When comparing the pros and cons of enclosing your pool, we’ll have to admit that a couple did immediately spring to mind. Glass pool enclosures cause some people to experience feelings of claustrophobia. They encourage mold growth too because the glass prevents free air flow. We believe those two reasons alone are enough to cause homeowners to choose to install a mesh pool screen enclosure instead.
So, we’re putting the word out—both reasons are detrimental to your health after all.
It’s the blockage of natural air flow that causes those problems. Realizing you suffer from feelings of anxiousness or being closed in after you just dropped a sizeable amount to enclose the pool will be disheartening to say the least! And, suppose you discover areas that never seem to dry out… Fighting a never ending battle against mold growth isn’t something anyone looks forward too. However, failure to stay on top of things only allows the problem to grow worse. Eventually, it can affect your family’s health. Mold affects the health of your pets too.
Installing a mesh pool screen enclosure greatly reduces the likelihood of mold growth because the natural air flow dries out damp spaces. And, regarding inducing feelings of claustrophobia… we searched and didn’t find anything linking screened-in enclosures, just glass.
Specifically speaking of screens though
It’s tough to come up with reasons not to install a mesh pool screen enclosure, but wanting to be good reporters, we did our best.
Water temp dips a bit
When you screen in your pool, you’re going to be blocking a percentage of the ultraviolet (UV) rays that penetrate the water. That’s going to lower the water temperature somewhat. Of course, living in Florida, that probably isn’t going to amount to any discomfort on your part. However, you may notice the water to be cooler in the early morning and evening hours.
Installing a heater would solve the problem, if that causes one. Of course, it incurs an added expense that you may not have considered initially.
Obstructs the view
While privacy is actually the number one reason that people choose to install a pool screen enclosure, some homeowners would rather have a clear view of their surroundings.
Still, if you’d rather enjoy your surroundings without feeling like the neighborhood is watching your every move, perhaps you should customize your screens. Some companies, like ours, for instance, offer a customization feature. Digital imagery and technological advances in the ink industry allows companies to reproduce any image onto the screens themselves and they stay vibrant for years under the harsh Florida sun.
Those cons make the pros list too though
While some may rather the water temperature didn’t drop a few degrees, most Floridians would welcome the change. A dip in cold water on a hot, hot day is refreshing and revitalizing. If you’ve ever dived into the pool after fighting heat and humdity all day, you know what we mean!
Moreover, blocking UV rays means you and your family won’t be applying sunscreen as often. That’s going to keep your pool water cleaner. Sunscreen and oils are big contributors to ring around the pool.
We mentioned already that privacy is the #1 reason homeowers decide to enclose their pools. That said, the odds are that if someone wasn’t fond of the idea of obstructing their view, they wouldn’t plan to enclose the pool in the first place.
Other advantages
Your new enclosure is an extention of your home. In fact, your new outdoor area may become the favorite spot in the house—even if you aren’t swimming! That’s especially true if your enclosure stretches to include your lanai area as well. If you’ve got enough space to include an outdoor kitchen, dining area, and perhaps an outdoor tv, your entertainment potential will certainly jump a notch or two. Moreover, because you’re improving the space, your property value goes up a degree as well.
Pest patrol
When you enclose your outdoor living space, you won’t have to put up with bugs and mosquitoes invading the party. It’s no fun accentuating your poolside conversations with constant swats and swipes at your face and arms. Once your pool area is screened-in, you can pack away the fly swatters and citronella candles—for good!
A pool screen enclosure keeps other unwanted guests from accessing the pool too. Small animals, a neighbor’s unsupervised pet, frogs, snakes… or a wandering gator… aren’t going to find their way into the water to surprise—or horrify—you when you head out back.
Storms won’t wreak havoc
Florida’s building codes got much stricter after Hurricane Andrew caused such massive destruction. Pool enclosures have to stand up to those stringent building codes as well. They are built to withstand hurricane force winds so they won’t be blowing away.
They will keeps dirt, leaves. branches and other debris blown along by a storm out of the pool though.
You’ll be spending a lot less time cleaning and a lot more time sunning or swimming.
What cons?
After taking a hard look at the reasons to install—or not to install—a pool enclosure, it’s easy to see that the pros outweigh the cons. Mainly, because the cons are also considered pros if you look at them from a different vantage point.
Installing a pool screen enclosure reduces UV rays so, yes, the water is a little cooler, but we live in Florida so it’s more of a good thing than bad. Moreover, added shade is always a plus around here! The privacy factor couldn’t really be counted as a true con because if someone didn’t want the view around their home obstructed, they wouldn’t put up an enclosure in the first place.
You’ll get rid of all manner of bugs, your pool stays cleaner, and you’ll never be surprised by an alligator in the water.
A mesh pool screen enclosure wins out over glass in our book, too, because you won’t have to worry about people feeling anxious or “trapped” spending time there. And, because the natural air currents allow damp spaces to dry out, there’s less chance of mold and mildew getting started which can lead to health issues.
We’ll let you take what you’ve learned here and make the final decision as to whether or not a screened-in pool area is right for your family. For now, class dismissed.