The Screen Makes or Breaks Your Pool Cage
The aluminum frame gets all the attention, but the screen is what you actually live with — it decides whether no-see-ums ruin your evenings, how much of your view survives, and how often you are calling for a rescreen. Choosing the right mesh is one of the most consequential and least understood decisions in a Florida pool enclosure. Here is what those mysterious numbers mean and how to pick.
What "18x14" and "20x20" actually mean
The numbers describe how many strands the mesh has per inch — horizontal first, then vertical:
- 18x14: 18 strands per inch across and 14 down. This is the standard "pool and patio" screen you see on the majority of Florida cages.
- 20x20: 20 strands per inch in both directions — a tighter, finer weave commonly called "no-see-um" screen.
More strands means smaller openings, which means smaller bugs stay out — at the cost of slightly more shade and slightly less airflow. That single trade-off is the whole decision.
18x14 standard screen
The default for good reason. Phifer 18x14 fiberglass is a premium-grade, U.S.-made mesh with a burst strength rating above 60 pounds and a realistic service life of roughly seven to ten years in Florida. It keeps out mosquitoes and common flying insects, maximizes airflow, and preserves the most open view.
- Choose it for: the main walls and roof of a typical pool cage where airflow and view matter and no-see-ums are not a nightly problem.
20x20 no-see-um screen
If you have ever been driven indoors at dusk by bugs you could barely see, this is your screen. The tighter 20x20 weave blocks no-see-ums, sand flies, and gnats that sail straight through standard mesh — a real consideration near the water and the marshy areas around Palm Bay and Brevard County. Lifespan is comparable to 18x14, around seven to ten years with proper care.
- Choose it for: waterfront and low-lying lots, screened lanais you use heavily at dawn and dusk, or any home where tiny biting insects are the enemy.
- Trade-off: slightly more shade and a touch less breeze than 18x14.
A smart middle path: mix your mesh
You do not have to screen the entire cage with one product. A popular approach on the Space Coast is 20x20 no-see-um on the lower wall panels — where people sit and bugs bite — and 18x14 up high and on the roof for maximum airflow and a clearer view. You get bug protection where it counts and brightness where it does not.
What shortens screen life in Florida
No mesh lasts forever here, and two forces are usually to blame:
- UV exposure: our relentless sun slowly makes screen brittle until it tears at the spline.
- Salt air: near the coast, salt accelerates wear on both the screen and the fasteners holding it.
A gentle rinse a few times a year and prompt repair of small tears go a long way toward reaching the upper end of that lifespan.
Not sure which way to go? Ask the people who install it
The right mesh depends on your lot, how you use the space, and which bugs you are fighting — and we have screened thousands of enclosures across Brevard and Indian River County since 1977. We will recommend the mesh (or the mix) that fits your home and install it tight and clean. Learn more about our pool enclosures and screen rooms, then get a free estimate or call (321) 725-5444.
Quality screen and aluminum work for Palm Bay, Melbourne, and Brevard County since 1977.
