-story pool cages also have a very spacious feeling.
Clear View
A clear-view pool enclosure is perfect for the homeowner that wants their beautiful view to remain unobstructed. Most pool cages need vertical support posts every few feet and can block the view. To solve this problem, Screen Enclosures and More offers a specially engineered frame and screening material that eliminates serval vertical posts.
Pool Cage Installation
One of the questions we are asked the most is, “How long does it take to build a pool cage?” The answer unfortunately is, it depends. Pool cage installation can take longer for more complex builds and designs. However, a good rule of thumb for most pool cages is around a week long process to build.
Don’t worry your pool won’t be out of commission for too long. Any delays that happen in the installation process are usually due to inclement weather since we do not want our guys around aluminum framing during a lightning storm.
There really isn’t a “bad time” to build a pool enclosure. We suggest checking your schedule to make sure you don’t have any family BBQs or backyard birthday parties planned.
Before installation, you’ll need to clear a space for our experienced installers to work. Here’s how you can clear the area before installing a pool cage:
- Remove all patio furniture or lawn ornaments
- Make sure there are accessible power outlets
- Configure your security system to allow our installers on the property
- Trim any overgrown bushes and make sure the lawn is short
- Make sure the yard is clean and free of pet waste.
How Much Do Pool Enclosures Cost?
Pool enclosure cost is another frequently asked question and we will do our best to give you a range that you can expect to pay when building a custom pool enclosure.
On average, a pool cage for an in-ground pool costs somewhere between $7,000 on the low end and $80,000 on the high end. The cost of your pool cage will depend on many factors such as size, materials used, and roof shape. If you are adding custom features, like the full view we mentioned earlier, that can also increase the cost of the project.
When it comes to cheap pool enclosures, you get what you pay for. And a pool enclosure is not an ideal DIY project most homeowners can tackle. Pool enclosures are complex structures that require an experienced, professional set of installers. State law also requires all pool enclosures be permitted and built to code.
Pool enclosure costs also vary depending on the part of the country where you live. Some states have higher costs associated with permitting, supplies, and building than others, so be sure to ask your installation company for an estimate. At Screen Enclosures and More, we provide free estimates, unlike our competitors. Give us a call today and we’ll happily discuss your design options as well as cost estimates.
Pool Cage Maintenance
After you’ve installed your pool enclosure, you’ll want to make sure it is properly maintained. That way it looks good and lasts a long time! We wrote a whole article on screen enclosure maintenance. Check it out here.
A little dawn dish detergent, a hose, a soft brush, and a little elbow grease are all you need to keep your pool cage in top shape. Be sure to soak the screens from the inside out and brush the screens gently. You can also rent a power washer if your enclosure is really dirty but only use it on the lowest setting to avoid damaging your screens.
Pool Cages are a Great Investment
This blog lists some of the top reasons why a pool cage is a great choice. And, can you really put a price tag on more family time by the pool? Say goodbye to pesky bugs, hours of maintenance, and safety concerns, and hello to your beautiful new enclosed pool!
Enjoy your pool this summer even more with a custom pool cage built by the friendly professionals at Screen Enclosures and More. Give us a call today to request a free estimate at (904) 800-4007.
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