John’s Screen Repair Service

   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

John’s Screen Repair Service Wellington Florida, 33414. 

Phone 561-798-3132

   Replacing patio screens during cold weather is very difficult.  The spline (black or gray cord looking string/rope) is brittle and difficult to get into the track.  If you use smaller spline, it will come out easily.  You can try using a hair dryer to warm up the spline.  This only works if the tempture is above 60.  Spline is best put in when the tempture is above 70.

   You can put a temporary patch over the hole in the screen until the weather warms up.   One way to patch the screen is to cut a patch of screen that would cover the hole, then put some clear silicone caulking on the patch, then stick the patch over the hole (get the clear silicone caulking in the paint department).  Make sure the screen is dry.  If the screen is wet the patch will not stay.

  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.

  If you plan to tent your house and you have a screen enclosure that is not going to be covered with the tenting, then you need to ask the exterminating company if any of the screens need to be removed or pulled back from the house before the tenting is done.  The exterminating company does not usually include screen removaland/or replacement as bart of their bid. 

    You will need to contract a screen repair company to remove the screen before the tenting is done.  After the screen is pulled back or taken out they will need to be replaced. 

   The screens cannot usually be put back in because of the age of the screen or the screen is cut short or it has been frayed and cannot be streatched.

  A screen porch can be covered with the tent but large pool screen enclosures cannot be covered easily, if at all.

   Screens should last 7-15 years, depending on the exposure to the sun and and grade of screen. The coating on the screen wears off and the screen becomes thin and easy to tare. If you have a pool enclosure and the top gets full sun most of the day the screen will wear out faster.
   You do not need to replace the screen until it tares or comes out. If several screen sections on your patio need to be replaced then you may want to replace all the screens so they will be more even in color. New screen is darker.