Lanai & Pool Cage Cleaning
Copperleaf at The Brooks

Copperleaf Golf Club, inside The Brooks in Estero, is a gated bundled-golf community of about 570 homes: roughly 416 single-family homes and 154 carriage homes, in one- and two-story designs. The Audubon-certified course is wrapped in lakes and natural preserves, so the majority of pool cages and screened lanais here face either water, fairway or trees. Listings we have reviewed include homes from 2001 with screened lanais and pool enclosures, so many cages have been standing for two decades or more.

Picture-window enclosures need extra care. Some Copperleaf listings describe picture-window pool enclosures, where the usual horizontal bar at eye level is removed or raised so the screen panel runs uninterrupted. Those tall panels are exactly the ones that show every streak and spot, and because they are larger they flex more under pressure. We clean them with a soft brush and gentle rinse, never a concentrated stream, so the mesh stays tight in its frame.

Three kinds of dirt, depending on what you face. A lake-facing cage turns gray from mildew on the lower panels, because water evaporating at dusk keeps the screens damp overnight. A fairway-facing cage collects grass clippings, dust and the residue of course irrigation. A preserve-facing cage gathers pollen, leaf litter on the roof panels and plenty of spider webs in the upper corners. We adjust the cleaner and the dwell time to what is actually on your screens. Screens facing lakes and preserve catch insects, webs and pollen, and shaded frame members turn green.

The frame tells you the age. Powder-coated aluminum holds up well for years, but long sun exposure eventually wears through the coating. Once that happens the bare metal oxidizes into a white powder that streaks down the screens after every rain and rubs off on clothing. Regular washing will not stop it. Frames in that condition need an oxidation treatment, and we tell you up front whether yours qualifies so there are no surprises on the invoice. A brightener during regular cleaning keeps oxidation in check.

Taller cages on two-story homes. Two-story homes often have enclosures that rise well above the first-floor roofline. The upper panels and the screen roof are where debris collects and where most damage from careless cleaning happens. We reach them with extension poles and ladders set on protected feet, and we never walk on the screen roof or lean equipment against the mesh.

Carriage-home lanais. Carriage homes typically have smaller screened lanais rather than full pool cages. They are quick to clean, but they share walls and sometimes screens with the unit next door. If the screen structure belongs to the neighborhood association, a repair may need approval; routine cleaning usually does not. When in doubt, ask your association manager before we arrive.

Protecting the pool and the deck. We keep cleaning solution out of the pool by working the screens in sections and rinsing toward the deck drains, and we can lower the water level slightly if it is close to the coping. The deck is cleaned last, after the screens and frames, so the dirt from above is washed off the floor at the end. Algae on shaded deck pavers, travertine or coated concrete is a slip hazard, and we pay extra attention near steps and the pool edge.

Common do-it-yourself mistakes. Owners who tackle the cage themselves usually reach for a rented pressure washer or straight household bleach. The first stretches screens and pushes spline out of its channel; the second, used at full strength, can discolor frames, damage plants and upset pool chemistry if it drips in. Climbing onto the cage roof to reach the top panels is the most dangerous mistake of all, since the screen roof is not built to hold a person. A mild, properly diluted solution, a soft brush and a ladder set outside the enclosure do the job without the risk.

When to schedule. For most Copperleaf cages a yearly cleaning works well. Many seasonal owners schedule it in the fall, just before they return, so the cage is clean for the busy winter months on the course. Lake-facing cages may benefit from a second, lighter cleaning later in the wet season.

Pricing. Carriage-home and small lanais under 800 square feet start from $249. A standard pool cage starts from $299, and a large cage of 1,500 to 2,500 square feet starts from $399. Enclosures that include an outdoor kitchen start from $499. Oxidation treatment adds $75 to $150, and a combined cage and deck floor package starts from $399. Larger cages, two-story heights, heavy webs on preserve-facing panels and a lot of furniture to move are what push a quote above the starting price.

Questions for any cage cleaner. How much pressure will be used on the screens? How will cleaner be kept out of the pool water? Will frames be brushed by hand or only sprayed? Do they carry liability insurance, and will they photograph damaged panels before they start?