Replacing pool cage screen

[dcflorida]

Like many people here in Florida, I lost the screens to my pool cage during the hurricanes. I have gotten estimates ranging from $1200 to $1800 replace the roof portion only. I believe I can do this repair myself and save the money. However I have a question, 'how do I get on the roof of the cage to set the screen and roll the spline without a) falling into the pool and b) crushing the cage? (I am not a large person, but I do not think the aluminum will hold my weight.) Thank you in advance for suggestions, ideas or step by step instructions.

DC :D

[the_tow_guy]

I often wondered that myself (we were about 10 miles as the crow flies from Charlie's track; no damage). I would assume a portable cherry-picker; check your local rental place (if you're in Charlotte County, Do-All Rental in Charlotte Harbor has them). That should work for the areas on the outter perimeter. For the edges near the structure where the cherry-picker won't reach (and I suppose this would work on the other areas as well) you could work from the inside with an extension or step ladder. With the old screen out run your ladder up on the inside and do the splining through openings in adjacent panel areas as you work your way either from one end to the other or from center out. I'm not sure, but I think maybe the individual sections are one piece from side to side, i.e. they go as one continuous piece across the ridge so you may not have to splice there. Post back how you do.

[arkayassoc]

:rolleyes: I don't have a pool, and don't live in FL. Can someone give me a general description of a pool cage, and what it does?

Thanks,

[the_tow_guy]

Keeps the sharks out while you're swimming.

LOL, just kidding.

Just another term for a screened enclosure. The verticals on the outside perimeter normally run to the level of the roof. The outside wall of the house makes up one or two sides depending on floor plan. The overhead portion of the enclosure slopes upward from the perimeter to a central ridge. The difficulty in rescreening it would be to reach the areas furthest from the edges.

This site has a slideshow of several designs:

http://www.poolpatioenclosures.com/screen_pool_enclosures.htm

Big problem right now getting them replaced due to volume of those destroyed and they are required by law as a safety requirement.

http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive2/121304/tp1ch1.htm?date=121304&story=tp1ch1.htm

[arkayassoc]

Oh, a screened atrium :D

Whatever happened to the security fence idea? Does this mean only the super rich can have pools in FL?

[the_tow_guy]

Or a very leaky sunroom. :rolleyes:

No, just means that a lot less kids drown in pools from climbing over the fence. Cuts down on pool maintenance, too; keeps out leaves, insects, etc. Most pools are put in during new-home construction, so the cost of the pool cage is a fairly small percentage of the cost.

Never thought of myself as super-rich, although sometimes my loving wife seems to thinks so. LOL.

[arkayassoc]

Well the last time I paid someone for a tow, I was super poor, and the tow guy was much richer for the experience. #offtopic#

[pcflctnh]

We just had a new cage installed at our house, although we don't have a pool but do have a spa that we want to protect from small children, bugs and debris.
The workers used step ladders and a platform scaffold and stated in the center from the inside of the cage and worked their way out to both ends and they finished while working from ladders on the ground. I would not attempt this job myself even though I consider myself a handiman, it takes some skill and experience to get the screen nice and tight without any wrinkles in it.

[kslaubaugh]

I hope you are able to buy screen. We are a cage builder in Sarasota and we are struggling week to week getting enough screen. As for the do-it-yourselfer. I would suggest a plank between the roof beams.