The short answer
When sprinklers hit a pool cage, the iron in the water leaves orange streaks on the aluminum frame, the screen mesh and the pool deck below. It can be cleaned, but a screen enclosure needs a gentler approach than a driveway: the frame has a painted or powder-coated finish, the screens tear easily, and anything you use has to stay out of the pool.
Where the rust shows up
- Frame and kick plates. The lower rails and kick plates take the most spray and show staining first, especially on white or bronze finishes.
- Screen mesh. Rust collects in the weave of the screen and turns the bottom panels a dull orange.
- Pool deck. Water running down the frame carries staining onto the deck at the base of the cage.
- Lanai walls. If the cage meets the house, the stucco behind it often gets hit too.
Why pool cages need extra care
- The finish. Harsh products or long dwell times can dull or spot the coating on the aluminum. Use a remover suited to painted metal and test a small area first.
- The screens. High pressure can tear mesh or push the spline out of its channel. Low pressure and a soft rinse are the rule.
- The pool. Runoff should never drain into the water. Protect the pool edge and rinse away from it.
How rust comes off a screen enclosure
- Protect the pool and any plants along the cage line.
- Test a hidden spot on the frame and check it once dry.
- Apply the remover to the frame, kick plates and screens, and give it time to work.
- Rinse gently at low pressure, working away from the pool.
- Treat the deck last, since rinse water runs down onto it. See pool deck rust removal for deck surfaces.
Doing it yourself vs. calling a pro
A few light streaks on one kick plate are a reasonable DIY job with a product labeled for rust on painted metal, a soft brush and careful rinsing. It is worth calling a professional when the staining runs along the whole cage, the screens are discolored, the deck is natural stone or coated, or you are not comfortable working chemicals near the pool. Re-screening is expensive; damaging a panel to save a cleaning is a bad trade.
Keeping the cage clean
Removal only resets the clock if the sprinklers keep running iron-rich water onto the enclosure. Adjusting heads so they spray away from the cage helps, and beds along the cage line are good candidates for drip irrigation. For homes on a well, an irrigation rust prevention system treats the water before it leaves the heads, so new stains don’t form on the frame, screens or deck.
Getting it done
We remove irrigation rust from pool cages, screen enclosures and lanais across Tampa Bay, with care for the finish, the screens and the pool. See irrigation rust removal or find your city on our service areas page.
