February 26, 2021

How to Repair A Window Screen Frame After A Hurricane


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.
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