I need to some help. My guys were taking out window screens and putting them back in on a huge job a couple months ago. In the process they put some small bends in the screens. The screens were pretty tight, and using the screwdriver bent them some.
The homeowner just discovered them and had his real estate agent call us. He wants us to replace 11 window screens (frame and screen material).
2 Questions:
Would you just take the bent ones to a company which makes new screens for about $25-30 a pop?
How do you take tight screens out and put them back in without bending them? Do you use a screwdrivier? I have used a putty knife but find it too flimsy to be of any help.
Go to walmart and buy some can openers from the paint department. The free ones from lowes or homedepot have too sharp a bend.
The problem with screw drivers is that you’ll lever them out which could bend the screen. The can opener allows you lift the screen out like the original tabs. I personally do not use those tabs because whenever I do, they will come off or break. The can opener is also thinner than a screw driver.
But yeah, I’d just take the screens somewhere and have them replace that part of the frame. Or do it yourself. Might be a great add on down the road.
The can opener can also help get the screens that were put in backwards. If you can see the spring and the screen doesn’t budge, use the can opener to compress the spring and the screen will come right out. Then you can put it back the way it was supposed to be. If you can’t see the spring and the screen doesn’t budge, then it’s stuck.
The can opener can also help slide those finger breaking locks on those dh’s that haven’t been tilted in ever.
It can also flip the nail ripping spring holders on those windows where you have to lift the thing all the way up in order to lever it out.
go on ebay etc and buy some door trim removal tools. Plastic so they don’t scratch frames etc, flexible so you can exert gradual pressure on the tool and the screen which minimizes the potential of kinking of the frames. Plus the various shapes and sizes of tools cover nearly all situations. Just buy em! - paint can tools, screwdrivers etc are ok, but trust me, these trim tools are worth it.
I use a six in one painters tool from any hardware store.
Push up on the top frame with fingers as useing the tool to get out a corner.
Lots of screens have plastic corners that have a bump on them.
I have shaved down those “bumps” on tight fitting screens with a razor knife.
While time is money and speed is good, when removing / replacing screens it’s a good idea to slow down or else your speed will cost you money.
(As you have experienced)
As far as screen repair get on craigslist ect.
You can get it done for less if you do some searching
Oooh by they way, haven’t bent a screen in years…
Sent from my iPhone using Window Cleaning Resource
I’d have them replaced by someone else, your time is valuable this time of year so have screens4less do the job for you. Screw drivers are ok to use in the very corner of the screen on the plastic part only, I use a paint can opener with a rubber coating if I have to go at the aluminum.
Just out of curiosity, was it one of the jobs Chris was on?
Sent from my iPhone using Window Cleaning Resource
I’ve been using a flat head screw driver for 20 years without problem. If the screens are truly that tight the the screw driver bent them then they are just to tight for the window they were not make properly and jambed into the window. I would go around on the house and see how tight they really are if you can get them out with out bending them than your guys screwed up. But if you encounter the same problem it not your fault. I always show people how tight thier screens are and if we think we’re going to cause damage. And let them decide. If you ur can find the exact screen farm e you can just replace the bad piece and respling the same material but it has to be the same screen frame from the same smanufactuer or the corners don’t fit. If they have spring tabs on them to help secure them into place you can break them off easily and they will give you an additional 1/16" to 1/8" of space
