John’s Screen Repair Service

  After a screen enclosure has been distroyed by a tornado there are several things you need to consider.  You still have the slab where the enclosure was but the slab may not meet the new building codes to build a new enclosure.  Should you rebuild your enclosure/patio/porch or put up a fence or do away with the whole thing?

   Try to get estimates from 3 screen enclosure/porch/patio contractors.  Don’ t take someone from out of state.  There are only a few areas that have screen enclosures and Florida has the majority, most of them are in South Florida. 

   Building codes and types of enclosures differ in each part of Florida.  The further south you go in Florida the more strict the codes.  There are no structures, that I know of, that will stay up in a major Tornado.  However, there are many structures that will withstand a catagory one hurricane.

   Make sure you check the references of the company you contract with to rebuild your enclosure/ patio/porch. Check with the contractor licensing board to see if the contractor has a license and for how long.  If the contractor has not had a business in your area for at least 2 years, then find someone else.

   It is easy to get in a hurry and hire just about anyone because they seem OK.  Do not pay more than 10% down for any work to be done.  Many people in South Florida paid more than 50% down and the contractor took off with their money. 

   Check out this website about hiring contractors.  It has a lot of good information,  www.ContractorFraud.net

  If your screen patio or porch gets totally destroyed by a tornado you can pick up the aluminum pieces and take them to a metal recycle location.  You can get about $.25-$.95 per pound, depending upon how clean the aluminum is, the current supply and demand for scrap and the location. 

   There are people who will offer to take away your scarp for free because they can sell it.  Other people want you to pay for taking your scrap away but you don’t need to pay someone if there is a scrap metal location in your area. The person who takes your scrap metal away can get paid from the recycle center. 

    You can check and see if there is a scrap metal recycle center in your area or a city near you, look in the phone book under Scrap Metal.

   Be careful when handling scrap aluminum or any other scrap metal.  It is very sharp and you can get cut easily.  Be especially careful when you are taking metal off the house or taking an enclosure down that has been damaged.  We know of workers who have been hit in the head by swinging metal pieces when they were taking it off the house.  Many people have been cut when handling scrap metal.