All about Screens and Screen Repair

What are Screens?

Screens are installed over windows and doors for the primary purpose of allowing air to flow freely into your home while keeping insects, leaves, and other airborne debris out.

The insects and critters of major concern are: mosquitoes, flies, bees, wasps, spiders, and moths.

The most common materials for screens are woven aluminum or fiberglass materials. These materials resemble a very coarse weave fabric, with holes approximately 1/16” wide, or smaller.

Aluminum is the most expensive and longest lasting screen material.

Fiberglass is the least expensive, but more susceptible to damage.

Screen repair is not difficult on either aluminum or fiberglass. However, aluminum and fiberglass screens require different tools, materials, and techniques for screen repairthat lasts a long time.

Galvanized steel screen material used to be popular. However, aluminum and fiberglass have taken over in today’s market primarily due to the tendency of galvanized steel screening to rust.

Screen repair is a fact of life because the mesh material consists of fine wire (aluminum) or thread (fiberglass) that is easily damaged.

Why are Screens Necessary?

Screens are commonly found in areas where it is relatively warm and moist, and where insects are a problem, such as near forests or grassy areas, wooded areas, and areas where rain is common much of the year. Standing water of any size is a prime breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Screens are rarely found on structures in desert areas, primarily due to the lack of insects that can survive in hot and dry climate conditions.

Insects carry and spread disease. Therefore, screens are a health concern and screen repair isn’t an option, it’s a must. Screens must be maintained in good condition to protect you and your family by keeping insects out.

When Should Screen Repair be Done?

Screen repair should be considered for any opening in a screen, provided the damage isn’t too large. A small hole or tear is the most common reason to consider screen repair.

If an easily repairable small hole or tear is neglected, it will eventually become much larger. Large holes or tears, generally anything bigger than about 1”, require replacement of the entire screen because the labor to repair a large puncture isn’t much less than the labor to replace the entire screen.

For any puncture, replacing the entire screen is always the best form of screen repair. If cost is a major concern, consider repair.

The best way to avoid the need for screen repair is to take good care of your screens. Cleaning screens on an annual basis can extend their life. Use a stiff-bristle brush to gently remove dirt and other debris from the screen. Then wash with soapy water, and rinse clean.

How to Perform a Simple Screen Repair

Screen repair for aluminum and fiberglass screens:

Tools:

A block of wood a few inches larger than the hold or tear
Rubber-based glue, or gel-type super glue
A sharp utility knife
Sharp scissors
Mesh material of the same type used in the screen to be repaired

Procedure:

Remove the screen frame from the window or door.
Lay the screen frame on a firm, flat surface.
Place the wood block under the hole or tear.
Using the sharp utility knife, carefully cut out and remove the hole or tear. Cut approximately ¼” larger than the hole on all sides. Remove this material and discard.
From the new mesh material, use scissors to cut a rectangle or square patch approximately ½” larger on all sides than the opening you cut out of the screen.

At this point the screen repair procedure varies depending on whether the screen is aluminum or fiberglass.

For a fiberglass screen:

Apply a generous amount of glue to the patch material...ONLY where the patch will overlap the existing screen material.
Place the patch on the screen, centered on the hole you cut out. Squeeze out and wipe off any excess glue.
Allow to dry according to the glue manufacturer’s instructions.
After the glue has cured, re-install the screen on the window or door.

For an aluminum screen:

Carefully remove one or two strands from each edge of the patch that you cut. This will leave short lengths of wire extending out from each edge.

Center the patch over the hole and hold in place with one hand while using a small screw driver or other convenient tool to carefully bend each wire down and around the wires in the old screen. This procedure mechanically “hooks” the patch onto the old screen for a long lasting screen repair.

Why Choose America's Best for Your Screen Repair Needs?

If you do not want to go through the hassle of maintaining or repairing your screen yourself, give is a call.

America's Best offersquality on-site screen repair services. We come to your home or place of business and either repair or build brand new screens for you. We offer quality screen repair at affordable prices.

We can repair your screens on-site or pick them up and repair them in our shop. There are many options when it comes to screens from white to black and pet screen to solar. Give us a call and we can go over all the options with you.

Our estimates are always free.

We are fully insured.

Call us toll-free with any questions regarding your screen repair, pressure washing, gutter cleaning, and window cleaning needs (866) 946-2532.

Other services: pressure washing | gutter cleaning | awning cleaning | window cleaning | window tinting