A Florida pool cage is one of those home improvements that quietly does enormous work — it keeps mosquitoes and palm fronds out of the pool, blocks 70-80% of UV that would otherwise destroy patio furniture, and makes the lanai usable on the 200+ days per year when uncovered FL outdoor space is too buggy or too hot. Then a named storm comes through, twists the frame, and the bill arrives.
This guide is the realistic 2026 picture: what re-screen costs, what frame work costs, what full replacement costs, and where the price drivers actually live.
The pool cage cost stack
A pool cage is essentially three systems stacked together:
- Aluminum frame — uprights, beams, hubs, and roof framing. Carries the wind load. Typically 60-75% of total replacement cost.
- Screen and screen retention — the mesh, the spline that holds it in the frame, and the door hardware. Typically 15-25% of total replacement.
- Anchorage and connections — tie-downs to the deck, fasteners, NOA-documented hardware. Often overlooked but 10-15% of cost and the failure point in most storm damage.
Understanding which system has failed determines whether you re-screen, repair, or replace.
Re-screen only
The most common FL pool cage maintenance event.
When re-screen is the right call
- Screen has visible holes, tears, or sun damage (color fade is cosmetic, brittleness is functional)
- Frame is straight, fasteners are tight, no corrosion at hubs
- Screen is past its useful life (typically 7-12 years in FL sun)
- Door hardware works smoothly and frame seals are intact
What re-screen actually costs
Pricing per square foot of screened area (which includes roof and walls):
- Standard 18x14 fiberglass mesh (most common): $0.85-$1.50/sqft installed
- Phifer SuperScreen (stronger weave, longer life): $1.20-$1.80/sqft
- No-See-Um mesh (finer weave, blocks gnats and small insects): $1.60-$2.50/sqft
- Florida Glass / Florida Pet Screen (vinyl-coated polyester, dog and toddler resistant): $2.20-$3.50/sqft
For a typical 1,200 sqft FL pool cage:
- Standard re-screen: $1,200-$1,800
- Phifer SuperScreen: $1,500-$2,250
- No-See-Um: $1,950-$3,000
- Pet/Florida Glass: $2,650-$3,800
These ranges include screen, spline, and labor. They do not include door hardware replacement, frame straightening, or hub re-tightening.
What re-screen excludes
If your contractor is bidding re-screen but you have any of these conditions, expect change orders or push for repair pricing instead:
- Bent frame members
- Corroded fasteners (visible orange staining at hub joints)
- Door frame distortion (door doesn't latch cleanly)
- Loose tie-downs at deck attachment points
- Screen tracks bent or pulled away from frame
These need addressing before new screen goes down, or the new screen will fail prematurely along the existing problem points.
Frame and structural repair
The middle ground between re-screen and full replacement.
Common FL frame repairs
- Bent upright replacement (hurricane wind damage): $400-$1,200 per upright depending on length and accessibility
- Bent roof beam replacement: $600-$2,200 per beam
- Hub re-tightening and re-bolting: $300-$900 for whole-cage pass
- Door frame replacement (single hinged door): $700-$1,800
- Tie-down/anchor restoration: $400-$1,500 depending on anchor count
- Aluminum hub replacement (corrosion-failed connector): $200-$500 each
A typical post-storm frame repair (2-3 bent uprights + 1 bent beam + door + tie-downs) runs $2,500-$7,500.
When frame repair stops making sense
If the cumulative repair scope hits 50-60% of full replacement cost, replace instead. The remaining unrepaired members are the same age and exposure as the failed ones — they're next.
Specifically, if you're looking at:
- More than 25% of upright members bent or corroded
- Roof beams compromised on more than one elevation
- Multiple hubs failed
- Tie-down points pulling out of the deck
You're in replacement territory.
Full pool cage replacement
The 18-25 year event for FL pool cages.
Cost ranges by size and design
| Cage size | Typical FL homes | Replacement cost | |---|---|---| | Small (under 800 sqft) | Pool only, simple shape | $9,000-$16,000 | | Standard (800-1,500 sqft) | Pool plus small lanai | $14,000-$24,000 | | Large (1,500-2,500 sqft) | Pool plus generous lanai | $20,000-$35,000 | | Premium / two-story | Lanai with second story or specialty roof | $28,000-$60,000+ |
Cost drivers within each band:
- Aluminum gauge: 2x2 house beams cost less than 2x4; heavier gauge handles taller spans. Standard FL cages use 2x4 or 2x6 horizontal beams and 2x4 verticals.
- Aluminum finish: Mill-finish (raw aluminum) is cheapest; powder-coated bronze, white, or black runs $1.50-$3.50/sqft more but extends life by 5-10 years in FL.
- Screen choice: Standard fiberglass adds nothing; pet screen and No-See-Um add 10-25% to total cost.
- Door count and quality: Each premium door (insulated, key-locked, kickplate) adds $400-$900.
- Roof shape: Mansard or gable roof adds 15-25% over standard hip roof. Two-story enclosures are 50-100% more per sqft.
- NOA-documented HVHZ build (Miami-Dade, Broward): adds 15-25% for documentation and approved hardware.
What a complete replacement should include
A bid that doesn't itemize these is incomplete:
- Permit pull (FL counties: $150-$600 typical)
- Existing cage demolition and disposal
- Concrete deck core-drilling for new anchors
- Epoxy-set anchor bolts (stainless steel)
- New aluminum frame (specify gauge and finish)
- New screen (specify mesh type)
- All hardware (hinges, latches, kickplates)
- Door hardware
- Final inspection and code sign-off
Anything not itemized will become a change order. Ask for line-item bids before accepting a lump-sum quote.
Storm damage and insurance
Pool cages are the most claim-frequent home improvement in FL hurricane events.
What insurance covers
FL homeowners policies generally cover pool cage damage from named storms under either dwelling or Coverage B (Other Structures), subject to:
- Hurricane deductible (2-10% of dwelling coverage)
- Coverage B limit (typically 10-20% of dwelling)
- Like-for-like replacement standard (not code upgrade)
A typical FL home with $400,000 dwelling has $40,000-$80,000 in Coverage B available, more than enough for most cage replacements after the deductible. The complications are:
- Code upgrade gap — your old cage may have been built to 110 mph wind code; current FL code requires 130-150 mph. Carrier pays like-for-like; the upgrade premium ($2,000-$5,000 typical) is on you unless you have ordinance & law coverage.
- Partial damage disputes — carriers often offer screen-only or repair pricing when full replacement is the right call. Get an independent estimate before accepting.
- NOA documentation requirement — HVHZ replacements must be NOA-documented. Some carriers initially deny coverage on non-NOA-rebuilds; appeal with engineering documentation.
Pre-storm prep
Before any named storm enters the Gulf cone:
- Photo and video walkthrough of cage with metadata-preserved cloud upload
- Inspect screen for tears (storm wind enters through tears and tears sections out)
- Verify all door latches and locks function
- Remove patio furniture, plants, and loose items from inside the cage
- Check for loose hubs or fasteners (carrier may deny claim if pre-existing damage worsened by storm)
Documented cages settle hurricane claims an average of 6-10 weeks faster than undocumented ones in FL claim data.
Permits and code
Pool cage permits are required almost everywhere in FL for any work beyond simple re-screening:
- Re-screen only: No permit (most FL jurisdictions)
- Single bent upright replacement: No permit if same gauge and length
- Multiple frame member replacement: Permit usually required
- Full cage replacement: Permit required everywhere; HVHZ requires NOA review
- Cage extension or footprint change: Always requires permit and engineering review
Permit cost: $150-$600 in most FL counties. The permit and inspection process is what gets you the wind mitigation credit on insurance — keep the documentation.
The 25-year cost picture
For a typical 1,200 sqft FL pool cage installed properly:
- Years 0-7: $0-$300 in maintenance (occasional spot screen patches, fastener tightening)
- Years 8-12: $1,200-$3,800 first re-screen
- Years 13-18: $1,500-$4,500 second re-screen, possible door repair or hub work
- Years 19-25: full replacement window opens
- Hurricane events: $1,000-$15,000 each in repairs depending on storm intensity and cage condition
A storm-resilient cage with NOA-documented hardware, anodized aluminum, and proper anchoring is meaningfully more expensive upfront ($2,000-$5,000 premium over the cheapest options) but saves 2-3x that amount in storm damage over a 20-year life.
See screen enclosure vs open patio for the broader cage-or-no-cage decision, and the Florida hurricane home prep checklist for what to do with the cage before each named storm.