John’s Pool/Patio Screen Repair Service

Each year, about 280 children under 5 drown in swimming pools. In addition, the suction from drains in

For more information, please visit CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov, or call the CPSC Hotline at(800) 638-2772.

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Parts of the country have enclosures arround their pool. It is important that you keep the screen on the enclosure repaired so children cannot get into the pool area easily.
Some counties require that a gated fence also be put around the pool/backyard to keep children and others out of the area.
Another thing you can do, is put the latch on the screen door of the pool area high enough (aprox 5 ft) so small children cannot easily open the door.
After a storm the fence around the pool may be down and/or your enclosure may be partly damaged or blown away. Be sure to put up an orange caution fence to warn others to stay out.
Stay Safe.

What is the difference between Lanai and Patio?
- Lanai already has a existing roof and concrete floor that are usually a part of the house, unlike the patio that will need a aluminum or screen roof and sometimes a slab.

What colors are available?
- Aluminum frame color choices are white or bronze(usually referred as black)
- The most common screen color is Charcoal, there are also white and gray screens.
- Remember to check check with your Community HOA(home owners association) what colors are required by your community, if you live in a community.

What is the difference between screen roof and aluminum roof?
- Screen roof is just like the rest of your screen, aluminum roof is made out of aluminum. - Aluminum roof can be made out of insulated or uninsulated panels. - The insulated panels have the insulation build in between two sheets of aluminum. - Insulated roofs are more expensive, but quieter. Uninsulated aluminum roofs are louder and less money.

Your screen enclosure needs to be super strong if you are in the hurricane zone. Even if you are not in a hurricane zone you want your structure to last a long time.
Below is a discription of how a conpany in West Palm Beach, Screen Builders Inc., describes their new structure. It sounds a bit complicated and technical but you get the idea. It is better if you know a little about how an enclosure is built when you hire a company to build one for you.
If you have any questions, post them in the box below and we will try and find the answer.

“ Super Strong” 6061-T6 alloy
Since the first screen porches and patios were fabricated out of aluminum extrusion the alloy used has always been 6063. This dates back over 55 years. The reason for this derives from the window industry. The mechanical construction of the aluminum screen enclosure evolved from aluminum window construction. The window industry primarily uses the 6063 alloy for its products. Thus the aluminum framing for screen enclosures use the 6063 alloy. The 6063 alloy is not an extremely strong alloy and definitely not an alloy to rely on with today’s strict building codes. The construction of enclosures using material made with the 6063 alloy was fine for the first thirty years because most municipalities did not have building codes in place for screen enclosures. Over the past twenty five years we have seen building codes established and meticulously groomed in all municipalities. The building code for screen enclosures has evolved from sustaining 70mph winds to 100mph winds to 120mph winds and now 150mph winds in some communities. This increase has been a positive action for Florida’s residents. The gauge of the aluminum increased, the size of the roof beams and wall uprights have increased, more fasteners were called on and better bracing designed. But one thing remained constant in the extrusions and that is the 6063 alloy. Its time for aluminum extrusions to evolve and catch up with today’s building codes. To do that the alloy has to change.

Aluminum Direct, Inc. is introducing the “Super Strong” 6061-T6 alloy. This alloy is 14% stronger than the traditional 6063-T6 alloy. This means beams will span farther and uprights will reach higher. Take for example a flat 2”x9” box beam spaced on 8’ centers in the 150 mph wind zone. Using the standard 6063-T6 alloy that beam can only span a maximum of 28’-6”. Using the “Super Strong” 6061-T6 alloy that beam can span a maximum of
32’-6”. That is an increase of FOUR FEET!!!!! Finally there is relief from the shrinking beam spans. You may be asking- Why does an aluminum supply company care about this? It’s because the founders of Aluminum Direct are originally from the screen enclosure industry. We have an understanding of the construction of the enclosures and the code changes the industry has gone through in the past. The “Super Strong” 6061-T6 alloy will permit the contractor to save material and therefore increase profits. Take a look at the span tables and see how much money you can save on the fabrication of your next enclosure.

Recognized throughout the world as the state of the art in precision weaving technology, Phifer screening products are preferred by consumers who purchase screening for home repairs and Do-It-Yourself home improvement projects. Phifer’s D-I-Y aluminum insect screening products include (Brite, Charcoal and Black), and fiberglass insect screening (Charcoal and Silver Gray). Our D-I-Y sun control products consist of (SunScreen®, SunTex® and new Super Solar Screening).

In addition, Phifer offers new PetScreen®, a pet- resistant screening that is seven times stronger than regular insect screening.

For tighter mesh to stop small insects Phifer manufactures a charcoal fiberglass 20×20 mesh insect screen called
“No-See-Ums”.

D-I-Y screening is available in pre-cut roll lengths of 84″ or 25′ and in all popular widths and colors. Each roll includes complete illustrated rescreening instructions.

Other D-I-Y rescreening accessories include screening spline, screen roller and instant screen repair patch.

Phifer D-I-Y products are sold in Hardware and Home Center Stores and Independent Screen Shops
Rescreening with Phifer Aluminum Screen in Aluminum Frames

1 Lay screen frame on smooth, flat surface such as a table or a workbench.

2 Use a screwdriver or knife to pry up the end of the old retainer spline and pull it out of the channel (Photo A). Make sure the screen latch and cross braces remain in position. Discard the old screen. Wipe the frame and groove with a clean cloth to remove all dirt and debris. The retainer spline should be replaced if it has become too brittle, or in the case of metal spline, if it is bent.

3 Lay screen material on frame, align edge of screen with spline groove on two sides (Photo B). Allow screen to overlap spline groove approximately 1/8 inch. Cut starting corner at 45º angle (Photo C).

4 Using the round (convex) end of screen rolling tool, roll screening down into spline groove. Work slowly, holding material straight with your other hand. Hold roller at a 45º angle pointing toward outside of frame to avoid cutting screen (Photo D).

5 Next use the concave end of the screen rolling tool to roll spline into groove over screen material. Be sure your roller stays in groove or damage may occur to new screen material or frame. Use other hand to hold spline in line with groove (Photo E). Do not stretch spline.
6 Cut screen on 45º angle at corner (Photo C).

7 Move around corner to next side and repeat steps 4 and 5, rolling in screen material with the round end of the roller and next using the concave roller to roll in the retaining spline (Photos D and E).

8 Trim screen in line with spline groove on other two sides allowing screening to overlap the spline groove by approximately 1/8 inch (Photo F). Cut screening at corners to 45º angle (Photo C). Repeat rolling procedures, being sure to pull tension into the screen as rolling is accomplished. Roll in retaining spline on final two sides.

Rescreening with Phiferglass® Screen in Aluminum Frames

1 Follow steps 1, 2 and 3 as shown on opposite page.

2 Using a concave screen roller, start at one corner and roll in both the screen and the spline at the same time (Photo G). Keep screen material straight with the edge of the frame while rolling in. Continue rolling procedure around all four sides. If wrinkles or bulges appear in screen, you may remove the spline and reroll. Small wrinkles should tighten up as you near the starting corner.

3 Use a utility knife to trim the excess screen cloth. Cut on top of the spline toward the outside of the frame to avoid cutting the screen material (Photo H).

Replacing Fiberglass Screen Panels in Pool and Patio Enclosures

1 Measure and cut retainer splines for the top, bottom and both sides. Spline will stretch slightly when rolled in, so cut approximately 1/2″ shorter than actual measurement or trim the spline after you roll in each side.
2 Tape the new Phiferglass screening to the top of the panel using duct tape or masking tape.

3 Using the concave end of a double roller, roll the screen cloth and the spline into the top groove.

4 Roll in the bottom screening and spline in the same manner, gently pulling the cloth as you roll to create tension.

5 Roll in each side in a similar manner.

6 Trim off excess screening.

Maintenance of Screens

Phifer aluminum or Phiferglass screening should give you many years of pleasure with a minimum of maintenance.

Screen should be vacuumed periodically to remove dust and may be washed safely with any mild soap or detergent and rinsed with clear water.

Ask for it by name - Phifer Aluminum or Fiberglass Insect Screening. For windows where the sun’s heat and glare is a problem, ask about Phifer SunScreen

FIBERGLASS - Phiferglass fiberglass screening is constructed of vinyl-coated fiberglass yarns. Phiferglass is strong, long lasting and is not easily damaged, which makes it virtually the “carefree screening.” Fiberglass screening is available in a choice of several meshes and colors. It is the original equipment on many windows, particularly those windows which have “half-screens,” and on many storm windows. Phiferglass is also the ideal choice for large patio enclosures and for pool enclosures
FIBERGLASS 18X16 MESH - Standard window and door mesh.
FIBERGLASS 18X14 MESH - A stronger mesh then our 18X16, 18X14 is recommended for large openings such as porches, pools and patios or where etra strenght is desirable
FIBERGLASS 20X20 MESH - This very tiny mesh is designed to keep out smaller flying insects.

A guarantee normally only covers the workmanship of the screen repair. There are variations in standards of materials but the service person does not cover that under their guarantee. The gurantee, normally, is that the screen repair will last 6 months to one year under normal ware and tare conditions.
Do not expect a gurantee to cover any damage caused by children, dogs, cats, any animals, birds, winds over 40 mph, acts of God, flying objects and the like.
Remember, a gurantee is only as good as the person who stands behind it.

Birds on top of your enclosure can cause a lot of damage. They tare holes in the screen, pick the spline (black cord) out of the track and the screens comes out as well as make a mess on the screen enclosure. Some kinds of birds cause a lot more damage than others.
There are a number of things that are sold to keep birds off a roof. Some of them work for the screen enclosure roof. Most of them cannot be attached to the enclosure as well as they can be attached to the house roof.
The spider like things called Bird Chases works fairly well as long as there is a little breeze. If it is still, (no breeze) it does not work very well. More later.

Palm Trees near your patio screen enclosure can wear holes in the screen just by sweeping accross it. It takes a while for the screen to wear through. Just trim the leaves that touch the enclosure.
Loose and dead limbs from other trees can fall and make holes in the screen. Keep all trees trimed to reduce the possibility of getting holes in the screen.
Bushes near the enclosure also make holes in the screen. Keep the bushes and plants next to the enclosure trimed at least 6-12 inches from the screen. For someone to repair the screen they will need 15-20 inches clear next to the screen.

When you have a large patio/pool screen enclosure and lots of trees near your house then leaves can be a big problem. Pine needles are even worse.
Some pressure cleaner companies will try and blow the leaves off from inside the enclosure. Others will try and blow the leaves off from the outside of the enclosure. Others will try to spray the leaves off by getting on the house roof and spraying from there.
The best way to get leaves and pine needles off the top of the enclosure is to get someone who can walk on the rails on top of the enclosure and sweep it clean. It is difficult to find someone to do this but some guyes do that work.
It is very easy for the pressure cleaner to make holes in the screen when they spray it. The older the screen is, the easier it is for someone to make a hole in the screen. Check with friends or neighbors to see who they use and get some recomendations. It can be expensive to get someone to spray the leaves off and have to pay someone else to replace the screens with holes in them that were made by the pressure cleaner.
The taller the enclosure, the more difficult it is to get this whole process done. Sometimes a screen repair man will do it for you.
Another solution is to replace the screens on the top of the enclosure with a more dense screen. It is called (20×20). It has smaller holes so the leaves and the pine needles can not stick into the holes so easily.

So you are trying to put patio screen in yourself and for some reason you cannot get the wrinkles out. What do you do now. Fiberglass screen is somewhat like cloth, (in fact, it is called screen cloth by the manufacture). So you treat the screen a little like cloth, even though you may not know anything about cloth or sewing (ask your wife, she can tell you).
Now, back to getting the wrinkles out. Cut a section of screen about an inch larger than the space you are going to put the screen. Cut 12-15 pieces of spline (rubber like cord that keeps the screen in place) that are about 2 inches long each. Use the 2 inch pieces of spline to tack the screen in place. It is sort of like basting a seam in a dress before it is sewed. Or even like pins to hold something togather before you sew it togather. The 2 inch tacking pieces do not have to be the same size spline as the permanent spline you will use, it can be a little smaller.
The screen is now in place with the little spline tacking pieces. Next you cut the permanent spline about 2-3 inches longer than what you think you need for that side you are working on. First do the top side of the screen. Roll the spline in from one side to the other, taking the tacking pieces out as you go.
Do the top first then each side the same way and then the bottom. Since the screen is tacked in place before you put the permanent spline in place, your screen will not wrinkle, and if it does wrinkle a little bit, just smothe it out as you go along.
Good Luck.

Sometimes you have holes or small tares in your patio screen or window screen but don’t have the time or money to get the screen repaired or replaced.

If your screen is fiberglass material (some screen is metal) then you can get a small piece of new screen and cut it the size to cover the hole. Put some clear silicone calking (you can get a small tube in the paint department at Home Depot) on the patch and cover the hole. Make sure the screen is dry. The patch will not stick if it is wet. The patch should stay a long time. You can patch a very big hole this way. It does not matter if you put the patch on the inside or the outside of the screen.

There are small metal patche kits (1×1) you can get at stores like Home Depot. They will work on metal or fiberglass screen but they do not stay on the screen for very long and are only 1 or 2 sizes.

Write a post if you have tried something that works for you.

  If you want to repair or replace patio screens yourself there are some safety tips you should consider.  Window screens are different so most of these things do not apply to repairing them.

  If you need to use a ladder, make sure it is a good, safe ladder.  Place the ladder firmly on the ground and make sure it is level (not in a hole or slanting to one side).  Place the ladder on the outside of the enclosure/patio.  On most enclosures you have to repair it from the outside.  Look to see if the spline track is on the outside or the inside.  That is the side that you will repair it from.

   Spline is the ribbon like cord that keeps the screen in place.  Is is usually black, but may be gray.  The spline track is the small track that the spline goes in when the screen is put in. The rails are alumiun and have a track for the spline to go into.  To screen is made of a fiberglass type of material.  It is blackish or gray in color.

    Metal screen does not go into a spline track, it can be stappled onto a wood serface and covered with trim. 

    Make sure someone else is home when you are working on a tall ladder on the screen or on the roof.  It can be rather unstable. 

   Check the security of the enclosure , especially where it is attached to the house.  Some of the bolts that attach the enclosure to the house could be missing or loose.  The wood could be rotted away and you could crash through the enclosure

   At times it seems that you can’t find a local contractor to repair or build something for you.  What do you do then?  Sears, Home Depot, and Lowes have a list of contractors that you can get.  Also, the contractor board in your county can tell you how to find a list of licensed contractors in your area.

   If you do decide to contract with someone that is out of your area, be a lot more deligent in finding out about their work and their reputation and license.  Talk to at least 3 people whome they have done work for in your area.  Find out if the job was finished to the customer’s satisfaction. 

    Call the contractor’s  supplier of materials and see how they do business.  You can also require them to give you information for a credit check.  Check the public records in the area where they say they are from (5yr) and see if they have any problems. Even driving record, or search for them on Google. Fly-by-nighters often have other kinds of problems.

   Do all you can to check them out.  The bigger the project you have for them to do the more careful you need to be.  Also, don’t forget your own safety.

   You should not have to put down any money for a screen repair that is less than $500, unless  some special order supplies or equipment are needed to do your work.  You will be expected to pay in full at the time the service is completed.  If the price for your repair is $500 - $2,000  then your deposit should not be more than 10%.

   Window screens are usually taken to a shop and you pay for the repair when you pick them up.  At times a repairman will repair the window screens at your home and you pay at the time of service.

   Payment with credit cards is not usually an option when doing business with small companies.  Sometimes with big companies and large jobs, paying with credit cards may be an option.

   If you want a new enclosure built or one rebuilt then you will be asked to put a 10%-50% deposit.  Only give this much deposit to a well established company that has a good reputation in your area.   Check on this web site for information about hiring a contractor.        www.ContractorFraud.net