View Full Version : Screen Mesh around Pool Decks
I have always wanted to know why each private villa (well most of them) have the mesh whilst hotel swimming pools do not. Do the bugs not go near the hotels?
Most hotels are professisonally sprayed all around the grounds for bugs as their pools are normally within a large grounds area whereas private home aren't, although homes do have professional regular bug treatment inside.
Residential swimming pool regulations also stipulate that private home pools must have a four foot high barrier around them and the net bug screens do a perfect job for that also. [msnwink]
ShirleyD
24-09-2008, 23:44
Having the screen around the pool extends your living area giving you an outside space in the evenings and early mornings when bugs are more likely to be around. You are less likely to use a hotel pool at this time of day.
My parents came out to Florida for the first time this year and thought it was wonderful to be able to sit outside without the bugs bothering them, especially in the evenings where we would linger with a glass or two of wine after a BBQ dinner by the pool[msnsmile2]
I agree - it was lovely to be able to sit out with a beer or glass of wine, reading a book by the lanai overhead light without worrying about bugs. It made a lovely relaxing end to the day.
Southsider
26-09-2008, 04:03
Thats the beauty of a villa too, hotel pools normally close in the evenings and you cant have a midnight swim or relax with a glass of wine in the jacuzzi:D....heaven[msnsmile2]
chrizzy100
26-09-2008, 18:48
My mum thinks they look like monkey cages..
Paula D-S
26-09-2008, 20:23
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by chrizzy100
My mum thinks they look like monkey cages..[/quote]I suppose it depends who she is looking at through the screen.[msnwink]
E. Cosgrove
26-09-2008, 23:04
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Southsider
Thats the beauty of a villa too, hotel pools normally close in the evenings and you cant have a midnight swim or relax with a glass of wine in the jacuzzi:D....heaven[msnsmile2]
[/quote]
I hope it's a plastic "glass" Tricia[msnwink]
Southsider
26-09-2008, 23:52
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by E. Cosgrove
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Southsider
Thats the beauty of a villa too, hotel pools normally close in the evenings and you cant have a midnight swim or relax with a glass of wine in the jacuzzi:D....heaven[msnsmile2]
[/quote]
I hope it's a plastic "glass" Tricia[msnwink]
[/quote]
yes of course it is Liz
[party1]
Cruella DeVilla
27-09-2008, 04:50
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Paula D-S
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by chrizzy100
My mum thinks they look like monkey cages..[/quote]I suppose it depends who she is looking at through the screen.[msnwink]
[/quote]
:D Absolutely!
Curiously, we noticed a surprising number of properties which had screens last year, but removed this year. Absolutely no idea why anyone would do that.
Tonish.....If you find out why please let us know?
sundowner
27-09-2008, 17:53
I couldn't even think about sitting around a pool with no screen at night. Hotel pools drive me mad they are packed. Give me my private pool and spa any day of the week.
Robert5988
28-09-2008, 04:38
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Curiously, we noticed a surprising number of properties which had screens last year, but removed this year. Absolutely no idea why anyone would do that.[/quote]Could it be anything to do with the anti-swimming pool lobby in Florida?
I have several relatives in Florida and California who have pools that they hardly ever use. Yet they heat them in winter and have a pool maintenance service.
Most of the rental properties I have seen in Florida have tiny gardens(yards) dominated by the pool - in many that is the sole 'garden' area.
From the Orlando Sentinel: (not allowed to post link)
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:In fact, the Florida Green Building Coalition would rather that you not have a pool.
Pools are not environmentally sustainable, according to this nonprofit corporation that sets green-building standards in Florida, oversees green-building certification and serves as a resource for builders and consumers.
"Although a popular amenity for homes in Florida, swimming pools and spas utilize precious fresh water resources and harmful chemicals in their operation and maintenance," the coalition says in its Green Home Standard Reference Guide.[/quote]
flyrr100
29-09-2008, 00:32
We have a pool but no screen. The problem with screened pools, and this is really the only problem, is that they tend not to heat up as quick as open pools. That's presuming they aren't heated pools. Ours isn't heated but we are still using it in late September. The water temp is still 82°. But I have to vacuum the leaves and stuff out every few days. Something else screened pools don't need.
Amy wants to screen the pool, but thats about number 12 on our list of home improvements. Behind a new kitchen, and new turf and sprinkler system out front.
Robert5988
29-09-2008, 02:16
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:The problem with screened pools, and this is really the only problem, is that they tend not to heat up as quick as open pools.[/quote]Surely not the only problem; the screens look hideous as well!!
Mo Green
29-09-2008, 04:42
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Robert5988
Most of the rental properties I have seen in Florida have tiny gardens(yards) dominated by the pool - in many that is the sole 'garden' area. [/quote]Not in Rotonda West where all the properties listed on this site are on large (sometimes double plots) standing in landscaped gardens over-looking either a canal, golf course or conservation area.
The lanai and covered pool area make a most welcome outdoor area for enjoying the warm evenings with out getting bothered by flying insects.
Once filled the pools do not need constantly topping up with water. We have now been in Florida for 3 weeks with temperatures constantly in the upper 80s/90s. A couple of heavy storms during the evening have kept our pool topped up naturally.
Mo
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Robert5988
Surely not the only problem; the screens look hideous as well!![/quote]Perhaps only to people who don't have them? From the inside looking out they look just fine! [msnwink]
Aesthetics aside, if they're what make it bearable to sit on your own pool deck in comfort enjoying the evening's relaxation, then they're worth their weight in gold.
I must admit I have not considered an outside pool in Florida, without a pool screen. I cannot imagine what it must be like with all the various insects flying about and also leaves, etc blowing into the pool.
I look on our pool deck area as an extention to our home and it also encloses the living space.
As for heating the pool, our pool is in the 80's through September,without pool heat, possibly due to the pool aspect. I don't think the mesh makes that much difference as we stay inside the screen, and all stay warm,and catch the Sun and don't have any insect problems.
On a saftey point of view I understand that owners should have a fenced pool area to prevent people from walking by and possibly falling in.The pool screen saves that purpose, or I would expect that open pools would have to be fenced.
Pegasus928
29-09-2008, 12:08
Speaking as someone who rents, as opposed to owns, I personally wouldn't want to rent a villa that didn't have a screen around the pool. To be honest, I can't ever remember seeing one in all the hundreds that we have viewed that didn't have a screen so we just assumed it was law in Florida to have them.
Kenny
Katys Grandad
29-09-2008, 13:17
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Pegasus928
To be honest, I can't ever remember seeing one in all the hundreds that we have viewed that didn't have a screen...
Kenny
[/quote]
Screenless pools are about as rare as seeing a resident actually swimming in one, screened or otherwise.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Pegasus928
Speaking as someone who rents, as opposed to owns, I personally wouldn't want to rent a villa that didn't have a screen around the pool. To be honest, I can't ever remember seeing one in all the hundreds that we have viewed that didn't have a screen so we just assumed it was law in Florida to have them.
Kenny
[/quote]
It is law. They have to have a wall or screen of at least 4 feet high - imagine if a passerby tripped and fell...............
florida4sun
29-09-2008, 14:34
Yep it is law for all new built pools to have a barrier, with a self closing door (for obvious reasons). This applies to all residential pools.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Susan J
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Pegasus928
Speaking as someone who rents, as opposed to owns, I personally wouldn't want to rent a villa that didn't have a screen around the pool. To be honest, I can't ever remember seeing one in all the hundreds that we have viewed that didn't have a screen so we just assumed it was law in Florida to have them.
Kenny
[/quote]
It is law. They have to have a wall or screen of at least 4 feet high - imagine if a passerby tripped and fell...............
[/quote]
Robert5988
29-09-2008, 15:01
The screens will also stop animals/snakes falling in.
I had a pool in UK in which we regularly found hedgehogs - some still swimming, some not!
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Robert5988
The screens will also stop animals/snakes falling in.[/quote]<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by blott
Residential swimming pool regulations also stipulate that private home pools must have a four foot high barrier around them and the net bug screens do a perfect job for that also. [msnwink][/quote]Don't think they had that in mind when they wrote the Regulations somehow Robert as they're about people but it's a useful additional feature. [msnsmile2]
ncmurray
30-09-2008, 12:59
I don't think that I would consider staying in a villa that didn't have a pool screen.
We were in Cape Coral this August, and we stayed in a fabulous villa. However, the area around the pool screen had a lot of landscaping which looked fantastic, but at night time we heard a lot a scuffling sounds. I have absolutely no idea what was making the sound, but I know that if the pool screen hadn't been there I would not have set foot outside the house at night![msneek]
To be fair, it was probably only a racoon, but when you don't know for sure........
Here is a photo of the pool area
http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/Data/ncmurray/200893085825_resizedaugust08.jpg
http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/Data/ncmurray/200893085930_resizedpoolaugust08.jpg
Wow....looks great...what a wonderful outside area.
ncmurray
04-10-2008, 23:05
Yes, it was a fabulous villa with an outside boating and fishing dock with a boat lift and a tiki hut!
I wasn't going out there at night time, though[msnscared]
Nuala
Our pool heats up just fine with the screen- it was 90F in July!!
And thank goodness for that screen when one evening before dusk a Forida Bobcat came up to the cage! Wouldn't really have wanted it that close without something between me and it lol.
ShirleyD
11-10-2008, 21:03
Wow Andrea, what a fantastic experience
My son filmed it on his phone. If he puts it on youtube I'll paste a link.
We have reports from guests that see deer around our villa. Must be this time of the year as we did not see them when we were out last April.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Karen
We have reports from guests that see deer around our villa. Must be this time of the year as we did not see them when we were out last April.[/quote]We have a small permanent herd of about 10 - 12 deer (with fawns in the spring) in Crescent Lakes so it's quite possible Karen.
I will have to set up those special night lights like they had on Big Cat Live last week to see if I can spot them next time we are out then Blott [msnwink]
Oh, they're out and can be spotted during the day...
In that case I will be on the look out on our next visit Blott [msnwink]