Pool Screen Repair in Margate, FL

Making the most of your budget in Margate

Many Margate homes have older pool cages and screened patios. When an enclosure has been up for years, the smartest spend isn't always the cheapest quote. Here's how to think about it.

Fix it or redo it?

• A few torn panels on a 1-story cage typically run $150 to $300, according to HomeGuide.
• If the mesh is over 10 years old, chalky, or tearing near old repairs, HomeGuide says a full rescreen is often cheaper in the long run.
• If fasteners are rusty, doing them during a rescreen saves money: about $1,400 versus $2,400 as a separate job.

Older enclosures: check the structure

• Look for rust stains under screw heads and loose tie-down cables.
• Check for water damage at the fascia where the cage meets the house.
• Peeling paint on the aluminum can be refreshed: HomeGuide puts cage painting at $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot.

See screen enclosure repair for more on fasteners, gutters and frames.

Services in Margate

• Pool Screen Repair
• Pool Cage Rescreening
• Screen Enclosure Repair
• Patio & Lanai Screen Repair
• Screen Door Repair
• Hurricane Damage Screen Repair

Typical costs

Source: HomeGuide pool screen repair cost guide (national averages). Your price depends on size, height, mesh type and condition. Always get a written quote.

A bit of Margate history

Margate was developed by Jack Marqusee as a "city with a plan." The name combines the first letters of his last name with "gateway," because the area was seen as the gateway to western Broward. It was created in 1955 and incorporated as a city in 1961. That makes Margate one of the older cities in this part of the county, and it explains why so many homes and condos here have screened patios and pool cages that have been through several rounds of repairs.

Margate communities

• Holiday Springs. Six villages of condos, townhouses and single-family homes around the former Carolina Club golf course. Homes along the old fairways often have screened patios with wide-open views, which also means more wind exposure.
• Oriole Gardens and Oriole Golf & Tennis Club. Two separate communities with similar names. Oriole Gardens is a 55+ condo community built in the 1970s and split into three separately governed sections. Who handles screen repairs can differ from one section to the next, so check your association's rules first.
• Royal Park Gardens, Palm Lakes and Coral Gate. Condo communities where screened balconies and patios are common. The association may control the screen color and type.
• Single-family streets. Many older ranch-style homes with pool cages or screened rear patios, some still on original aluminum frames.

Older enclosures: what to look for

When an enclosure has been up for decades, the screen is only part of the story. Before paying for a full rescreen, it's worth a careful look at the frame:

• Fasteners. Rust streaks running down from screw heads mean the screws are corroding. Replacing them during a rescreen is far cheaper than as a separate job later.
• Tie-down cables. Cables on the walls should be tight and anchored. Loose or rusted cables reduce how well the cage handles wind.
• Where the cage meets the house. Water stains or soft wood at the fascia can mean a gutter or flashing problem that needs fixing before new screen goes on.
• Paint and finish. Chalky or peeling paint on aluminum is cosmetic, but it's a good time to refresh it while the screen is off.

If the structure is sound, a rescreen can give an older cage many more years. If beams are bent or connections are failing, ask for a contractor's assessment. Broward County is in the Florida Building Code's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, and structural screen enclosure work generally involves permits and engineered drawings, while simple fabric repairs usually don't. Your contractor or the city building department can tell you which applies.

Sun and age

Pool screen is usually vinyl-coated fiberglass, and year-round South Florida sun slowly breaks down the coating. On an older cage you'll often see the roof and the south- and west-facing walls faded and brittle while shaded walls still look fine. Splitting panels that weren't hit by anything are the clearest sign the screen is near the end of its life.

Typical Margate screen jobs

• Patio and balcony rescreens in condo communities.
• A handful of torn panels on an older pool cage.
• Rusty screws and loose cables found during a repair.
• Screen doors that have dropped, dragged or lost their closer.
• Getting a faded enclosure looking presentable before a sale or a rental.

Getting ready for storm season

Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. For older enclosures especially, check fasteners and cables in the spring, fix small tears, and trim trees near the cage. If a storm causes damage, photograph it before cleaning up. Our storm damage page has the full checklist.