Keeping Dirt Out Of Your Screen Enclosure

Screen enclosure blending the line behind the 'outdoors' and living space tend to get dirty.  Most commonly the dirt splatters up around the bottom edge of the enclosure as a result of rain splash, or lawn mower dust.  Fortunately 2 good options exist for keeping it a bit cleaner.

1) Kickplate: Kickplate is a solid metal paneling that goes around the bottom of the screen enclosure.  They come in a standard size of 16" but could be done larger.  Because the aluminum is a resilient metal it has the added value of being weed whacker, lawn mower and pet resistant.  Kick plate is a good option to consider adding to your existing or new pool enclosure.

2) Florida Glass: Its a trick, Florida Glass, is not an actual glass.  Rather Florida glass is a screen mesh with a laminate of sorts melted over it.  It is a non breathable material so not air flow, or dirt, or water can splash through it.  It is a great product for keeping the deck clean but it is not quite as resilient as the metal kickplate.

Consider these options for your pool enclosure!

Screen Enclosure Projects Behind The Scenes

When your contract told you it was going to take 3 months to get a permit for your screen enclosure you probably thought WTF!!!  The reality is more work goes on behinds the scenes, before ground is even broke than you realize.  A recent blog post from the guys at Gulf Coast Aluminum shows us what happens. 

1) Engineering and surveying: Many screen enclosure projects will require the use of a 3rd party engineer or surveyor.  Engineering and surveying is crucial to making sure your structure is build to code, and that it is not built into a survey.  That said many engineering and surveying firms can take 2-3 weeks to turnaround a project.  This post on ScreenEnclosureGuide.com give some good information on why surveys are valuable

2) Notice Of Commencement -- in Florida every screen enclosure project over $2,5000 requires a Notice of Commencement.  It is a notarized for that essentially says you, the homeowner, acknowledges the contractor and sub contractors have lien rights. In my opinion it is a little unnecessary for screen enclosure projects and better suited for large building construction, but none the less it is required.  

3) Permit Application -- Every building department has a unique application and standard for a screen enclosure permit.  It sure would be nice if they could keep it consistent!

4) Permit Review and Follow Through -- permits can be a real pain in the ass as I explain in my previous post.  Following up on the permit and ensuring nothing gets left in the dark is something that takes time as many of the building departments are notoriously tough to communicate through.  Often times permits will get rejected with vague information regarding the rejections and getting further details is seemingly impossible.  An established and professional contractor will have some valuable contacts.  

Better details on the behind the scenes info and how Gulf Coast Aluminum handles things in a professional and efficient manner can be read on their website

Mosquito emergency!

Can I screen in my ______ is a question I commonly get. To answer that, if it is a part of your house the answer is almost always yes even if it is the second or third floor! Check out this three story dream house. What good is an open patio on your penthouse suite if you get swarmed by pesky bloodsuckers. Having noseeums nibble on you while you enjoy your view is not ideal, luckily for this homeowner their patio was under an existing solid roof and could be screened in without a permit (2-3 month wait!) Pool enclosures on the other hand required a bit longer in waiting time.  This project was completed 2 days after signed contract by a licensed and insured contractor.

Building Permits For Screen Enclosures: Necessary Pain In the ASS

If you've started the process of getting a permit for your new screen enclosure, you've certainly heard about permits.  Chances are your contractor has told you that it could take 2-4 months. -- that is true. 

 In many building departments getting in touch with an official who is responsible for issuing the permit is difficult -- making it feel like you are communicating with the 'Wizard of Oz' behind a curtain.  The end result is a frustrating process. 

The first part of that time line is usually surveying and engineering.  Each must be done in a lineal fashion and can take a couple weeks.  Many of the reputable and established engineers and surveyors will have a work queue a couple weeks out.  After those are done the permit will be applied for.

Some building departments are efficient while others are like a black hole.  In many building departments getting in touch with an official who is responsible for issuing the permit is difficult -- making it feel like you are communicating with the 'Wizard of Oz' behind a curtain.  The end result is a frustrating process.  The top screen enclosure contractors generally have some direct lines of contact with a building official they can contact to usher things along, but that doesn't always work in everyone's favor.  

When I was a contractor, I would follow up with the building officials so diligently that they eventually told me I was being annoying and said "they will get to it, when they get to it".

You might wonder why you even need a building permit, or feel that they are unnecessary.  That is a fair thought but after years in the building industry I have came to seem them as necessary for maintaining a developed community.  The permit process is intended to make sure that all structures are build solid and in compliance with community standards.  It is intended to keep your neighbor from putting junk on their property.  Think about it like this, if your neighbor puts up a non permitted screen enclosure by an unlicensed contractor, it will probably look like crap, and likely become an airborne projectile during the next storm

SO although building permits can be a real pain in the ass, they are ultimately necessary for keeping the community in check.  

More info on screen enclosure permits at: http://screenenclosureguide.com

Handrails, who needs them?

Handrail is big business in Florida with the high concentration of open air patio condos there are several contractors who can fulfill your needs of condo railing replacement. Check out this good example of condo railing replacement to see how a skilled company does it.

Most people don't know this but if your pool deck or patio is higher than just 30 inches of the ground level you need to have at least a 42 in high picketed handrail for fall protection. Don't be surprised by this hidden cost when looking for quotes for a new enclosure. Some companies will initially quote you without this included to get you interested and then tac on thousands for the railing when they draw up the contract! It is important to be an educated homeowner if you are looking for a screen enclosure.