Got a call today for screened porch repair…Now I’ve done a fair share of window screens, but am unsure about screened in porches. I am guessing you have to remove some trim boards, but then I wonder if there is a groove for spline or what??? Any ideas here?
Generally there are trim boards that cover the area where the screen is stapled to the frame. The biggest headache is that the boards usually will have some rot or other issues making them brittle. If you break one you need to make a new one and paint it to match then reinstall. Big headache. I’ve done a few and now I tell them to call a carpenter or handyman service.
Well, I’m pretty handy if I do say so myself. In fact, I once thought about starting up a handyman service. So if I get this right…you basically stretch and staple the mesh into place, and recover with the trim boards? No spline involved?
You got it.
easy, peazy, lemon squeazy…
Besides the type of screened porches described above there are also types which are made up screened frames screwed or clipped on in various fashion. There are also newer snap on systems on the market.
Just an example. Screen Tight
Screen porches are just as easy as re-screening a regular screen. Even if it is the kind with the wood trim, the screen may be held in with spline, but many are just stapled in. It’s hardly worth trying to save the wood trim. It is much easier to just replace it. Trim is cheap, and all you need is a simple miter box, and some brad nails. I use an electric staple gun that also holds brad nails. I simply replace the wood trim and screen. It’s up to the customer to have it painted.
This is a perfect example of why we keep Seth around.
Thanks for having me.
The folks around here want it to look finished and expect you to paint it. That’s why I don’t do them anymore.
The folks around here want to look finished too. That’s why they call in a painter when I’m finished.
I’m glad it works that way for you. Doesn’t here so I don’t mess w/ it.
Here is a home we picked up as a window cleaning customer and did an upsell to rescreen the porch. We don’t paint the trim either…
We had to order 10’ wide rolls of mesh for this one
Very nice looking job BUNBLEBEE!
having worked for a large glass shop in my city, no one paints the wood when we are done. they know this going in so they don’t get a big surprise or I don’t have to explain it to them.
if they are willing to pay me to paint them fine. I’ll do it. but if it’s winter time they will need to provide me with a warm garage. since you can’t really paint in the winter months outside.
I’ve actually been hired by handyman services to rescreen a few porches. they provided all the new wood stops and painted them. ever seen copper screen? believe it or not one home owner wanted it. it came out to $100 a window opening. they had 10 openings. I used 1 1/2 50’ rolls at $250 a roll.
