As you embark on your new screen enclosure build; you’ll realize there the process is far more complex then just cutting up some aluminum and plopping on some mesh. You’ll learn a lot from your contractor and observing the process. One of the things most home owner’s will never realize though, is that there is an ideal time of the year to have a screen enclosure built. Over my career in the patio industry I came to realize thatthe time of the year can affect price, quality, and overall outcome of the project (Assumes that your project is in Florida where 99% of screen enclosures exist).
Lets take a look at the conditions that could affect a screen enclosure project.
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- Seasonality: Most of Florida has seasonal population fluctuations (hi snowbirds) — that is no secret.   Most snow birds wait until the holiday are over to start getting their screen enclosure estimates done.  This means from January until May most screen enclosure companies are bombarded with estimate requests.  At a midsize company with about 40 employees that I worked at we would receive over 300 estimate requests per day.  Naturally as a result of basic economic principles, supply and demand, the price would go up a little bit — not much though, only about 5% during this time of the year.  More importantly in the bigger picture was that these projects would be filling the calendar solid well into August.
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- Rain & Scheduling: If you’ve ever been to Florida in the summer you know that it rains, a lot.  The rain often comes unpredictably, and without warning.  You will see it be sunny one minute, and then the next it feels as if you are in the middle of a monsoon.  You might here a weather forecast that predicts a 20% chance of rain, and then it will rain all day non stop.  This Florida weather makes it difficult to schedule a project.  It is extremely dangerous to do work of this nature involving ladders and and power tools in these conditions as it presents both fall hazards and shock hazards.  I have personally seen both happen during the Florida rainy seasons.  While some guys will work in the wet conditions many contractors righteously allow their guys to stop working in the rain and most do — as you would.  Some contractors also might be obligated by an insurance provider to allow their employees to return to shelter as defined as their shop.  As a result the homeowners project is delayed, the homeowner is frustrated, the contractor gets overwhelmed with delayed work,and frustrated customers, the quality suffers and in the end no one is happy.
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- Heat/Installers:  As you know the summer heat and beating rays of sun can be brutal.  I recall spending many summers building cages and by 9am after only an hour or 2 of working, I would feel like I was going to pass out.  I was in survival mode.  The last thing on my mind was quality or speed.  The installers working on your project will feel the same way.  Its not mal-intent, but simply human nature.
That should tell you that summer is about the worst time to build an enclosure. Â So when is the best time of the year to have your enclosure built?
If I were going to have my enclosure built I would start the project in September. Â September to December is usually a bit slower for most screen enclosure contractors thus you get a higher level of attention. Â If you contract in September, by the time the permit is issued and they are ready to construct, you will be out of the unpredictable rainy season, and the painful heat of the Florida summer. Â It will be cooler with blue skies, a light breeze, and no chaos. Â The entire company will be able to handle your project better and most importantly the installers, will be able to enjoy their work and focus on quality.