Photograph everything before anything is moved or cleaned up. Wide shots showing the whole structure, then close-ups of specific damage, then anything that caused it — a branch, debris, a displaced panel. If you end up making an insurance claim, these photographs are the most valuable thing you will have, and they cannot be recreated once the yard has been tidied.
Make it safe, but document first
A damaged enclosure can have sharp aluminum edges, unstable sections and screen under tension. If part of the structure is leaning or a beam has come loose, keep people away from it rather than propping it up yourself.
There is a genuine tension here: you want the area safe, and your insurer wants to see it as it was. Photographs resolve that. Take them first, then make the area safe, and photograph again if you had to move something significant.
What insurers typically want
Dated photographs of the damage. A written estimate for the repair from a contractor. Often the age of the enclosure and any record of previous repairs. Policies differ considerably in how they treat screen enclosures — some cover the structure but treat screen mesh itself as a separate matter, and deductibles for wind or hurricane damage are frequently higher than the standard one.
Read your own policy rather than relying on what a neighbour's covered. This is an area where the variation between policies is unusually wide.
We can provide a written estimate that works as claim documentation, whether or not you end up using us for the repair.
What makes a claim harder
Cleaning up thoroughly before documenting. Disposing of the branch that caused the damage. Getting a verbal quote only. Waiting long enough that new weather adds damage and the cause becomes ambiguous.
None of these are fatal, but each one makes the process slower and gives an adjuster more room to question what happened.
Emergency work versus permanent repair
It is usually reasonable to do the minimum needed to prevent further damage — securing a loose panel, removing something that is still pressing on the frame. Keep receipts and photograph before and after.
Resist the pressure to commit to a full permanent repair in the first days after a storm. That is exactly when door-knocking contractors appear, and it is the worst moment to make a considered decision.
Assessing what actually needs replacing
Storm damage tends to look worse than it is, or considerably better. Torn screen across several panels is dramatic and often a straightforward rescreen. A single bent upright with barely any visible screen damage can be the more serious problem, because a frame out of square will not hold tension properly.
That is why a proper assessment looks at frame geometry rather than counting torn panels.
Questions people ask about this
Does homeowners insurance cover pool screen enclosures?
It depends entirely on your policy. Many cover the enclosure structure while treating the screen mesh differently, and wind or hurricane deductibles are often higher than the standard deductible. Check your own policy wording rather than assuming.
Should I clean up before the adjuster visits?
Photograph thoroughly first, then do only what is needed for safety. A tidy yard with no documentation is much harder to make a claim on than a messy one with good photographs.
How quickly should I get the enclosure repaired after a storm?
Quickly enough to prevent further damage, but not so quickly that you sign with the first contractor who knocks on your door. Getting a written estimate is urgent; committing to the work is usually not.
Want someone to look at yours?
Free on-site estimate. We count the panels, check the frame and give you a fixed written price.
(407) 766-4919