Screen Replacements in Southwest Florida | Chad The Handyman

If you own a home in Southwest Florida, your screens are working harder than you probably realize. Between the sun, salt air, storms, and the occasional errant golf ball, screen enclosures down here take a beating that homeowners in other parts of the country simply never deal with. Understanding why screens fail — and what your options are when they do — can save you money and keep your outdoor living space comfortable year-round.

Why Screens Fail Faster in Southwest Florida

Up north, a quality fiberglass screen might last fifteen years or more. In Southwest Florida, you are looking at seven to ten years before UV degradation takes its toll. The intense sun breaks down screen fibers over time, making them brittle and prone to tearing at the slightest contact. You have probably noticed this yourself — screens that looked fine a year ago suddenly have small holes appearing along the bottom edges or near frame connections where the material flexes.

Salt air compounds the problem, especially for homes near Estero Bay, Lovers Key, or the coast along Bonita Beach and Naples. The salt corrodes aluminum frames and weakens screen attachment points, which means even a moderate storm can pull panels free. Speaking of storms, Hurricane Ian left behind a trail of damaged screen enclosures across Lee and Collier counties that many homeowners are still addressing two-plus years later. Some pool cages lost entire sections, while others sustained subtler damage — stretched or loosened screens that let in insects but do not look obviously torn from the ground.

Then there is golf ball damage. If you live in communities like Stoneybrook, Grandezza, Shadow Wood, or Pelican Sound, you already know that a sliced drive can punch clean through a lanai screen. These one-off panel replacements are among the most common calls we get.

Types of Screen Replacement Services We Provide

Screen replacement is not a one-size-fits-all job. The scope ranges from a single panel fix that takes thirty minutes to a full pool cage rescreen that may span a couple of days. Here is a breakdown of the most common projects we handle.

Lanai and pool cage rescreening is the big one. When multiple panels are torn, sagging, or UV-degraded, rescreening the entire enclosure makes more sense than patching individual sections. We remove all existing screen material, inspect the aluminum frame for corrosion or damage, make any necessary frame repairs, and install fresh screening throughout. This restores your outdoor space to like-new condition.

Sliding screen door replacement is another frequent request. The rollers wear out, the mesh tears, or the frame bends from daily use. We can replace just the screen material in your existing frame or install a completely new door assembly. Window screen replacement follows a similar approach — we either rescreen the existing frame or provide new ones built to your window dimensions.

For localized damage — a golf ball hole, a pet scratch, or a branch puncture — individual panel replacement is the most cost-effective option. We match your existing screen material and color so the repair blends seamlessly.

Learn more about our screen replacement services, or explore our full range of general home repair offerings.

Choosing the Right Screen Material for Your Home

Not all screen mesh is the same, and the right choice depends on where you live and how you use your outdoor space. The most common option is standard 18x14 fiberglass mesh. The numbers refer to the weave density — 18 strands per inch horizontally and 14 vertically. This provides solid insect protection with good airflow and visibility. For the majority of lanais and pool cages in Estero, Naples, and Fort Myers, standard fiberglass does the job well and offers the best balance of performance and value.

If you live near waterways, mangroves, or preserves — and in Southwest Florida, that describes a lot of neighborhoods — you may want to consider 20x20 no-see-um mesh. The tighter weave blocks the tiny biting midges (no-see-ums) that standard screens let right through. Homes along the Estero River, near the Imperial River, or backing up to preserves in Bonita Springs see a real quality-of-life improvement with this upgrade. The tradeoff is slightly reduced airflow and visibility, but most homeowners near these areas consider it well worth it.

For homeowners who want maximum visibility — that clear, unobstructed view of the pool, landscaping, or water — Phifer UltraVue is the premium choice. It uses thinner strands and a tighter weave to dramatically reduce the "screen door effect." It costs more than standard fiberglass, but the visual difference is striking, and the material tends to last longer under UV exposure.

Finally, if you have dogs or cats that lean against or scratch at screens, pet-resistant mesh is worth considering. This heavier-gauge material stands up to claws and impact far better than standard fiberglass. It does reduce airflow and visibility somewhat, so many homeowners install it only on the lower panels where pets make contact, using standard mesh on the upper sections.

What to Expect: Cost and Timeline

Screen replacement costs vary significantly depending on the scope of work. A single panel replacement is a straightforward, affordable fix. A full lanai or pool cage rescreen is a larger investment that depends on the size of the enclosure, the material you choose, and whether the aluminum frame needs repairs. We provide free estimates so there are no surprises.

One important detail that many homeowners are not aware of: under Florida law, any contracting work exceeding $2,500 requires a licensed contractor. Full rescreens almost always exceed that threshold. Working with an unlicensed installer can void your homeowner insurance coverage and leave you with no recourse if something goes wrong. Our CBC-1259887 license means your project is done legally and to code.

Timeline depends on the project size. Individual panel replacements are typically same-day. Sliding screen doors usually take under an hour. Full rescreens may take one to three days depending on the size of the enclosure and any frame repairs needed. We schedule most screen work within a week of your estimate approval.

Serving homeowners across Estero and surrounding communities — see our Estero handyman services page for more on what we do in your area.

Whether you are dealing with a single torn panel from last week or widespread damage you have been putting off since Hurricane Ian, the best next step is a quick assessment. Screens that look like minor issues can worsen quickly — small tears become large ones, loosened panels catch wind and pull away further, and UV-damaged mesh continues to degrade every day in the Florida sun. The sooner you address it, the less it tends to cost.

You may also find helpful information in our posts on drywall repairs and our home inspection repair checklist, especially if you are preparing a home for sale or addressing multiple items at once.