Lee County pools spend more time in the sun and salt air than almost anywhere else in the country, which makes the pool screen enclosure one of the most consequential decisions a homeowner here will make. Commercial Residential Aluminum (CRA) has been building enclosures on Florida’s Gulf Coast since 1992, and its team has completed more than 30,000 screening and enclosure projects across the state in the last five years alone. CRA serves Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Sanibel, and Fort Myers Beach, and every enclosure it installs is engineered specifically for Florida’s wind-load codes and coastal exposure.
Pool screen enclosures are aluminum-framed structures, fitted with fiberglass or polyester screen mesh, that cover a pool and patio to keep out insects and debris, filter UV rays, and extend the space’s usability year-round, all while meeting Florida’s wind-load building codes.
What Aluminum Options Do You Have for a Pool Screen Enclosure in Lee County?
Aluminum is the standard framing material for Florida pool enclosures, and for good reason: it resists the corrosion that salt air and humidity cause in other metals, it’s lightweight enough to span large openings without excessive support, and it takes a powder-coat finish that holds up to years of sun exposure. The screen panels themselves use fiberglass or polyester mesh, which allows airflow and visibility while still keeping out insects and debris.
Not all aluminum framing is engineered the same way, though. CRA’s enclosures use its patented ChannelLock Self-Mating Beam, backed by nine U.S. patents, which independent third-party testing found to be 40% stronger than the industry-standard lap beam. That testing also uncovered a critical failure point in the standard beam design that ChannelLock was built to correct. CRA’s beam is currently the only one on the market certified under Florida’s Product Approval program through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), meaning it’s independently tested and validated annually for alloy composition, hardness, paint adhesion, and paint thickness.
| Enclosure type | Best for | Key feature |
| Pool cage / screen room | Standard in-ground or above-ground pool coverage | Custom-engineered to your pool’s footprint and home’s architecture |
| Lanai enclosure | Extending a covered outdoor living space beyond the pool deck | Integrates with existing roofline and deck |
| Entry enclosure | Front-door or side-entry screening | Matches home’s architectural style |
| ScenicView panoramic screens | Homes with a water, golf course, or preserve view | Wide-spanning, unobstructed sightlines with no visible support beams |
| Hurricane screen add-on | Retrofitting storm protection onto an existing enclosure | Retractable, Category 5-rated MagnaTrack screens that double as sun and insect protection year-round |
Which Screen Enclosure Layout Fits Your Pool and Home?
Layout comes down to what the pool looks like and how the home is positioned around it. A standard pool cage or screen room follows the shape of the existing pool deck and is the most common layout for both in-ground and above-ground pools. A lanai enclosure extends that covered space further, which suits homeowners who want a shaded sitting or dining area attached to the pool rather than just coverage over the water.
For homes that back up to a canal, preserve, or golf course, an unobstructed view is often the priority, and that’s where CRA’s ScenicView panoramic screens come in. The system is designed to eliminate the visual clutter of support beams across a sightline, so the backdrop reads as open space rather than a caged-in structure. CRA can also retrofit ScenicView screens onto an existing cage or patio rather than requiring a full rebuild. Homeowners planning a layout can request CRA’s video showcase of completed projects to see how pool cage, lanai, and ScenicView layouts look on homes similar to their own before finalizing a design.
Deck work is usually part of the same conversation. CRA offers deck extensions in concrete pads, paver decks with footers, and travertine or natural stone finishes, so the enclosure and the surrounding hardscape get planned together rather than as separate projects.
How Do Aluminum Enclosures Hold Up in Lee County’s Coastal Climate?
Lee County’s barrier islands and coastal neighborhoods put an enclosure through more punishment than an inland structure sees: salt-laden air accelerates corrosion, intense UV exposure breaks down lesser materials over time, and the county sits within Florida’s wind-borne debris region under the Florida Building Code, which means structures have to be engineered for specific wind-load requirements rather than built to a generic standard.
Aluminum framing resists salt-air corrosion far better than steel, and CRA’s enclosures pair that aluminum framing with stainless-steel hardware and a powder-coat finish for the same reason. Every enclosure is engineered to meet Florida’s wind-load codes, and homeowners who want additional storm protection can add CRA’s MagnaTrack retractable hurricane screens, tested to withstand sustained winds exceeding 150 mph and Category 5 hurricane conditions, on top of the enclosure’s existing structure. Because MagnaTrack screens retract rather than requiring storage and manual installation, they also double as UV shades, insect barriers, and privacy screens the rest of the year.
What Permits or Licenses Are Required to Install a Pool Cage in Lee County?
A pool enclosure isn’t a weekend project in Florida. Because it has to be engineered to meet wind-load building codes, installation requires permitting, engineering approval, and inspection by local authorities before and after the work is done. CRA is a Florida State Licensed Contractor (Lic. SCC056736, CGC058897) and manages the entire permitting process in-house, including engineering approvals and inspections, through a dedicated design team, chief engineer, and permitting staff.
That matters for two practical reasons. First, an enclosure built without a permit can create problems at resale, since a buyer’s inspector or the county can flag unpermitted structures. Second, and more immediately, a structure that isn’t engineered to code is one that’s more likely to fail in a storm. Homeowners considering a DIY build or an unlicensed installer should ask directly who is pulling the permit and who is signing off on the engineering, since both are required regardless of who does the physical installation.
Who Offers the Best Pool Cages in Lee County, Florida?
A few things separate a well-built pool cage from one that will need repair after the first significant storm:
- Beam technology and product approval: Is the framing system independently tested, and is it certified under Florida’s DBPR Product Approval program?
- Licensing and insurance: Is the contractor a Florida state-licensed specialty or general contractor, and can they show proof of insurance?
- Local track record: How many projects has the company completed in your specific county, and how long have they served the area?
- In-house permitting: Does the company handle engineering and permitting directly, or does that get outsourced or left to the homeowner?
- Reputation and accreditation: What do BBB ratings and long-term reviews say about the company’s follow-through, especially after storm events?
CRA has served Florida’s Gulf Coast for decades and has completed more than 30,000 screening and enclosure projects in the last five years alone, with a team of over 200 professionals. It’s a Florida State Licensed Contractor and an Accredited BBB member with an A+ rating. Its ChannelLock beam technology, backed by nine U.S. patents, is the only aluminum enclosure framing currently certified under DBPR’s Florida Product Approval program. In Lee County specifically, CRA serves Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Sanibel, and Fort Myers Beach, handling everything from design and permitting to installation and inspection.
Get a Design Consultation for Your Lee County Pool Enclosure
Choosing a pool screen enclosure in Lee County comes down to three questions: what aluminum framing and beam technology stands behind it, what layout fits your pool and view, and who is handling the engineering and permitting that Florida’s coastal wind-load codes require. Commercial Residential Aluminum (CRA) has answered those questions for homeowners across Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Sanibel, and Fort Myers Beach since 1992. Call CRA at 855-272-2243 or request a free quote online to start planning your enclosure.
FAQs
1. Do I need a permit to re-screen an existing pool cage, or only for a new build?
It depends on the scope of the work. Replacing torn screen mesh on an existing structure is typically a smaller job, but any work involving the frame, beams, or structural components still needs to meet Florida’s engineering and permitting requirements. Ask your contractor to confirm what your specific project requires before work begins.
2. Can I finance a pool screen enclosure instead of paying upfront?
Some contractors offer financing options. CRA offers flexible financing through Synchrony for qualifying projects, which can spread the cost of a new enclosure over time rather than requiring full payment upfront.
3. Will my homeowners insurance cover storm damage to my pool cage?
It depends on the policy. Many insurers classify pool enclosures as “other structures,” similar to a shed, and coverage for wind or hurricane damage varies by provider. Some insurers also offer premium credits for wind-mitigation features. Confirm the specifics with your insurance provider before and after installation.
4. How long does a pool screen enclosure typically last on Florida’s Gulf Coast?
Lifespan depends heavily on the beam technology, hardware, and maintenance, but aluminum framing paired with stainless-steel fasteners and a quality powder-coat finish is built to resist the salt air and UV exposure that shorten the life of lesser materials. Regular light cleaning of screens and frames, and avoiding pressure-washing at high settings, helps protect the finish over time.
5. Can an existing pool cage be retrofitted with ScenicView panoramic screens?
Yes. CRA can retrofit an existing cage, porch, or patio with ScenicView screens rather than requiring a full rebuild, which is often the more cost-effective route for homeowners who like their current structure but want to open up the view.
