Short answer for Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte County: a new pool cage is a five-figure project. Most of the new cages we build run between $12,000 and $25,000; large, tall or panoramic-view enclosures run $25,000 to $35,000 and up. A full rescreen of a sound frame costs a fraction of that, and a single torn panel is a few hundred dollars. The ranges below come from our own written estimates, not from a national averaging site.
You will find articles online quoting “$3,000 to $7,000 for a pool cage.” Those figures are national averages that mix screen repairs with new construction and ignore what Florida requires. In our three counties a new enclosure is an engineered, permitted structure built to current wind loads, and the number is set by the footprint, the roof style, the screen and the deck it anchors into. Here is how each of those moves the price.
Typical price ranges in Sarasota (2026)
| Job | Typical range | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Single-panel screen repair | $150–$650 | Number of panels, height, door hardware |
| Full rescreen of an existing cage | $1,200–$3,500 | Size of the cage, mesh type, spline and fastener condition |
| Restoration & repaint (frame kept) | $3,500–$9,000; large cages to $12,000+ | Corrosion to treat, hardware replaced, color change |
| New pool cage | $12,000–$25,000 | Footprint, height, roof style, screen, deck condition |
| Large or panoramic-view cage | $25,000–$35,000+ | Wide spans, tall gable or dome, picture-window panels |
| Lanai enclosure or screen room | $8,000–$20,000 | Roof type, kick plates, doors, existing slab |
| Paver pool deck or driveway | $5,000–$15,000 | Square footage, base prep, drainage, travertine vs. concrete pavers |
| Motorized retractable screens | $3,500–$9,500 per opening set | Opening size, mesh, motor and controls |
These are typical ranges, not quotes. Every project we do is priced from an on-site measurement and comes back as a written, itemized estimate. The estimate is free, and the number in it is the number you pay.
What a new pool cage costs, and what you are paying for
Most Sarasota homeowners land between $12,000 and $25,000 for a new enclosure over a standard pool and deck. That price covers more than aluminum and screen:
- Engineered drawings, signed and sealed, showing the cage meets the current wind-load requirement for your address. The span and anchor schedule are specific to your deck, not a template.
- The building permit, pulled under our license (CRC1334065) with Sarasota, Manatee or Charlotte County, and the inspection at the end.
- The HOA submittal where there is architectural review, which is most deed-restricted communities here.
- Frame, screen and hardware: aluminum sized for the span, mansard, gable or dome roof, Phifer 18/14 fiberglass mesh made in the USA, stainless fasteners.
- Demolition and haul-away of the old cage when it is a replacement.
Anyone quoting a “$7,000 pool cage” in this market is either quoting a rescreen, skipping the permit, or both. Unpermitted structural work becomes a title problem when you sell the house.
The five things that move the number
- Footprint and height. Aluminum and screen scale with area, and a taller cage needs heavier sections. A cage over a pool plus a 12-foot deck is a different job from one hugging the water’s edge.
- Roof style. Mansard is the Florida standard and the most economical span. Gable adds height and material over the water. Dome is the widest, most open and most expensive of the three.
- Screen. Phifer 18/14 fiberglass is the default. No-see-um mesh for waterfront lots, pet-resistant screen on the bottom row, or Perfect Screen polyester for wide bays each add to the price and change how long it lasts.
- The deck and anchors. If the concrete is spalling or the original anchors were undersized, that gets corrected before the frame goes up. On the keys, anchor work moves the number more than anything else.
- Panoramic panels. Removing horizontal cross-bars for tall picture-window bays is a structural upgrade, and it is what pushes a cage from the middle of the range to the top.
Repair, rescreen, restore or replace?
Cheapest first, and most homeowners who call us about replacement need one of the first two:
- Panel repair ($150–$650): one or two torn bays with an obvious cause, tight screen everywhere else. Screen repair details.
- Full rescreen ($1,200–$3,500): screen that tears at the spline on its own, sags to the touch or has gone chalky. The frame is fine; the mesh is done.
- Restoration and repaint ($3,500–$9,000): sound aluminum with a tired finish, rust streaks at fasteners, hardware to replace. Often includes a rescreen in the same trip. How restoration works.
- Replacement ($12,000+): corrosion through the anchors, an upright you can flex by hand, or storm damage to the frame. Paint over that and you have a repainted cage with the same failing anchors.
We tell you which one you are looking at during the estimate, including when the answer is the cheaper one. A large share of our “new cage” calls end as a rescreen or a refinish.
Spreading the cost
Projects up to $65,000 can be financed through Wisetack, with up to six payment plans and interest-free options for qualifying customers. Checking your options takes about a minute and does not affect your credit score. All financing is subject to credit approval.
How to get an exact number
Call 2H Rescreening at (941) 961-0162 or request an estimate online. We come out, measure the enclosure, check the frame and anchors, walk through screen types and colors, and send a written scope that lists exactly what is included so you can compare it line for line against anyone else’s. Licensed Florida contractor CRC1334065, 4.9 stars from 370+ Google reviews, serving Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte County since 2017.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a new pool cage take?
Once the permit is issued, most projects finish within 20 business days. The county issues on its own schedule, typically two to six weeks, which is why we start the drawings and the HOA package as early as possible.
Do I need a permit?
Yes, for a new enclosure or any structural replacement. Rescreening or repainting a sound frame does not require one.
Can I build a pool cage myself?
The screen work can be a DIY job. The frame cannot: in Florida it is an engineered, permitted structure, and pulling it as an owner-builder makes you personally liable for the work.
Do you price by the square foot?
No. Two cages with the same footprint can differ by thousands of dollars depending on height, roof style and what the deck can hold. A per-square-foot number hides the parts that matter, so we measure and quote each cage.
Which color should I choose?
White disappears against a light house and shows dirt least. Bronze recedes visually and is what most lakefront and preserve lots choose. HOA rules narrow this more often than budget does.
Does a pool cage add value to the house?
In this market a screened pool is the expectation, not the upgrade. A permitted, current-code enclosure removes a buyer’s objection and an insurance question; an unpermitted or failing one creates both.