The most popular question we receive weekly from customers is…
What’s the price difference between screen or vinyl enclosures?
Though we can answer this question with a single dollar amount, let’s take a look at it more thoroughly and determine whether screen or vinyl is the best choice for your patio enclosure.
Why Choose Screen or Vinyl for your patio enclosure?
Although there’s an obvious price difference, screen enclosures provide many of the same benefits as vinyl. Specifically, screen will:
- Keep out bugs and debris.
- Block out UV rays and reduce solar heat gain.
- Create an intimate space for the outdoors.
- Resist mold and mildew.
- Phifer Pet Screen will even withstand pet scratches.
Both vinyl and screened-in enclosures welcome light into a space, so the real deciding factor comes down to how much you’re willing to spend for the style you want.
The benefits of Vinyl include:
- An additional element of safeguard against the temperature outside.
- Vinyl windows have vent systems that slide either horizontally or vertically to allow for cool breezes to enter your outdoor living space. Then of course, you can close them when the weather is not as pleasant.
- For vertical panels, they offer 75% ventilation – 3 of 4 panels can be raised.
- Easy to remove and clean both sides.
- Design is sleek and modern.
- Comes in 4 colors to match your home’s architecture.
To Repair or to Rescreen: That is Another Question.
This question also comes up from our customers after we’ve discussed the price difference between screen and vinyl. Perhaps your cat has left small tears in the screen as it reached for lizards, or maybe your screen has shown some wear and tear after a few hurricane seasons. Deciding whether to move forward with screen enclosure repairs or to rescreen your enclosure comes down to the extent and size of the damage, the age and condition of the screen and the integrity of the structure.
In some cases, it’s possible to repair the damage as long as it’s contained within a specific area. If the damage extends beyond one section, it’s probably a good idea to rescreen the entire enclosure and make it look as good as new. Because the underlying structure is already in place, rescreening is a more budget-friendly process and takes less time to complete than new construction.
Read more about When Is it Time to Rescreen Your Patio / Pool Enclosure
Breaking It Down in Dollars and Cents
On average, to rescreen your already built enclosure costs about $1 per square foot. Vinyl windows, on the other hand, cost about $3 per square foot; these estimates are based on rescreens and having an existing structure already in place. Expect a higher dollar amount for new construction.
Contact Dulando for a free in-home consultation to determine whether to repair or to rescreen your enclosure with either new screen or vinyl windows. Our experienced, professional team can inspect the damage and create the ideal solution that fits within your budget and fulfills your needs.
