Notes from
the field.
Pricing without the dance. Opinions backed by numbers. The four jobs we turn down every month — and what to do instead.
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Rescreen or Replace? How to Tell If Your Pool Cage Is Worth Saving
The aluminum frame usually outlives several sets of screen. Here's the 60-second check that tells you whether you need a rescreen or a whole new cage — before anyone quotes you.
Can a Handyman or Roofer Build Your Screen Enclosure?
The biggest lie in this industry is that anyone with tools can build an enclosure. It's a permitted structure engineered for Florida wind — and it's the job we most often get called to tear out and redo.
Do You Need a Permit for a Screen Enclosure in Jacksonville?
Yes for a new build or rebuild, generally no for a rescreen. And if a contractor tells you that you don't need one at all, that's the most useful thing he'll say all day.
No-See-Ums Getting Through Your Screen? Here's Why.
Your screen isn't torn and it isn't loose — the holes are just bigger than the bug. Here's the real fix, the tradeoff nobody mentions, and how to tell if you actually need it.
Hurricane Prep for Your Screen Enclosure
You can't hurricane-proof a screen enclosure — it's built to let wind through. A blown-out panel is a good outcome. Here's what actually helps before the season and before a named storm.
Screen Room vs. Sunroom vs. Florida Room: Which Do You Actually Want?
The difference comes down to glass and air conditioning. Here's the honest breakdown of all three — and how to tell which one your patio actually needs before you get a quote.
Screen Enclosure Maintenance: How to Make Yours Last in Florida
The frame lasts decades; the screen is what wears out. Here's the 20-minute routine that keeps yours going — and the one mistake (pressure washing) that kills screens early.
Retractable Screens: What Nobody Tells You Before You Buy One
They're excellent on the right opening and a waste of money on the wrong one. The wind problem, what actually fails, and when a fixed screen is the better buy.
Which Way Does Your Patio Face? Picking the Right Solar Shade
Openness factor, explained without the sales pitch. West-facing patios take the worst of a Florida afternoon; north-facing may need nothing at all. Get this wrong and you wall off the view you paid for.
What Should Be on a Screen Enclosure Quote (And 5 Red Flags)
Frame gauge, mesh type, who pulls the permit, what the warranty excludes. If a quote is one number on one line you can't compare it — and the cheapest bid is cheapest for a reason.
Walk the job with the owner.
Tell us what you're thinking. We'll come look, point out what we'd do differently, and only quote what we're confident we can deliver.