Short answer: after storm damage we inspect every beam, upright and anchor, then quote either a repair or a rebuild. You get photos and an itemized written scope to submit with any insurance claim.
Lee County has been here before
Hurricane Ian made landfall at Cayo Costa on September 28, 2022 as a Category 4 storm, with storm surge of 10 to 15 feet on Fort Myers Beach. The National Hurricane Center recorded more than 52,000 structures affected in Lee County and over 5,000 destroyed. Pool cages and screen rooms were among the most common losses, and replacements were still being permitted more than two years later.
What we look at first
- Eave beams and uprights for bends, kinks or twisting.
- Connections where beams meet uprights, which take the load when wind pushes the screen.
- Anchors and the deck for lifting or cracked concrete.
- The house wall where the cage attaches.
- Screen and doors, which are often the easy part.
Repair or rebuild
If the main frame is straight and only a few members are damaged, those sections can be replaced and the cage rescreened. If several beams are bent, the anchors have pulled or the frame has racked out of square, rebuilding is usually safer and often not much more expensive. Structural repairs and rebuilds are permitted work; screen-only repairs normally aren't.
Working with your insurance
We photograph the damage, measure what needs replacing and give you an itemized written scope and price to submit with your claim. Coverage for screen enclosures varies a lot. Many Florida policies only cover hurricane damage to a screen enclosure if you added a specific endorsement, and the hurricane deductible applies. Check your policy, and we'll give you the paperwork either way.
Prices are estimates. Partial repairs are priced like repairs; full rebuilds like new cages. See the pool cage cost guide.
Making it safe in the meantime
Keep people and pets off the deck under a damaged cage, don't try to pull bent beams straight, and remove loose screen only if you can do it from the ground. If panels are flapping against the house, call and we'll advise.
Questions
Do I need a permit to repair storm damage?
Structural repairs and rebuilds need one; screen-only repairs normally don't. Lee County cities sometimes waive or speed up storm-repair permits after a hurricane.
Will insurance pay for my pool cage?
It depends on your policy. Many Florida policies need a screen enclosure endorsement for hurricane damage. We provide photos and a written scope for your claim.
Can you remove a destroyed cage?
Yes. We take the frame down, haul it away and leave the deck ready for a new enclosure.