In Florida, a standard homeowners insurance policy generally does not cover wind or hurricane damage to screen enclosures, pool cages, or aluminum patios unless you specifically add a screen enclosure endorsement to your policy. While your policy covers your main home and attached garage against windstorms, the mesh screens and lightweight aluminum frames that protect your patio are typically carved out of standard coverage.
Because pool cages are especially vulnerable to tropical storm winds, Florida insurance companies treat them as high-risk additions. If a hurricane tears the screening or twists the aluminum frame, you are responsible for paying the entire repair cost out of pocket unless you purchased optional add-on coverage ahead of time.
Why Insurers Exclude Screen Enclosures
Pool cages and screen lanais are staple features in Florida backyards. They keep out pests, provide shade, and keep leaves out of swimming pools. However, they are engineered far differently than the rest of your home.
During a tropical storm or hurricane, the mesh acts like a sail, catching high-velocity winds. The pressure can snap aluminum uprights, pop fasteners, and rip screens clean off their tracks. After major hurricanes caused widespread damage across the state, Florida insurance carriers paid millions of dollars in screen repairs. To control premium costs and reduce massive claim volumes, carriers began excluding wind damage to outdoor screen structures from standard policy forms.
In insurance terms, these structures would normally fall under Coverage B, which covers "Other Structures" like fences, sheds, and detached garages. But most Florida policies include a specific windstorm exclusion for screen enclosures, aluminum framing, and vinyl patio coverings unless endorsed back onto the policy.
What a Screen Enclosure Endorsement Covers
A screen enclosure endorsement is an optional policy add-on that buys back coverage for wind and hurricane damage to your pool cage or patio screen. When you add this endorsement, your insurer agrees to pay for repairs or rebuilding up to a specific dollar limit.
When buying an endorsement, pay attention to these critical policy details:
- Coverage Limits: Most carriers sell screen coverage in set increments, such as $10,000, $25,000, or $50,000. You choose the dollar amount based on the estimated cost to rebuild your cage.
- Valuation Type: Some policies pay replacement cost value, which covers the cost of new materials and labor without subtracting depreciation. Others pay actual cash value, which subtracts money for the age and wear of the old structure.
- Framing vs. Screening: Many policies cover only the aluminum frame and anchor bolts, excluding the replacement of the mesh screening itself. Always check whether the screen material is included.
- Deductibles: Screen enclosure damage caused by a named storm is typically subject to your standard hurricane deductible, which is often 2% or 5% of your home's total dwelling coverage.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Pool Cage?
Rebuilding a damaged pool enclosure in Florida is rarely cheap. Because of strict building codes designed to withstand future storms, a new enclosure requires licensed contractors, concrete footer inspections, and heavier-gauge aluminum than older models used.
Depending on the square footage, height, and local permitting fees, replacing a full pool cage can easily run between $15,000 and $40,000 or more. If your policy only has a $10,000 endorsement, you would have to pay the remaining thousands of dollars out of pocket.
For that reason, it is critical to evaluate the true replacement cost of your outdoor structure rather than picking the smallest endorsement available.
How Citizens Handles Screen Enclosures
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, Florida's state-backed insurer of last resort, also excludes wind and hail damage to screen enclosures in its base policy forms.
Citizens policyholders can add coverage using the Screen Enclosure Endorsement (often designated as form CIT 04 60). However, Citizens limits this coverage to a maximum limit, usually capped between $10,000 and $50,000 depending on the property type. Furthermore, Citizens policies may apply actual cash value depreciation to older aluminum frames.
If you have a large custom cage with an insulated roof or two-story height, a private insurance carrier may offer higher endorsement limits than Citizens can provide.
Should You Add Screen Coverage or Self-Insure?
Not every Florida homeowner chooses to buy screen enclosure insurance. Because endorsements can add several hundred dollars to your annual premium, some homeowners decide to "self-insure" their outdoor structures.
Self-insuring means accepting the financial risk yourself. If a hurricane destroys the pool cage, you pay for the cleanup and rebuilding out of your savings, or you choose not to rebuild the enclosure at all.
Deciding whether to add coverage usually comes down to three factors:
- Your Savings Cushion: Do you have $20,000 or more in an emergency fund to cover debris removal and a replacement cage?
- Your Hurricane Deductible: If your home's dwelling coverage is $400,000 and your hurricane deductible is 2% ($8,000), your cage damage must exceed $8,000 before the insurance company pays anything on a wind claim.
- Cage Value and Age: If your cage is 20 years old and nearing the end of its useful life, paying a high annual premium for depreciated actual cash value coverage may not make financial sense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does my Florida home insurance cover a screen enclosure if a tree falls on it? A: If a fallen tree damages your screen enclosure during an ordinary non-wind event, it may be covered under Coverage B (Other Structures). However, if the tree fell because of hurricane winds, the windstorm exclusion still applies unless you have the screen endorsement.
Q: Does flood insurance cover pool cages and lanais? A: No. Flood insurance policies issued through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and most private flood carriers explicitly exclude outdoor structures, including pool enclosures, open lanais, and fences.
Q: Can I remove screens before a hurricane to protect the aluminum frame? A: Some homeowners cut or remove select screen panels before a major storm so wind can blow through freely instead of pushing against the frame. While this can reduce wind load, it leaves your patio exposed to flying debris and water damage.
Q: Is an attached aluminum lanai with a solid roof considered a screen enclosure? A: Pan-roof or insulated-roof aluminum lanais with screen walls often fall under special carrier guidelines. Some insurers cover the solid roof under dwelling coverage while excluding the screen walls, while others require the screen endorsement for the entire structure.
To find out how your current policy handles pool cages or to see how much a screen enclosure endorsement costs for your home, visit 4quote.ai, type in your Florida address, and compare real-time quotes from top A-rated carriers across the state.