The short answer: a new pool cage is an engineered aluminum structure, permitted like any other addition to the house. For a typical Naples home, Southwest Florida installers publish an estimated $16,500–$34,000 with engineering and permit, roughly $9–$16.50 per square foot; a small, simple enclosure can start near $6,000.
Designed around the house
A cage should look like it was always part of the home. That starts with the roofline. A mansard, with sloped sides and a flat top, suits most Naples houses and gives generous height over the water. A gable echoes a gabled roof and sheds rain fast. A dome gives the most headroom and softens a modern exterior. A flat roof keeps a low profile where height is limited by the eaves or by community rules. We sketch the options on site and show you how each meets the house.
Engineering for Collier County wind
The Florida Building Code treats a screen enclosure as a structure that has to resist wind. Collier County permit drawings size the framing to the wind pressures in Table 2002.4 of the code's aluminum chapter, and the current edition is the 8th, effective December 31, 2023. That engineering decides beam depth, upright spacing, cable bracing and how the frame is anchored into the deck or footer. It is also why we never sell a standard-size kit.
Permits, HOAs and inspections
- Unincorporated Collier County asks for a permit with product approvals and engineered or code-compliant plans.
- City of Naples treats a new or replaced enclosure as an accessory structure and expects plans engineered for wind load, plus a survey.
- Marco Island has its own screen enclosure permit application, and much of the island also carries deed restrictions.
We prepare the drawings, submit the permit, coordinate any association approval and book the inspections. Nothing is fabricated until the permit is issued.
Choices that change the look and the price
- Frame color: bronze, white or black.
- Picture window panels: wider spans with fewer uprights, for a lake, golf or preserve view.
- Mesh: standard 18x14, a tighter no-see-um weave, or tougher polyester.
- Kick plates and privacy panels along the bottom where the screen takes knocks.
- Doors: number and placement, with self-closing, self-latching hardware.
| Job | Estimated price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New pool cage, smaller and simple | $6,000–$14,000 | Small footprint, flat or low mansard roof |
| New pool cage, typical Naples home | $16,500–$34,000 | With engineering and permit; about $9–$16.50 per sq ft |
New-build prices are estimates from published Southwest Florida installer pricing, and Naples lots vary a great deal. Footprint, height, roof style, engineering and the permit office set your number, which we put in writing after the site visit. More on the Naples cost page.
Already have a cage that has seen better days?
Replacing a sound frame is rarely the best use of money. If the aluminum is straight, a rescreen or a repaint may be all it needs, and we will say so.
Common questions
How long does a new pool cage take?
The build itself usually takes days, not weeks. Most of the calendar time goes to engineering, permit review and, where it applies, association approval, and we give you a realistic schedule with the estimate.
Can a new cage go over an existing pool deck?
Often, yes, if the deck or footer can take the anchors. We check the slab edge during the measure; some decks need a new footer along the cage line.
Is a pool cage hurricane proof?
No screen enclosure is. A cage engineered to current wind requirements, properly anchored and fastened with stainless hardware, stands a far better chance than an older under-built one.
Last updated October 8, 2026.