Lanai & Pool Cage Cleaning
The Moorings

Milton Link’s company began developing The Moorings in 1957, and today it is one of Naples’ most established neighborhoods, wedged between Coquina Sands to the south and Park Shore to the north. Around 4,000 homes and condominiums sit here, including roughly 875 single-family houses and more than eighty condo buildings. Waterfront homes line Moorings Bay, Bowline Bay and Compass Cove, and boats head out to the Gulf through Doctors Pass. Inland, streets are lined with mature shade trees. Salt from the Gulf and Moorings Bay is hard on pool cages. Aluminum pool cages near salt water oxidize faster than inland ones. Waterfront lanais facing the bay often sit in afternoon shade and stay damp, so ceilings, corners and the pool deck edge grow mildew and algae.

Every generation of pool cage. A neighborhood built over almost seventy years has every kind of enclosure. Some homes still have original or long-serving frames, sometimes with older, heavier hardware. Others, especially on rebuilt waterfront lots, have tall, modern cages with fine mesh. We check the age, condition and design of yours first, then choose pressure and products to match.

Bay-front and canal homes. On Moorings Bay and the coves, the cage often faces the water with a dock just beyond. Salt arrives on the wind, from boat spray and from rinse water when the boat is washed down. It settles on screens as a grey haze and on aluminum as a crust that speeds oxidation. We loosen it gently, treat chalky frames and finish with a careful fresh-water rinse, keeping runoff out of the bay. Screens hold salt the same way glass does: after a few months the view of the bay or the garden looks hazy, and wet salt traps pollen and dirt in the mesh. Regular cleaning slows the oxidation and keeps the cage from reaching the point where it needs recoating, which costs far more than maintenance.

Inland homes under big trees. Away from the water, the challenge is shade and debris. Oaks, palms and other mature trees drop leaves, flowers and sap onto the screen roof. Shaded cages stay damp, and green algae grows along the top rails and in the corners. We clear leaves and debris from the roof panels before washing so they do not just turn to mush on the mesh.

Condo lanais on Gulf Shore Boulevard. Many Moorings residents live in the beachside condo buildings along Gulf Shore Boulevard North. Their lanais are open balconies or screened enclosures several floors up. We clean these by hand with minimal water so nothing runs onto the unit below. Building pool decks, walkways and exterior walls are coordinated with the association and manager.

Chalky aluminum. Salt air speeds the oxidation of painted aluminum, so frames in The Moorings tend to chalk sooner than those inland. If yours leaves a white powder on your hand, an oxidation treatment will remove the loose layer and restore much of the color. Very old frames may be beyond brightening, and we will tell you honestly if recoating or replacement makes more sense. The white, chalky film that comes off on your hand is the metal surface breaking down, and salt speeds it up. A rinse won’t remove it; an aluminum brightener will.

Rust and fasteners. Salt also attacks screws, brackets and door hardware, and rust stains drip onto the deck below. We treat the stains, and we point out corroded fasteners so you can have them replaced before a storm puts them to the test.

Deck floors. Moorings pool decks include old coated concrete, brick pavers, travertine and newer stone. Each needs its own approach. Coatings can peel under strong spray, pavers lose their joint sand, and travertine etches with acidic cleaners. We match the method to the surface, and if a deck needs sealing afterward, our Moorings paver sealing page has the details.

About the property owners association. The Moorings Property Owners Association is voluntary; members get parking at Moorings Beach Park, events and neighborhood news. Cleaning a pool cage does not usually need anyone’s approval, but if you live in one of the condo buildings, the association’s rules and the manager’s schedule come first, and we work within them. Single-family owners can book directly.

Doors, closers and pet flaps. Screen doors take more abuse than any other part of a cage. Older Moorings enclosures often have tired closers, bent kick plates at the door and pet flaps that have gone brittle in the sun. We clean around them carefully, rinse grit out of the door track and threshold, and let you know if a closer or latch is failing so it can be repaired before it lets a pet or a gust of wind through.

Pricing. For an upper-floor condo lanai or a compact cage of less than 800 square feet, plan on $249 and up. Typical single-family pool enclosures start from $299. Bigger waterfront cages between 1,500 and 2,500 square feet start from $399, while tall two-story cages or those covering a summer kitchen start from $499. Frames that need heavy oxidation work add $75 to $150. Booking the enclosure and its deck floor as one package starts from $399.

How often. Bay-front cages usually need a cleaning every eight to twelve months because of salt. Inland cages under heavy shade may need one just as often because of algae. Open, sunny cages away from the water can often go a little longer.

Scheduling. Most of The Moorings is not gated, so we can usually work while you are out or away. Leave the cage door unlocked or arrange access, bring cushions inside, and let us know about pets. We send before and after photos when the job is finished.