When hurricane season
comes around, homeowners in commonly affected regions begin to worry. Should a
hurricane come near your neighborhood, you likely won’t be surprised that there
is damage to assess and repair or replace. Because they’re not as strong as the
rest of the home, window screens and screened-in porches are usually the first
to take on hurricane damage. Luckily, you’re in good shape if this is the
extent of your home’s damage, as window screen frames are quite easy to repair.
Here’s what you should do if your home’s window screens need some TLC after a
hurricane has passed through.
Inspect the Frame and Screen
The first thing to do
before making repairs is to confirm what is repairable and what needs total
replacement. This should just take a moment, as you’ll know what kind of damage
you’re dealing with right away. Is the screen frame bent in a few different
places, or is it bent beyond repair? Maybe you’re lucky and you can hammer a
few small dents back into place. How is the screen material? Small holes and
tears can be mended with pre-manufactured patches, but larger areas of damage
will call for total replacement.
Repair the Window Screen
Material
If just a few smaller
repairs need to be made for your window screen material, here is what you
should do.
First, make sure you know
what type of screen material you have. Is it fiberglass, aluminum, bronze, or
some other type? This is crucial for ordering patch kits. For very small holes
in non-metal screens like fiberglass, a bit of instant glue should do the
trick. For metal screen, you can use epoxy.
For larger, but not huge
tears, a patch kit is needed. When beginning the repair, cut the patch to 1.5”
inches larger than the tear or hole. Use a clean brush to clear away any dirt
or dust in the area (this is essential for the adhesive). Then, apply the
adhesive (or a heavy-duty weatherproof glue if your kit doesn’t have an
included adhesive) and then the patch. Allow it to dry on its own. In time, the
entire screen will need to be replaced. However, it may be best to not do a
total replacement until hurricane season has ended.
Replace the Entire Window
Screen
More likely than not, the
hurricane has totally warped your screen frames. Luckily, you won’t need a
professional screener to build new ones. You can find affordable screen
material and pre-cut Window screen frame in DIY kits that walk you
through the entire process. Even beginners can build these frames! If you’ve
never built a screen before, ordering a kit will provide everything you need
for assembly. Make sure you know the dimensions of your frame before ordering
so you don’t run into any issues. You will also need to know the right type of
screen material for your needs here. If you order pre-cut frame, it will make
this process even easier. Here is the gist of what screen assembly looks like:
1. Assemble the screen frame
using the provided frame corner inserts
2. Lay the screen material
onto the frame and cut it 1” larger than the frame (having a partner here will
help stabilize the screen)
3. Attach the screen to the
frame using a spline roller
4. Use the same spline roller
to then press the rubber spline into the frame to secure the screen fabric
5. Use a utility knife to
remove excess screen material
6. Ensure the screen feels
taut in the frame and not loose
This is a general overview
that showcases just how easy it is to build your own screen frames. Hurricane
season can be unforgiving in many ways for homeowners. Repairing your own
screens will allow you to save money and resolve minor issues without waiting
for a professional. In the future, consider removing your screens altogether
when a storm is approaching. In the face of a powerful hurricane, these won’t
do much in the way of protection. It may be best to remove and store them
indoors for safekeeping until the storm passes. Structural repairs to your home
will cost enough on their own, so removing your screens will keep minimize
additional costs. Plus, this may even save your windows. When fine-mesh screen
materials become saturated with water, the high winds of the storm will causing
it to beat against your windows. This could result in a broken window and a
blown screen. Only remove your screens if you have the time to do so – do NOT
attempt removal during a hurricane.
