If your pool has turned into a place for skimming leaves and swatting bugs, new screen may be what brings it back. In St. Petersburg, the job starts with making sure the frame is ready for it.
Why the frame gets checked first
Whatever the age of your home, worn screen tells you it's time to call, not what the job is. The contractor's first step is the frame: straight, sound fasteners, footings that haven't moved. Get those confirmed before any new screen goes up.
What a hard storm may have left behind
Recent hurricane seasons have brought gusts of up to 101 mph to St. Petersburg. A cage that came through with torn panels may have a perfectly sound frame. It may also have a bent beam, a loosened connection, or a footing that shifted, none of which is obvious from the pool area. If your cage went through a storm, mention it when you describe what you're seeing.
What the contractor checks
- Uprights and beams. Straight, not bent or buckled.
- Corners and overall shape. Square, not racked.
- Fasteners and connections. Free of heavy corrosion, which salt air accelerates.
- Footings and anchors. No lifting or movement where the frame meets the patio.
- Screen channels and spline. Able to hold new screen tightly.
- Doors. Swinging, closing, and latching properly.
If those check out, rescreening is usually the right job. If not, repairs come first. You describe what you've noticed. The contractor handles the evaluation.
Choosing screen for a St. Petersburg cage
St. Petersburg sits between Tampa Bay and the Gulf, and your spot in the city can shape the right mesh.
- 20×20 no-see-um screen is worth considering near the water. Several biting midge species breed in Florida's coastal marshes, swamps, and mangroves, and no-see-um screen keeps them out.
- Solar shade screen cuts heat and glare on walls that take the afternoon sun.
- Pet screen or tuff screen holds up on the lower panels.
- 18×14 standard screen keeps the clearest view and best airflow.
Mixing types is common, and your contractor can recommend a combination.
Permits in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg runs its own building department, so any permit goes through the city rather than Pinellas County. Rescreening an existing enclosure is exempt from permits in most cases. If the evaluation turns up frame repairs, or the job becomes a replacement, the contractor handles the city permit under St. Petersburg's own fee schedule.
What rescreening typically costs
Our rescreening cost guide lays out typical ranges, including $1,200 to $3,500 for a full rescreen nationally, with two story enclosures running 30 to 50 percent higher. On your cage, the size, height, screen types, number of doors, and any repairs found during the evaluation drive the actual price. The contractor's written proposal sets it.
How to get started
Send one request with a short description of what you're seeing, including whether the cage took damage in a storm. We connect you to our trusted local contractor serving St. Petersburg and the rest of Pinellas County, who discusses your needs and schedules an in person evaluation. Photos aren't required, but the contractor may ask for a wide view and a close view first.
Frequently asked questions
Our cage came through a hurricane with torn screen. Can we just rescreen?
Possibly, but not before the frame is checked. Storm damage to the structure isn't always visible, and new screen on a damaged frame won't last.
Do I need a city permit to rescreen in St. Petersburg?
In most cases, no. Frame repairs, replacement, and new enclosures typically need a city permit, which your contractor handles.
Can an older cage still be rescreened?
Often, yes. Age alone doesn't decide it. A straight frame with sound fasteners and stable footings is a rescreening candidate.
Should we rescreen the whole cage or just the damaged panels?
If damage is limited and the rest of the screen is in good shape, panel replacement can work. If screen across the cage is aging, a full rescreen usually looks and lasts better.
How long does the job take?
It depends on the size and height of the cage, the screen you choose, and whether repairs come first. The contractor lays out the schedule in the written proposal.
Related pages
Sources reviewed
Cost figures on this page were reviewed in October 2026.
- HomeGuide, Pool Screen Repair Cost, dated September 6, 2023