The Bug Problem Near Cape Fear Waterways
If your pool is anywhere near tidal marsh, a creek, a pond, or the Cape Fear River, you know what happens around dawn and dusk from spring through fall. Sand gnats, also called no-see-ums, are small enough to pass through standard 18x14 screen. Mosquitoes are active from April through October along Wilmington's waterways, and some years the populations are substantial after a wet spring. A pool that's open to the air in these conditions simply isn't usable during peak bug hours without some kind of protection.
A screened pool enclosure solves both problems. For sand gnats, we use 20x20 no-see-um mesh on the lower wall panels, which are closest to ground level where gnat activity concentrates. Upper wall panels and roof screen can run standard 18x14 for better airflow where gnat penetration is less of an issue. We work out the mesh selection based on your specific property and pest pressure.
Updated June 2026.
Hurricane Season and Debris Protection
Wilmington gets significant tropical storm and hurricane activity. An enclosed pool means fewer leaves, pine needles, and debris to clean up after a storm. It also reduces the chance of larger debris damaging the pool surface or equipment. That said, a pool enclosure in a high-wind zone has to be built to handle the winds, not just stand in calm weather.
We build pool enclosures to meet the NC coastal zone wind requirements applicable in New Hanover County, including the anchor connections, lateral bracing, and rated screen or roof panels that the county building inspector will look for. A pool enclosure that fails in a major storm isn't just a repair problem, collapsed framing can damage the pool deck, coping, or equipment underneath. Building it right from the start matters.
After a storm, screened enclosures typically need new screen panels but the frame is intact if it was built properly. We handle that repair work too, and we can document damage for insurance if needed.
NC Pool Barrier Code Requirements
North Carolina requires that residential swimming pools be surrounded by a barrier that limits unsupervised access by children. The specific requirements are in NC Building Code Section R326 and include minimum barrier height of 48 inches, gate self-closing and self-latching requirements, and limitations on openings in the barrier that would allow a 4-inch sphere to pass through.
A screened pool enclosure can serve as the required barrier, but it has to meet those specifications. Screen mesh alone doesn't satisfy the barrier requirement, the framing structure, door hardware, and gate design all have to meet code. We design pool enclosures to satisfy the barrier code as part of the standard project, not as an afterthought. This matters for the permit and the inspection sign-off.
Gate latches for pool barriers in NC must be self-closing and the release mechanism must be on the pool side and located at least 54 inches from grade, or the latch must be designed and located to prevent access by children under 5. We install compliant gate hardware on every pool enclosure project.
Aluminum Framing for Pool Chemical Environments
Pool chemicals, particularly chlorine, are hard on metal. Standard carbon steel fasteners and framing corrode quickly in a pool enclosure environment. For pool enclosure framing, we use aluminum extrusion systems that are inherently resistant to chlorine exposure. All fasteners and hardware inside the enclosure are stainless steel or aluminum, not zinc-plated. This isn't optional in a pool environment, it's what holds up.
The aluminum framing we use for pool enclosures is the same pre-engineered system we use for general aluminum screen rooms, rated for the wind loads applicable in the Wilmington area. We anchor the base track and posts to the existing pool deck with stainless steel anchor hardware into the concrete.
We build pool enclosures across the greater Wilmington area, including Leland, Hampstead, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Castle Hayne, Ogden, Porters Neck, Holly Ridge, Jacksonville, and Surf City. Call us or use the estimate form to describe your pool layout and we'll get you a written number.