As the weather becomes warmer in Pinellas County, FL, your swimming pool or screen porch will begin to look more and more inviting. This is usually when you notice holes in your screens, doors that don’t open correctly, and a few months’ worth of dirt inside your patio area. When it comes to screen repair, a screen enclosure can range from a small, one panel framed in opening replacement to a very large pool enclosure consisting of 50 to 100 screen panels. This being the case, when can you roll up your sleeves and be your own handyman (or woman), and at what point should you call a professional?
Sr. Screen, Inc. understands that it always feels good to complete a home project yourself. The reality of the situation is that repairing screen is a job that few people master, and even experienced do-it-yourselfers have trouble finishing a job correctly. If you evaluate your repair before you are knee deep into it, you can save yourself the headache of starting a project that is beyond your abilities.
First, let us consider your skills. If you’re reading this because you’ve never done a home repair yourself yet want to give it a go and get something under your belt, pool cage screen repair is not the best place to start. This is mainly because to properly replace even a single screen panel, or repair a screen door handle, you will need more than the standard household tools. You’ll spend money at the hardware store that will be ultimately be wasted should the project prove to be too difficult.Calling a professional screen repair company will be worth your while, as a simple repair will not cost more than $50 to $100. For those who are accustomed to taking care of small repairs around the house, any small screen repair should be within your ability to complete with success. These would include replacing a single torn screen panel, replacing the door hardware on a screen door, or even reattaching a loose piece of metal or replacing rusted fasteners. Then there are the large-scale repairs. These include re-screening an entire porch or patio enclosure, replacing torn panels on the roof or ceiling of a pool cage, or new construction of a screen enclosure. These should only be attempted if you consider yourself very handy and have previous construction experience. Often, for your own safety, these repairs should only be completed by trained professionals such as Sr. Screen, Inc.
If you are not experienced installing screen, you could expect a small porch (approximately 8’H x 12’W) to take four to six hours to complete. Other miscellaneous repairs that you may look to complete yourself are:
- Replacing lower (base) panels with pet resistant screen
- Adding a pet door to an existing enclosure
- Cleaning mold and mildew from an enclosure
- Painting scratches or blemishes on the aluminum
Many of these will require other tools and material that must be purchased from an aluminum distributor.
After taking a more detailed look at what is involved in completing several types of screen repair, and considering the difficulty of different projects, hopefully you feel more confident about the repairs you are facing. If you think your repair is better served by a professional screen repair company, there is no shame in that! As we mentioned earlier, your safety should be your number one concern when considering any home improvement task. Either way, as we come into spring and sizzle into summer, now is the time to tidy up that outdoor area and assess your patio or pool enclosure for needed repairs or touch-ups. Don’t let bugs and leaves spoil your relaxation. Pick up the phone and call Sr. Screen, Inc. in Pinellas Park, FL, for a free quote, and you’ll be lounging around the pool worry free in no time.