Many Americans opted out of a vacation this summer due to the rising costs of—well—everything really. Floridians know how to make the best of any situation though. So if you and your family planned a stay-cay, we hope your time off was well spent with family and friends. No matter where you spend your days away from work, it’s tough getting back into the groove.
What if we told you there was a way to extend that stay-cay feeling throughout the year?
Create a Backyard Retreat
You may wonder why we would encourage you to go hog wild creating a luxurious backyard retreat when we just mentioned the inflation issue. We’re happy to share that answer. It’s because installing a screen enclosure around your lanai, pool, or any part of the yard that you use for family time, provides many year-round benefits for your family to enjoy.
Moreover, they’re affordable. Before we go off into listing all the attributes, we want to tell you something about the enclosure itself.
Some companies, like ours for instance, are taking advantage of the continued advancement of digital imagery by providing their customers with a customization feature. You choose the image that appeals to you the most and it’s printed directly onto your screens. Dyes used are treated with UV protection guaranteeing that your images remain vibrant for years.
Imagine coming home from a long day at work and kicking back in your little piece of paradise to relax and unwind. Your surroundings have a lot to do with your feelings so take advantage of creating an ambiance that reminds you of your favorite place. If you choose a water scene, say the beach or a cascading waterfall, adding a water feature will increase the sensation of being there tenfold.
Adding potted plants to a tropical island or spectacular flower garden scene does the same. Because you know your family better than anyone, once you add your decor, you surely will have created a space where the family loves to gather. Friends may make your house the permanent gathering spot too, by the way.
Customizing your screens truly makes an amazing difference in your surroundings.
Other amazing benefits
Your privacy is important. We get that. Did you know that enclosing the outdoor living area to obtain a higher level of privacy is the number one reason given by homeowners for installing a screen enclosure? Even though the screens don’t provide complete privacy, the illusion is enough to cause the outside world to drift even further away.
Your sense of relaxation increases allowing you to enjoy your free time more. Moreover, it frees you of having the sense of prying eyes tracking your every move. We’re not insinuating that you’re paranoid either! Sometimes, it’s just nice to know that not everyone knows your business.
In addition to creating a privacy barrier, screen enclosures provide other benefits.
Bug-free area
Forget the bug zappers and insect repellant. After your enclosure goes up, bugs will vacate the area for good instead of trashing your stay-cay plans. Or weekend retreats, family game nights, birthday parties, or any other moments when someone utilizes the space.
Most contractors use Phifer screens because they are a leader in the industry worldwide. The company is based here in the United States and stands proudly behind its products.
A bit of shade and more
Even though your screens won’t completely shade your lanai or pool area, they play an important role in sun protection. The damaging UV rays filter through the screen weakening them. That means you won’t have to reapply sunscreen as often if you’re poolside. Moreover, your stuff isn’t going to suffer sun fade nearly as quickly as when left completely at the mercy of those harsh rays.
Free airflow
If you’ve got ceiling fans on the lanai, they do a wonderful job of stirring the breeze. Screen enclosures don’t block natural airflow. Allowing the currents to flow naturally helps your fan work more efficiently. If there are no fans, it’s still a plus because you’ll be welcoming every whisp of a breeze that blows through—for sure.
If you’re enclosing your pool area, the free-flowing air current ascertains every nook and cranny in the enclosure dries out. Glass pool enclosures can’t make that claim. Combining damp, dark areas with our sub-tropical climate creates the perfect environment for mold and mildew to thrive. If not eliminated, it spreads.
Worse, left unchecked, it creates a hazardous environment for your family and pets that can affect their health. Many of the symptoms experienced are shared.
Barrier against unwanted guests
And, no, we’re not talking about the neighbors’ kids—for the most part. There are those days, though. As parents, ourselves, we’ll give you the occasional option.
We’re speaking of the Florida wildlife that can wander into your yard at any given time. Your enclosure creates a blockade that doesn’t allow them access to your outdoor living space.
Safety features too
Especially if enclosing your pool area, your screen enclosure keeps the kids out of the area simply by locking the door. If it’s the lanai, or some other outdoor space, that lock works both ways! You can actually take time to sit and read your book, scroll social media, or catch up on some minor mending of clothes here or there without worrying you’ll look up to find that the littles have wandered out of sight.
That goes for pets too, of course.
Until you’re ready to hit the road
Installing a screen enclosure provides your family with a space to enjoy privacy and that feeling enhances your time spent together. If you decide to work with a company that customizes the screens, it will seem as if you’re stepping into an entirely different world every time you walk through the door.
You’ll enjoy other advantages too, such as holding bugs and mosquitoes at bay, a degree of UV protection, and free airflow which guards against mold and mildew. You won’t have to worry about a snake—or alligator, even—finding its way up to the house either. You will also have a safe space for small children to play and get some fresh air without worrying they will pull a disappearing act while you’re distracted.
We hope everyone gets to hit the road next summer for the vacation of your dreams, but until then, you can create a little getaway spot of your own to tide you over. Time flies. Taking advantage of time spent with family and friends is important.
Make some memories and enjoy!