So you love your pool, but even the best setup may come with a few problems. Maybe you’re tired of having to keep a constant eye on the dog or kiddo. Perhaps you’re sick of insects bugging you (lol) when you’re innocently trying to lounge with a magazine. Or possibly you just can’t keep up with all those leaves falling in the pool. (Or all three … and then some.) That’s where a Florida pool cage comes in.
Pool enclosures, also known as pool cages, offer a number of benefits to homeowners with aquatic assets. A simple Florida screened-in pool can offer you safety, weather protection, pest control, privacy, and more. Let’s take a look at just a few of the main benefits of pool enclosures today.
Security and Safety
At the top of the list of what a Florida pool cage can offer is security. Not only is it a great way to prevent outsiders from intruding, but it also protects members of your household from falling in. Unfortunately, recent government statistics put child fatalities due to pool or spa drowning at more than 350 each year. If you wrap in ER visits, the casualties rise to 6,500.
This is, of course, a preventable problem. With a Florida screened-in pool, you can prevent little ones or unwary pooches from straying into the water. It’s an easy and relatively cost-effective way to prevent both tragedies and lawsuits.
Reduced Maintenance
Overhead pool enclosures also reduce maintenance. The amount of leaf litter, dead insect life, and other debris that finds its way into your pool will plummet just by virtue of having a cover.
Naturally, you’ll still have to take maintenance measures to support your pool with cleaning and filtration. Products such as the Q360+ cleaning system, the HydroFusion drain, and the e360 circulation system can help you keep your Florida screened-in pool in pristine condition — and you can, in turn, give them a boost by having the pool cage in place when nasty weather begins.
Pest Control
Let’s face it: The Sunshine State isn’t known for its low bug populations. Indeed, sand flies are a common nuisance, while the mosquitoes are less mosquito-sized and more B-52 bomber-sized. Keeping them out with a Florida pool cage is a no-brainer for your enjoyment.
Plus, an enclosure helps stop other, bigger pests as well. Think rats, who are attracted to the moisture and the crumbs from your leisurely afternoon scone, or frogs, who love water and aren’t as friendly as they look. Indeed, two species of frogs (the Cuban treefrog and the cane toad) emit secretions that can be toxic to animals or even cause eye damage in humans. And many species of frogs, even the non-toxic ones, are loud as heck when you’re trying to sleep. No, thank you.
Sun Protection and Temperature Control
A screened-in pool can offer more shade than you think, reducing temperature and helping to manage hot winds. Plus, that shade can keep your pool cooler, providing more relief when you step in during the hot summer months.
Because it offers a minimal amount of insulation, screens can also help you keep the pool a bit warmer in the winter months, too. If you go the glass route, you can create a full-on greenhouse effect, losing the shade but effectively winter-proofing your pool year-round. Which direction you go depends on your funds, location, and goals, but both are good ways to go.
Weather Protection
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Florida has experienced 33 severe storm events, 36 tropical cyclone events, and 5 winter storm events totaling $1 billion or more in damage between 1980 and 2024. Area homeowners suffered greatly from each of these events, with insurance not always covering the results.
You needn’t experience a drastic event in order to see costs associated with pool maintenance, of course. The average pool can cost up to $1,800 a year, while the cost to open and close your pool can cost between $350 and $400. Imagine if, instead of paying those opening/closing costs every year, you were able to simply keep it open year-round due to the increased weather protection offered by a Florida pool cage.
Sure, a screen won’t stop a hurricane. It will, however, keep windblown crud from entering your pool area and raising those cleaning costs, clogging your filter and causing necessary repairs, or simply making the swimming experience less desirable. When you think about it, a Florida pool cage is a pretty small price to pay for storm protection and a reduction in general cleaning needs.
Landscape Beautification and Privacy
Many homeowners want to keep their home looking lovely, and a classy structure with metal struts and either glass or screen paneling can add lots to the view, both from inside the house and on the street. Curb appeal is a major benefit of a Florida pool cage, while simultaneously offering greater privacy than would an open pool deck.
Increased Property Value
Last but not least, a Florida pool cage can increase the value of your property by providing many of the same benefits for which other homeowners are looking. If selling your home is a possibility in the future, then this is a good move to make.
Conclusion
In short, the benefits of a Florida pool cage are legion, but are there any drawbacks? Well, you do have to shoulder the one-time cost, but after that, your enclosure should last decades, with the possibility of repairing screens down the road to extend its life further. Although you will also have to undergo construction, a Florida screened-in pool system is ready to assemble and goes up like a snap.
