The short answer: pool cage painting is a restoration of the aluminum frame itself: washed, deoxidized, sanded, masked and refinished, with rusted fasteners replaced along the way. Contractors serving Naples and Fort Myers publish $2,500–$6,500 for a standard single-story cage and $13,000–$25,000 for large or two-story enclosures.
Why Naples frames go chalky
The baked-on finish on an aluminum cage breaks down under ultraviolet light, and salt carried on the Gulf breeze speeds it up. Bronze fades toward brown, white turns powdery and leaves a residue on your hand, and the bare metal underneath starts to pit around every screw head. Salt air also reaches farther inland than most people expect, so a home in Golden Gate is not immune just because it cannot see the water.
The restoration, step by step
- Inspect first. Paint will not straighten a bent beam, so we check the structure before we quote a finish.
- Wash and deoxidize. Chalk and salt have to come off completely, or the new coating lifts with them.
- Sand and treat. Pitted spots are sanded smooth and treated so the finish has something to bond to.
- Mask everything else. Screen, pool, deck, the house wall and your plants are protected.
- Refinish. A coating made for exterior aluminum goes on evenly in bronze, white or black.
- Swap the hardware. Every corroded screw we find is replaced with stainless.
Paint now, rescreen at the same time
If the screen is also near the end of its life, doing both in one project saves money and gives a cleaner finish: the frame is painted with the old screen out, so no overspray lands on new mesh and every channel is easy to reach. Ask us to price rescreening alongside the paint.
Changing color
Many older Naples cages are white; most new ones are bronze or black, which disappear against the sky and let the view come forward. A color change is possible during a refinish. If you live in a gated community, check the association's approved colors before you choose, because many have them written down.
| Job | Estimated price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Frame repaint, compact cage | $750–$1,250 | Small lanai or entry enclosure |
| Frame repaint, single-story pool cage | $2,500–$6,500 | Wash, sand, mask and a full finish coat |
| Frame repaint, large or two-story | $13,000–$25,000 | Lifts, staging and much more surface |
Painting figures are estimates taken from contractors who publish Naples and Fort Myers pricing. Size, height and how far the oxidation has gone set your actual price, which you get in writing after we look. See the full price guide.
Common questions
How long does a pool cage paint job last?
It depends on prep, the coating and how close you are to salt water. Good preparation is what decides it; a coat sprayed over chalky aluminum can start peeling within a season or two.
Can you paint a cage with the screen still in?
It can be done with careful masking, and we do it for frames with good screen. If the screen is due for replacement anyway, painting with the screen out gives the cleaner result.
Will painting fix rust stains on the frame?
The orange streaks usually come from steel screws, not the aluminum. Replacing those screws with stainless during the restoration stops the staining at its source.
Last updated October 8, 2026.