These pool enclosures are made to fit over top of the patio areas so the people that live in the home can use their pools without being attacked by the large swarms of bugs that live in Florida. Talk to a local resident and you’ll find out quickly that even sitting on your porch can be an experience with the bugs.

The screen itself is made up of mostly nylon and a real thin plastic coating that has been applied to it. While the screen itself can get old and brittle over time, the enclosures are made out of aluminum so you don’t have to worry about rust. These pool enclosures will actually out last your house as long as a hurricane doesn’t come through and knock it down.

If your going to do a screen repair on your pool enclosure, you really need to know how to do it. There is a thin black piece of rubber called spline that holds the screen to the metal. The tools for this job are special made and not available to the general public.

Home Depot and Lowe’s do offer lower grade tools and material, but the home owner will wind up dealing with nothing but frustration when trying to use these. There are also many different types of screen that a person can choose from to put in their pool enclosure.

There are different hole sizes when it comes to screen material. The standard sized hole is known as 18X14 and is what most people put in their pool enclosures. The smaller hole version is known as 20X20. There are also materials that are made to block out some of the sun as well as screen that is built for privacy.

The time frame on the life of the screens can vary. The ones that are placed in the upper portion of the pool enclosure can last anywhere from 8-10 years. The ones that are installed on the side of the screen enclosure will last a little longer and will go from 10-12 years. Animals and lawn equipment can also damage them and cause a need for a screen repair.

There are two color choices that you can get your pool enclosure to come in. You can decide between white and bronze. While many people like white at first, as the cage begins to age, the bronze will look much better. Also the screws will age as well, and with a white cage, they will stick out like a soar thumb. Bottom line is if you live in Florida, then you need one of these pool enclosures. If you don’t have one, the bugs will eat you alive.

Don’t let the condition of your pool enclosure keep you from enjoying what it was created for. If your in need of a screen repair, just make sure you use the proper materials.

Cleaning a window screen can be a daunting task for anyone trying to do home maintenance. With so many of them to clean, it is easy to get started and quit after the first ten minutes. If you break the work up into sections, you will see how much quicker the clean up process will go.

Remove all the screens prior to cleaning. Wrong move! The job will definitely appear larger than life if you take all of the screens down at once, and you will give up more easily. Start with removing five of the screens, clean and replace those, and then remove more. Pay attention to the order in which you are taking them down, it will make it easier to know which screens fit the right window when it is time to re-install them.

Make sure you put all of the screws, clips, and springs in a Ziploc sandwich bag. You will need to make sure you can find these tiny items once you have finished cleaning the screens. Trust me, nothing is more aggravating, than looking for a little piece of hardware near the edge of the grass. Put them in a bag, and it will make everything easier in the end.

Now that the window screens and hardware are removed, get a bucket of warm soapy water, and a large soft bristle scrub brush. Find a nice shady spot to set up your clean area. Lay the screens flat on the concrete, and begin scrubbing both sides of each of the screens, making sure not to scrub too hard. The material the screen is made from is fragile, and scrubbing them too hard will tear them. If you happen to tear the screen, there is a great step by step guide in the resource box of this article, that will teach you how to build and install a new screen.

Once the screens are washed on both sides, get your water hose and rinse them off. This step is important. You want to make sure you rinse the screens completely of the soapy water solution. If you have a spray attachment, screw it onto the tip of your water hose, and rinse the screens clean with a brisk spray.

Although you have got clean screens, they are still wet. Gently pat them dry with a cloth. Do not wipe or scrub them dry. The mesh in your screens will clog with the lint from the towel if you rub them, and they will appear dirty from a distance. Consider letting the screens air dry, but be warned that this is how most screens get damaged while cleaning.

Find the hardware that you put to the side, and put them back on the window screens. Make sure you put all of the clips back on the screens, or the screen may not stay in tact. Put the top part of the screen into the slot first, and then slide in the bottom. If you clean the rest of the screens this way, you will be finished with this easy home improvement task in no time.