May 19, 2023 | patio contractor, Patio Enclosures, Screen Enclosures
Florida is one of the most ecologically diverse states in the nation, and it has a well-deserved reputation for gorgeous scenery and delightful weather. However, those of us who live here know better. We know the sun can bake us alive, and the mosquitoes will eat us. LOL Therefore, we build patio enclosures to help protect us and make the most of our outdoor living spaces. Fortunately, an attractive climate opens the door to numerous intriguing possibilities when weighing patio roof ideas. Exploring your options can help you decide which of the many available patio roof designs best fits your unique needs.
Florida Favorites – Patio Roof Ideas
Insulated Roof Panels
Insulated aluminum roof panels are a smart pick when you want a fully enclosed patio enclosure. These insulated roof panels do a superior job of blocking the sun’s scorching rays, which keeps the space below cooler and more comfortable. They also protect the people relaxing below from harmful sun damage. Insulated panels are a great pick whether you want an open-air or a screened patio.
At Dulando Screen & Awning, we rely on Structall Snap-N-Lock Insulated Panels. These high-quality panels are available in numerous sizes and colors, which ensures that you have extensive design options. They work beautifully for almost any roof pitch or project, hold up well against Florida’s stormy weather, and deliver impressive durability, so you can enjoy your investment for years.
Screen Roofs
A screen roof won’t necessarily block out the sun or the rain like a solid roof, but it can keep bugs, debris, and many other annoyances at bay. That’s why screen roofs are often the type of patio extension found over pool and garden areas. If your priorities favor a screen topper, don’t overlook the quality of the screening material.
Dulando uses trusted Phifer screens for our products. With different screens for different needs, you can select the screening product that’s ideal for your purposes.
Pergolas
When it comes to distinctive patio roof designs, pergolas always seem to make the list. These backyard structures feature roofs with a strong grid pattern that resembles open weaving. They are a favorite among homeowners who want a backyard with an open concept.
Dulando offers custom pergolas crafted from PermaWood. This no-maintenance material mimics the look and feel of cedar, but it comes without the demands of wood. It never needs painting and resists pests, rust, rotting, warping, and splitting. With fewer worries about upkeep, you have more time to unwind.
Aluminum Awnings
When you want a clean look that provides generous shade for your patio without demanding a lot of maintenance in return, an aluminum awning is an effective solution. An aluminum awning can block direct and indirect heat, keeping the space beneath the covered patio and your home cooler.
Dulando specializes in creating custom aluminum awnings. These quality backyard patio covers enhance your property’s appearance while making outdoor spaces more pleasant.
Which Patio Roof is Best for You?
At Dulando, customer satisfaction is our top goal. To achieve it, we combine excellent customer service, exceptional design and craftsmanship, quality materials, and a commitment to doing the job correctly. Contact us today to schedule a free in-home design consultation to explore patio roof ideas for your project.
Apr 21, 2023 | Aluminum Screen Enclosure, Patio Enclosures, Screen Enclosures
Enclosed screen porches are a great way to enjoy the outdoors while still being protected from pests and the elements. In this article, we will discuss some important considerations when building a screen porch.By carefully considering these factors, you can create a beautiful and functional screen porch that will enhance your property’s value and enjoyment.
Building a Screen Porch Includes:
Purpose of Screen Porch
Since a screen porch is attached to your home, how do you envision using it? Will it be primarily used for dining and entertaining, or will it serve as a more casual space for relaxation and lounging? This will have an impact on the size and layout of the porch, as well as some of the features that will be used.
Determine Location and Size.
Consider the entrance to the porch from the home, as well as the view, privacy, and sun exposure. If you have a current lanai and want to stay within that footprint, then there is nothing to decide. We simply enclose the lanai to create a porch enclosure. However, if you want to expand the space, then we’ll need to figure out how far and how wide.
Screen Porch Framing Materials
The most common materials used for screen porches in Florida is Perma-wood and aluminum. Perma-Wood provides the best features of wood, vinyl and aluminum in a single material. It mimics wood and has a natural and has a classic look. Aluminum porches are more durable and low-maintenance option and is favored among homeowners in Florida.
Aluminum Porch Roof
If your screen porch is already under your home’s roofline, you can skip this part, but if you plan on building a new screen porch or extending your existing lanai, you’ll need to choose a roof. Insulated aluminum roof panels are a popular choice due to their durability, low maintenance needs, and sleek appearance. You can opt for a timeless flat roof that extends from your home’s current roofline or go with a gable roof. Gable roofs offer a traditional look and can be ventilated to improve airflow. A shed roof is another popular choice, which provides a contemporary look and can be installed at a slope to improve water drainage. Dulando uses Structall insulated panels. These roof panels are energy efficient and complement your home’s exterior. When choosing an aluminum porch roof, consider the style, functionality, and budget to determine the best option.
Types of Screens for Your Porch
When choosing porch screens, consider the following factors:
- Purpose: Do you need screens for insect control, sun and heat control, or privacy?
- Material: Screens are made of fiberglass, aluminum, and other materials. Choose the one that best suits your needs.
- Color: Choose a color that complements your home’s exterior and interior design.
- Mesh size: The smaller the mesh size, the more effective the screen keeps out insects.
- Durability: Consider the expected lifespan of the screen and whether it can withstand harsh weather conditions. If you have pets or small children, definitely consider Phifer Pet Screen.
Screen Porch Installation
Once the materials have been chosen, it is time for the screen porch installation. This typically involves building a frame, attaching the screen material, and then installing any necessary doors and windows. It is important to hire a professional to handle the installation to ensure that it is done safely and correctly. The process takes time between permitting and scheduling the installation. Your screen contractor should advise you on the timeline to the best of their ability.
Finally, it is important to consider any additional features for the porch. This may include ceiling fans, lighting, and outdoor speakers. These features can enhance the comfort and functionality of the porch and make it a more enjoyable space to spend time in.
Building a screen porch is a great way to add a functional and enjoyable outdoor space to your home. By considering the purpose, location, size, materials, and additional features, you can create a space perfect for dining, entertaining, or relaxation. With the help of a professional installation team, you can enjoy your new screen porch for years to come.
Aug 8, 2022 | Pool Screen Enclosure, Screen Enclosures
Pool screen enclosures create so much value for homeowners that we want to protect that investment as much as possible. One of their greatest benefits is pool screens provide welcome shade and protection while they keep bugs and debris out. Unfortunately, that very same dirt, debris, and mold can collect on the screens over time. A dirty pool screen cage is unattractive, seems older, and can damage your screens over time. Thankfully, it’s an easy fix. These pool screen cleaning hacks will help.
Pool Screen Cleaning Tips
Brush It Off
Are leaves and debris clinging to the frames and screens of your pool cage? This can contribute to dingy-looking screens and provide fuel for mold growth. To keep your pool screen looking nice, grab a soft brush and gently brush it off from top to bottom. Be sure to work carefully near the upper screens. Whatever ladders you use to reach the top, make sure you have a spotter.
Wash Down the Screen Enclosure
A gentle scrub with the right cleansers and tools can revitalize your screen enclosure. If you are planning a pool enclosure cleaning, you have a few different options:
- Bleach and water: Bleach can be harsh, so it’s best used sparingly. However, it can be a good choice when you’re trying to eliminate mold, mildew, or algae. If you opt for this route, be sure to dilute. Mix 1 gallon of water with 3 quarts of bleach. Apply cautiously with a long-handled brush. Rinse thoroughly.
- Vinegar and water: Vinegar is safer for the environment, your skin, and the components of your pool area. It’s also effective against mold and mildew. Use a bucket to mix a solution that’s half vinegar and half warm water. Apply with a long-handled brush. When you’re finished, you may either rinse or leave the solution to dry.
- Soap and water: Mix dish detergent with warm water. Scrub gently with a long-handled brush. Rinse thoroughly.
Do Both Sides of the Screen
When cleaning a pool cage, people often overlook the inside of their screens. While the outside of the screens may be exposed to more grime, both the interior and exterior will benefit from a good pool cage cleaning. We recommend cleaning the inside first to remove as much debris as possible. That way when you hose off the outside, there is less debris that falls into your pool area.
It’s Okay to Pressure Wash Screens
Is the thought of manually cleaning the screens of your pool enclosure daunting? Is the pool enclosure too tall to reach with a ladder? Especially in the middle of the pool. If so, then add power. Try using a pressure washer but start with the lowest setting to avoid damaging the screens. You don’t need a fancy pool screen cleaner, just use your pressure washer to keep your pool screen free of debris and mold.
When To Consider Pool Enclosure Screen Replacement
Sometimes, even the best pool screen cleaning isn’t enough to restore your enclosure to its former glory. While these structures tend to last a decade or more when properly maintained, they will eventually fail. If you’re unsure about replacing your pool screens, we’ve written an article about the top 5 signs that you might need a pool enclosure replacement.
For more than half a century, Dulando Screen & Awning has been designing and building custom screen enclosures for our fellow Floridians. We delight in working with our customers to help them discover the solutions that provide the perfect fit for their needs. To schedule a free in-home design consultation for your pool screen enclosure, contact us today.
Jul 13, 2022 | Pool Screen Enclosure, Screen Enclosures
In the past, a screen might have been just a simple bunch of crossed wires to look like mesh. Today, high-quality screens can be the basic mesh, but also, so much more. Advances in technology mean that modern screens can offer some serious advantages. With so many different types of patio screens to choose from, how do you know which one is the right choice for your screen room?
At Dulando Screen & Awning, we know that building an exceptional custom screen enclosure requires top-quality materials. When we’re creating screened porches, Florida rooms, patio enclosures, pool enclosures, and other screened rooms, we use products from Phifer Screens. With Phifer, we can provide both superior quality and a wide array of options. Which screening product is right for your patio? It depends on your needs.
Phifer Pet Screen
Pets can play rough, especially when they’re excited. Phifer Pet Screen doesn’t flinch. Designed to be seven times stronger than traditional screens, it can take a little roughhousing or the occasional close encounter with claws. Do you have kids who like to run around and not pay attention to their surroundings? Yes, Phifer Pet Screen can also take those hits. That’s why this patio screen is a great choice for households with pets or small children.
Phifer TuffScreen®
The perfect choice for panoramic screen rooms, Phifer TuffScreen® Heavy-duty Mesh Screen spans wide spaces easily. With its heavy-duty, vinyl coating, it blocks out insects but leaves your view unobstructed. There is also an upgraded TuffScreen® that can keep out No-SeeUms. As an added bonus, this vinyl-coated screen is ready to resist playful pets and high-spirited children. With a ten-year warranty, you can be sure it’s truly built to last.
Phifer BetterVue®
Phifer BetterVue® Pool & Patio Screen is another great option for larger openings that require plenty of strength. As the name suggests, it’s designed to provide optical clarity, so you enjoy a better view of your outdoor spaces. You’ll also get 33% more insect protection, 10% more sunlight to warm your water, and 15% more openness so that you can feel the breeze.
Phifer No-see-um Screening
No-see-ums are the most annoying of them all. Are these invisible pests ruining your relaxation? Phifer No-see-um Screening can provide relief. While densely woven to keep out no-see-ums, gnats, sand flies, and other terrors, it allows plenty of ventilation and a nice amount of privacy. These patio screens have been coated with protective vinyl which means, it won’t rust, corrode, or stain.
Phifer Glas-Shield
Also known as Florida glass, these popular patio screens are laminated fiberglass mesh. Many homeowners use Phifer-Glas as a privacy screen. Plus, it does a fantastic job of keeping dust, dirt, and debris out of your pool or enclosure.
Phifer Super Solar Screen
The Florida sun can be brutal for our skin as well as anything else that is outside. Wearing sunscreen and sunglasses is a good start. But did you know that Solar Screen can block up to 90% of the sun’s heat and glare. A few other benefits of Phifer Solar Screen is added daytime privacy without sacrificing outward visibility.
Phifer SunTex
If you like the idea of patio screens that keep the sun away, be sure to check out Phifer SunTex. Available in solar screens and sun shades in a variety of colors, this unique woven mesh can keep between 70% and 90% of the sun’s rays away from your space. That can save you money on sunblock and energy.
We hope this provides you with a general understanding of the types of patio screens available for your patio or pool enclosure. If you have additional questions, reach out to Dulando Screen & Awning. We’ll be happy to help choose the screen that is best for your space and your family.
May 16, 2022 | Pool Screen Enclosure, Screen Enclosures
What’s in a name? With a panoramic screen enclosure, it’s both an explanation and a declaration. Panoramic can mean a wide view, which is the key feature of these enclosures. However, panoramic also means comprehensive or including all the key points, and that’s something that panoramic screen enclosures excel at. These structures provide plenty of advantages.
Whether it’s a Florida room, a lanai, or a screened pool cage, adding a screen enclosure can be a fantastic way to enhance your outdoor living space. The question quickly becomes… Should you opt for the standard style or the panoramic version? Consider the potential benefits of each type of screen enclosure. Hopefully, it will help you make the decision.
Why a Panoramic Screen Enclosure is Amazing
Enjoy an Unfettered View
Let’s start with the obvious advantage of a screen enclosure with a panoramic view. Standard screen enclosures have vertical or horizontal aluminum frames every few feet. Panoramic enclosures are specially engineered to remove these visual intrusions. This delivers an unhampered view that’s ideal when you want to enjoy the kind of gorgeous scenery you find in the Sunshine State. So, if the view is especially important to you, a panoramic screen enclosure is your best bet.
Take Comfort in Solid Construction
With the way that hurricanes and other strong storms tear across Florida, strong construction is crucial. Fortunately, both a standard lanai and a panoramic lanai screens can be built to meet all the necessary standards. When you opt for a panoramic view, we use larger and stronger vertical beams without compromising the strength of the enclosure. This is what allows us to use fewer beams and produce an unobstructed panoramic view.
Keep Outdoor Annoyances Away
You love being outside. You aren’t as fond of sharing your space with leaves, sticks, frogs, and bugs. A quality screen enclosure of any kind can do an excellent job of keeping common outdoor annoyances out of your outdoor rooms. Some types of screening even offer additional bonuses like sun protection or heightened privacy. We make sure that those screens are compatible with your panoramic screen enclosure.
Increase Your Property Value
It’s easy to see the appeal of relaxing in a screened patio or a panoramic pool screen enclosure. As a result, both types of screen enclosures offer an affordable way to boost your home’s curb appeal. Adding either can increase your enjoyment of your property and your property’s value. Can we be so bold as to say that the beautiful panoramic view will also be a selling point of your home?
Delight in a Custom Design
Do you have special features you’d like to incorporate into your new screen enclosure? Our team has been building amazing patio and panoramic pool enclosures with unique features for decades. When you work with a skilled screen enclosure contractor, you’ll be able to choose either a standard or panoramic design.
There are many benefits that overlap between a standard screen enclosure and a panoramic screen enclosure. But an unspoken benefit is you’ll have the admiration of your friends and neighbors as they see your new outdoor space. Panoramic enclosures are still pretty new and are becoming the new go-to screen patio enclosure or pool enclosure method.
Are You Ready for a Panoramic View Screen Enclosure?
Are you ready to transform your outdoor living space with the addition of a screened room or pool enclosure? Whether you’re interested in the standard screen enclosure or prefer the possibilities that a panoramic view screen enclosure offers, turn to Dulando Screen & Awning. We’ve been serving our fellow Floridians for more than half a century, so we understand how to get amazing results. We’re fully licensed and insured and committed to delivering top-quality products that will stand the test of time. Contact us today to schedule a free in-home design consultation.
Jan 11, 2022 | Aluminum Awnings, Outdoor Patio, Patio Covers, Patio Enclosures, Screen Enclosures, Sunroom
At Dulando Screen & Awning, we take pride in building custom screen enclosures, pool enclosures and sunrooms that are made to delight today and for years to come. Getting that result demands expert design, exacting craftsmanship, and quality materials. That’s why we use Snap-N-Lock insulated aluminum roof panels from Structall as a roofing option for our structures. They’re the best choice for many reasons.
Why We Love Snap-N-Lock Insulated Aluminum Roof Panels
Aluminum insulated panels may not be as familiar as other materials like wood and shingles, but they deliver exceptional results. When you discover their outstanding qualities, you’ll understand why we recommend Structall Snap-N-Lock panels.
Multitasking
Snap-N-Lock panels contain structure, insulation, and a single, multitasking piece moisture barrier. That’s an incredible value. You save on the purchase of additional materials and the time and labor it would take to fabricate and install them.
Lightweight
Snap-N-Lock insulated aluminum roof panels are solid while being relatively lightweight. They’re roughly half the weight of a comparable wood/shingle roof. As a result, less structural support is necessary to hold the roof in place. That offers greater design freedom and can help keep material costs lower. Plus, installation is quicker and easier since there’s no need for heavy equipment to maneuver these insulated roof panels.
Strong
Florida is famous for its storms. Structall’s insulated panels deliver incredible strength. They do an excellent job of standing up to the windy weather, intense storms, and hurricanes that can make life in the Sunshine State interesting at times.
Pest-resistant
Aluminum roof panels have a natural pest resistance. The materials made from aren’t a potential food source, so pests don’t find them appealing. In contrast, keeping termites, carpenter ants, and other pests away from wooden structures is a constant battle.
Moisture-resistant
As their name suggests, Structall Snap-N-Lock insulated aluminum roof panels snap and lock together. A sealant applied during installation creates a weather-tight connection. Using wood products might raise worries about mold, mildew, or rot. However, there’s no reason for concern with these insulated patio roof panels.
Fire-resistant
If you’re looking for fuel for a cheery campfire, wood is a perfect pick. It burns easily. That thought isn’t as comforting when you’re contemplating construction materials. Snap-N-Lock panels have high fire resistance. Therefore, these aluminum roofing panels are safer for your family and property.
Ecofriendly
All the components of Structall’s insulated roof panels can be easily recycled into equally valuable products. That means there’s very little waste from these products after their lifecycle is complete. With certain plywood, you must worry that the chemical gasses used in the manufacturing process will be discharged into the surrounding area. That means the plywood used in your project could be emitting formaldehyde into the air. Thankfully, that’s not a concern with Structall’s aluminum insulated panels.
Choose Snap-N-Lock Aluminum Insulated Roof Panels
Are you ready to enhance your outdoor living space with a covered patio or Florida room? Dulando Screen & Awning has you covered. Our team of experts can help you create the optimal design for a new screen room or sunroom for your space and budget. Contact us today at 407-862-6060 to request an appointment for a free in-home design consultation.
