He knows he messed up. The poor guy is obsessed with that toy. So much so that if he’s within eyesight out in the yard and his toy hits the water—stand back! Nothing’s stopping him. He’s coming straight through the pool screen like it’s nothing. You were sure you had his “ball” put away before everyone arrived, The kids must have thrown it into the mix in the frenzy of digging out the rafts and toys.
You’d been thinking there were a few places you need to get after on those screens anyway. No time like the present, right? As your wife catches your eye with a tray full of meat that needs to hit the grill, a small chuckle escapes you. Well, more like no time like tomorrow.
A small remodel job may be the fix
If your exuberant pet… or preschooler for that matter… has a penchant for blowing holes through your pool screen, it can get frustrating. And, that may be putting it mildly. Smaller dogs… or young children… may be dissuaded from the activity by installing a kick plate along the base of your enclosure. It creates an attractive barrier that they have to get over. The height can be adjusted to suit your needs.
Of course, that’s going to require investing some time and money into the fix, but could be well worth it in the long run. There are many options to choose from so you’re sure to discover something that works with your budget.
Don’t put off small repairs
If you discover small holes in your pool screen, there’s no sense in waiting to get them repaired. You can more than likely do the job yourself. A hole or small tear will just get larger over time—especially if you have kids around. There is just something about a hole in a screen that attracts little fingers.
Use a bottle of clear nail polish to repair any tiny holes. Dab it on the hole and let it for a minute or two. Repeat if necessary. Next, dust your hands together because that’s that.
If the hole or tear is a bit too large for dabbing nail polish, you can sew the area together by using a few strands of screen wire and a needle with a large eye. If the space that needs repairing is larger, patching your screen isn’t hard to do.
Here are the steps to take:
- Trim away any broken screen threads from the damaged area using a straightedge or sharp knife.
- Cut a piece of patch screen slightly larger than the hole or tear—about an inch on all sides.
- Glue the patch to the screen.
- Let set.
Bugs and mosquitoes are going to take advantage of even the tiniest opening they find in your pool screen. Do you remember when it seemed that you were constantly slapping at them when poolside? You have to admit, it’s not the best look. It’s a huge nuisance though.
Is age catching up with your screens?
Even though most window screen used here in Florida is treated to better withstand the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays, there comes a day when the screens need replacing. Once your screens begin to sag or completely come apart at the edges, it’s time to consider installing new screens.
The spline that holds your screen in place deteriorates over time as well. Once it begins to shrink, it allows the screen to sag. When that happens, the screen’s stitching may begin to pull apart. Once the spline begins to go, you need to address the situation. If your screens, themselves, are still in good condition, you could possibly get away with just replacing the spline.
You can purchase the tool necessary to do that at most hardware stores. It’s merely a process of slowly pulling out the old spline and using the tool to roll in the new.
If it’s time to replace your screens entirely
You may want to consider working with an enclosure company, such as ours for instance, that offers their customers a customization feature. These companies customize your screens with the image that you choose. Homeowners report dramatic aesthetic results. Some wonder why they didn’t make the decision to create their own private getaway sooner.
The designs positively enhance the feeling that you create in your outdoor living space. Adding just the right touch of decor will customize your “new” living space even more. If it wasn’t already the most popular space in the house, your new screens are likely to make the difference.
Maintenance keeps money in your pocket
When you stay on top of your screen maintenance, they last longer overall. You keep bugs and debris out of your space too. Also, it’s important to mention that repairing your screens is far less costly than repairing them along the way.
That’s important at this time of year, for sure. Still, keeping a jingle in your pocket is a pretty good tune to listen to all year long.