Pool Deck, Lanai and Screen Enclosure Cleaning in FL
The pool cage is the single most neglected part of most Florida homes, and it is also the part that gets dirty fastest. Here is why, and what a proper clean involves.
Why enclosures go green faster than anything else
A screen enclosure is a shaded, humid, constantly damp environment with a huge amount of surface area. Water from the pool, afternoon storms and morning condensation keep it wet. Screens trap organic debris. It is close to a perfect habitat for algae and mildew.
The result is a cage that goes dull and spotted, a deck that turns green and slick, and aluminium framing that develops dark streaks along the top of every beam.
Three different surfaces, three different methods
The screens
Screen mesh is fragile. High pressure will tear it, stretch it or blow it out of the spline channel entirely, and rescreening a cage is expensive. Screens should be cleaned with low pressure and a solution that lifts growth without stressing the mesh.
The aluminium frame
Frames collect a dark grime along the top surfaces where nobody looks. This responds well to a cleaning solution and a gentle rinse. Aggressive pressure can strip the painted finish and leave the aluminium looking chalky.
The deck
Whether the deck is concrete, pavers, travertine or cool deck coating changes the approach completely. Concrete handles a flat surface machine well. Travertine and cool deck are softer and need lower pressure and more care. Pavers need attention to joint sand.
A cage, frame and deck are usually done together in one visit. That is both cheaper and produces a better result than doing them piecemeal. (904) 506-7656
The safety argument
A green pool deck is slippery when wet, and a pool deck is wet by definition. This is the surface around your home where people walk barefoot, run, and sometimes are children. It is worth keeping clean for reasons beyond appearance.
What about the pool itself
A common concern is cleaning solution getting into the pool. A careful crew manages runoff, covers what needs covering and rinses appropriately. Ask how a company handles this before they start. It is a reasonable question and the answer tells you a lot.
How often
Most Northeast Florida enclosures do best on a yearly clean. Cages under heavy tree cover, or those on shaded lots in Fruit Cove and Mandarin where the sun does not reach the north side, often need it more often. If your cage has gone visibly dull, it has been longer than it should have been.
Signs your enclosure is overdue
- The screen looks grey or hazy rather than clear when you look through it
- Dark streaks along the top of the aluminium beams
- Green or black spotting in the corners of the mesh
- A deck that feels slick underfoot when wet
- Visible growth in the paver joints
We clean pool enclosures, lanais and decks throughout St. Johns, Ponte Vedra, St. Augustine, Fleming Island and the surrounding communities as part of our exterior cleaning work.
- Screens tear under high pressure. They need low pressure and the right solution.
- Cage, frame and deck are three different surfaces needing three approaches.
- A green pool deck is a genuine slip risk on a surface people walk on barefoot.
- Yearly is the right rhythm for most enclosures in this climate.
Frequently asked questions
Will pressure washing damage my pool screens?
High pressure will. Screens should be cleaned at low pressure with a cleaning solution. Rescreening a cage is expensive, so this is not the place to cut corners.
Can you clean the deck without getting chemicals in the pool?
Yes. Runoff is managed and surfaces are rinsed properly. Ask any contractor how they handle it before work starts.
Do you clean travertine and cool deck?
Yes, but they are softer than standard concrete and need lower pressure and more care. Tell us what your deck is made of when you request a quote.
How long does it take?
Most residential pool enclosures and decks are completed in a single visit.
Should the paver joints be re sanded afterwards?
Sometimes. Cleaning can displace joint sand on paver decks. If yours needs it, we will tell you before the work rather than after.
Free quotes across St. Johns, Clay and Duval counties. Call (904) 506-7656 or request a quote online.
