Pool cage screen types for Riverview homes

You don't have to put the same mesh on every panel. Labor is a large part of a rescreen bill, so upgrading the panels that actually take the abuse — or the bugs — is usually a better use of money than guessing at a single product for the whole enclosure.

Product names and lifespan claims vary by manufacturer. We describe how these meshes are commonly used in Florida. Confirm the exact product, warranty, and installed price with the provider who quotes your job. This site is a referral service, not a dealer or installer.

18x14 fiberglass — the standard

This is the everyday pool and patio mesh. The 18x14 count (18 strands one way, 14 the other) lets in a lot of air and a clear view, and it costs the least. It's the usual choice for roofs and upper walls. The trade-off is longevity: in Tampa Bay sun and humidity, standard fiberglass often lasts about 5 to 7 years before it turns brittle and starts to split. Tiny biting insects can also pass through it.

Choose 18x14 if you want the brightest, breeziest cage and you're comfortable rescreening on a shorter cycle, or if you're putting a tougher mesh only where you need it.

20x20 no-see-um — the tighter weave

No-see-um screen is a tighter 20x20 fiberglass weave meant to stop gnats, sand flies, and other small insects that sail through 18x14. It's a practical upgrade near ponds, wetlands, or salt air — including parts of Apollo Beach and other waterfront streets — and on the lower walls of a lanai you use at dusk.

The trade-off is a little less airflow and a slightly darker view. Lifespan is generally similar to standard fiberglass, because the fiber is still fiberglass. Some homeowners use 20x20 only on seating-height walls and keep 18x14 on the roof.

Pet screen — for doors and lower panels

Pet screen is a heavier, tear- and puncture-resistant mesh (Phifer's PetScreen is a common brand) made to take claws, noses, and kids leaning on the wall. Most owners don't need it on the whole cage. It belongs on the door and on the panels below the chair rail, where paws actually reach. Visibility is a bit reduced, and the material is stiffer than standard fiberglass.

If pets aren't the issue but the lower panels still take a beating from chairs or yard tools, the same heavy mesh can still be the right patch.

Super Screen — a heavy-duty polyester upgrade

Super Screen is a brand of heavy-duty, often vinyl-coated polyester mesh sold as a longer-wearing upgrade over standard fiberglass. Installers typically recommend it for main wall and roof panels when the goal is better tear and UV resistance, not just bug control. It is not the same product as pet screen, even though both are tougher than basic fiberglass.

You'll see a wide range of lifespan and strength claims in marketing materials. We don't repeat those as facts here. If a quote includes Super Screen, ask for the manufacturer's specification sheet and warranty, and have the provider explain how it compares — in price and in wind load — to the standard mesh on your cage.

A simple way to mix them

• Roof and upper walls: 18x14 for breeze and view, or Super Screen if you want a tougher all-over upgrade.
• Lower walls facing a pond, preserve, or the bay: 20x20 no-see-um.
• Doors and the bottom row: pet screen if you have dogs or cats.

Ready for a quote? Tell the provider which mix you're considering. They can confirm what your frame can take and what it will cost. Typical job ranges are on the cost page.