The storms damaged so many pool screen enclosures, plus home
construction was so strong that many enclosure builders were more than a year
behind.
Also, after the storms, the costs of the aluminum extrusions
and screen materials soared, doubling and sometimes even tripling construction
costs. Though many screen-enclosure
repair builders say they are almost caught up with backlogs, the prices
have not fallen.
Though Aluminum master LLC says his business remains strong,
he wouldn't be surprised to see the pool
screen-enclosure portion of his work fall off some in the future. Materials
costs likely would climb even higher if new hurricane codes for screens were
developed.
But the hefty price increases have made it easier because it
leaves home buyers thinking about all the other things they could buy if they
didn't screen.
Granted, there are times when screens are a must-have, says Aluminum
master LLC. For instance, a homeowner whose pool is surrounded by trees or who
has high populations of mosquitoes would want protection.
"Candidly, it depends on what your personal use of the
pool is going to be and where you are at," he says. "If its kids who
are swimming, they are usually swimming in the middle of the day [when bugs are
less of a problem]. Unless you are going to be doing a lot of nighttime
entertaining around the pool, you might not need one."
And, even then, some pool builders say the variety and
sophistication of bug-killing machines have improved, making screens less of a
necessity than in the past.
Aluminum master LLC offers those customers aluminum fences
to meet code requirements for barriers around pools and, where mosquitoes are a
problem, a special device that sprays organic pesticides around the backyard
through sprinkler-system like devices in the eaves, bushes and fences.
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