Florida pool cage quote: license, permit and what to check

Who can build a pool enclosure in Florida

Florida certifies specialty structure contractors under Rule 61G4-15.015 of the Florida Administrative Code, and the scope of that license expressly includes screened porches, screened enclosures and pool enclosures, along with fabric coverings on metal substructures, sunrooms, aluminum and vinyl fences, gutters, soffit and fascia. When a screen company gives you a quote, check its license on the Department of Business and Professional Regulation's search and confirm the license type covers the work.

The same rule sets limits that are worth knowing when you read a quote. A specialty structure contractor's concrete and masonry work is limited to foundations, slabs and block kneewalls that go with the enclosure, and the rule says this contractor may not do work that alters the structural integrity of your house, including roof trusses, lintels, load-bearing walls and foundations.

The rule also says any other trade's work that comes with the job has to be subcontracted to a contractor licensed in that trade. If your quote includes ceiling fans, lights or outlets inside the cage, ask who will do the electrical work and whether that contractor is licensed for it.

The permit and the engineering

Expect a building permit. Martin County, for example, says a permit is required to build a screen enclosure with or without an existing slab. Requirements are set locally, so ask your city or county building department what applies to your address, and ask the installer in writing who will pull the permit.

Hillsborough County's checklist shows what a permit application can involve: building plans that comply with the current Florida Building Code and are digitally signed and sealed by a Florida-registered architect or engineer, and a scaled site plan showing the new structure, property lines, setbacks and any easements. If a quote does not mention engineering or plans, ask whether they are included in the price.

A replacement cage can also involve Florida's construction lien law. Improvements with a direct contract price of $2,500 or less are exempt from most of it under section 713.02(5). Above that, the lien law applies, and Hillsborough County requires a recorded, certified copy of the Notice of Commencement before the first inspection. Our lien law guide explains the notice and how to avoid paying twice.

When the enclosure is also your pool barrier

Many Florida homes rely on the screen enclosure to keep young children away from the pool. Florida's Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act describes what a residential pool barrier must have: among other things, it must be at least 4 feet high on the outside, and gates that give access to the pool must open outward away from the pool, close and latch by themselves, and have the release on the pool side where a young child cannot reach it over the top or through a gap (section 515.29). A wall of the house may serve as part of the barrier if it has no door or window that opens to give access to the pool.

To pass final inspection and receive a certificate of completion, section 515.27 says a residential pool must have at least one safety feature: an enclosure that meets those barrier rules and isolates the pool from the house, an approved safety pool cover, exit alarms on the doors and windows that open directly to the pool, self-closing and self-latching devices on the doors that open directly to the pool, or a pool alarm.

If your cage is your pool's barrier, ask the installer to confirm that the new screen doors will close and latch on their own and open outward away from the pool, and ask what will keep the pool closed off while the old enclosure is down.

What a complete estimate should spell out

Two quotes for a pool cage can describe very different jobs. Before comparing prices, make sure each one says whether it is a full replacement, a partial rebuild or a rescreen, and gives the size and roof style of the enclosure.

Ask each contractor to name the frame sizes and finish, the type of fasteners, the screen material for the walls and roof, how many doors there are and what hardware comes with them, and whether kickplates, gutters and the connection to your house are included. Ask what happens to the old enclosure and who hauls it away.

Look for the foundation detail too. A quote that reuses your existing slab or footers should say so, and one that includes new footers should say where. Finally, check that the warranty says what it covers: the frame, the screen and the labor are often different, and a written warranty is easier to rely on than a verbal one.

After a hurricane

After a hurricane, take photos of the enclosure before anything is removed, get written estimates from licensed contractors, and do not sign on the spot.

How your homeowners policy treats the enclosure depends on the policy, and so does the deductible that applies after a hurricane. Ask your agent how the enclosure is covered, and read our guide to Florida hurricane deductibles before you decide how to pay for the repair.