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Mesh upgrade cost, by mesh type
Standard 18x14 fiberglass runs roughly $0.75–$1.25 per square foot installed. No-see-um 20x20 adds modestly to that, pet-resistant mesh adds more, and solar screen is the most expensive option available. These are published Florida market ranges, not this operator’s prices — and the right choice for a given cage is usually a targeted upgrade on part of it, not the whole enclosure.
Published per-square-foot ranges, by mesh type
| Mesh type | Rate | Typical full-cage total | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 18x14 fiberglass (baseline) | $0.75 – $1.25 / sq ft installed | $900 – $1,600 | Backyard Showdown editorial guide |
| 20x20 no-see-um fiberglass | $1.00 – $1.50 / sq ft installed | — | Backyard Showdown editorial guide |
| Pet-resistant (vinyl-coated polyester) | $1.50 – $2.50 / sq ft installed | $2,000 – $3,000+ | Backyard Showdown editorial guide |
| Solar screen (SunTex 80/90-class) | $1.80 – $3.00 / sq ft installed | $2,700 – $4,500 | Backyard Showdown editorial guide |
These figures and Absolute Aluminum’s (Sarasota/ Manatee) published $/sq ft table are numerically identical — likely one source drawing on the other or both on a shared template rather than two independent confirmations. Treat as a single data point.
What an upgrade adds over standard mesh
| Mesh type | Add-on | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Standard 18x14 fiberglass | +$0.00 / sq ft | baseline, no premium |
| TuffScreen (vinyl-coated polyester, heavy duty) | +$0.30 / sq ft | over standard |
| No-see-um 20x20 | +$0.50 / sq ft | over standard |
| Premium mesh generally (no-see-um / TuffScreen-class) | +$10 – $40 / panel | over standard |
| Pet-resistant | 1.5–2× standard mesh cost | multiplier, not converted to a $ figure by the source |
Source: Full Screen Fix (Orlando, serves Altamonte Springs) and A Screen Repair (Orlando), both published 2026 price lists. The per-sq-ft table above and this per-panel/per-sq-ft add-on table use different bases (full installed cost vs. incremental premium) and should not be summed against each other.
What is actually sold under these names
Manufacturer data sheets for the products these prices describe: Phifer and Saint-Gobain ADFORS both publish an 18x14 fiberglass pool and patio screen and a 20x20 no-see-um fiberglass screen; Phifer PetScreen and Saint-Gobain ADFORS’ equivalent are vinyl-coated polyester; Phifer SunTex 80 and SunTex 90 are the solar-screen products, carrying a published 10-year warranty against changes in physical properties (not against fading or labour). None of these manufacturers publish a yarn diameter or open-area figure for the fiberglass products, and none publish a service-life figure in years for any product in this category — see the mesh guide for the full technical picture and what UF/IFAS says about biting-midge exclusion sizing.
Mesh cost questions
Which mesh actually needs upgrading on a Winter Springs cage?
Two real cases, not a blanket recommendation: no-see-um mesh on lots close to Lake Jesup where biting midges are a genuine nuisance, and pet-resistant mesh on the lower course of panels where a dog actually pushes on the screen. Everywhere else, standard 18x14 fiberglass is the right call and paying the airflow or cost premium buys nothing. See the full mesh guide for the entomology and the trade-offs behind that.
Is there a published price specifically for the 10-year-warranty no-see-um mesh?
No. Super Screen’s 20/20 No-See-Um product carries the strongest verified warranty found in this category (10 years limited) but no Central Florida contractor was found publishing a price specific to that branded product — the no-see-um pricing above is for generic 20x20 mesh. Ask directly whether a quote is using the warrantied product or a generic equivalent.
- Pool cage mesh guide — the technical comparison and the entomology behind it
- Pool cage rescreen cost — the full-cage number this premium sits inside
- How often should pool screens be replaced? — why no mesh has a published years-in-service figure
Tell us which lots on your street back the lake
That answer, more than anything else, decides whether no-see-um mesh is worth the premium for your specific cage.
- Phone
- (689) 330-0968
- Serving
- Winter Springs, FL 32708 and Seminole County