Pool Cage and Screen Enclosure Cleaning in Sarasota — What Homeowners Should Know

Nearly every home in Sarasota with a pool has a screen enclosure, and nearly every screen enclosure in Sarasota has the same problem — green algae growth that turns the screens opaque and the frame members dark. A dirty pool cage blocks airflow, reduces natural light, and makes the entire outdoor living area feel neglected.

Why Pool Cages Get So Dirty

Screen enclosures are perfect algae habitats. The screen mesh traps moisture from pool evaporation, rain, and humidity. The aluminum frames stay damp longer than open surfaces because of reduced air circulation inside the structure. Add Florida's warmth and you have year-round growing conditions for algae, mold, and mildew.

The top of the cage — the roof panels — gets the worst of it because pollen, tree debris, and bird droppings accumulate there first. The growth migrates down the walls over time.

Soft Wash Only

Pool cage cleaning must be soft wash — low pressure with chemical treatment. High-pressure washing tears screens, bends frame members, and can damage the connection points where screens attach to the frame. We've been called to repair damage from homeowners and unqualified contractors who tried to pressure wash enclosures with standard equipment.

Our soft wash process applies a mild sodium hypochlorite solution to the entire enclosure — screens, frames, roof panels, and base tracks. The solution kills the algae and mold on contact. After a short dwell time, we rinse everything with low-pressure water. The dead organic material rinses off cleanly, leaving bright white screens and aluminum.

Interior vs. Exterior

Most pool cage cleaning quotes cover the exterior only — the side exposed to weather. Interior cleaning is an additional service that addresses the pool-side surfaces. For cages that haven't been cleaned in several years, the interior surfaces often need attention too. For regularly maintained cages, exterior cleaning every 6–12 months keeps both sides looking good because rain rinses the interior surfaces naturally.

Screen Replacement vs. Cleaning

Homeowners sometimes assume their screens need replacement when they actually just need cleaning. If the screen mesh is intact — no tears, holes, or sagging — cleaning restores it to like-new appearance at a fraction of the replacement cost. Screen replacement runs $2,000–$8,000+ for a full enclosure. Cleaning runs $150–$350. If your screens are structurally sound, cleaning is the move.

Cleaning Frequency

In Sarasota, most pool cages benefit from cleaning every 6–12 months depending on the surrounding vegetation. Homes with overhanging trees, especially oak trees that drop debris and pollen year-round, need more frequent cleaning. Homes on open lots with good air circulation can stretch to annual cleaning.

Pool Deck at the Same Time

Since we're already set up at your pool area, most homeowners have us clean the pool deck during the same visit. The deck gets pressure washed (it's concrete, it can handle it) while the cage gets soft washed. Combining the services saves on the per-surface cost and gives you a completely refreshed outdoor living area in a single visit.

Extending Time Between Cleanings

Several factors influence how quickly your pool cage gets dirty again after cleaning. Tree proximity is the biggest one — oaks, palms, and pine trees drop debris directly onto the enclosure roof, creating organic matter that feeds algae growth. If trimming overhanging branches is feasible, it dramatically reduces the rate of buildup. Some homeowners hire an arborist to trim branches back from the cage after cleaning — the investment pays for itself in fewer cleanings per year.

Gutter placement matters too. If roof gutters discharge near the pool cage, the splash zone creates a perpetually damp area on the screen that grows algae faster than surrounding sections. Redirecting downspout discharge away from the enclosure reduces this effect.

After professional cleaning, some homeowners apply a preventive algaecide treatment to the screen and frame surfaces. These products create a chemical barrier that inhibits biological growth for several months. We offer this as an add-on service — the cost is modest relative to the cleaning itself and extends the clean appearance by 2-4 months depending on conditions.

For homes on waterfront lots — canals, lakes, and bayfront properties in Sarasota — the increased moisture exposure from the adjacent water body accelerates screen enclosure fouling. These properties consistently need more frequent cage cleaning than inland homes. If you're on a waterfront lot and your cage looks dirty again three months after cleaning, that's normal for your location — not a sign that the cleaning was inadequate. A quarterly cleaning schedule handles waterfront cage maintenance effectively and costs less per visit than calling for service when the buildup becomes unacceptable.