As the long Portland summer winds down, it is the perfect time to give your window and door screens a little attention before the wet season sets in. A few simple steps this fall will keep your screens in good shape through winter and have them ready to go the moment the weather warms up again. At Mobile Screens Etc., we have helped homeowners across Tigard, Beaverton, and Lake Oswego care for their screens since 1995, and we put together this fall screen maintenance checklist to make it easy.
Why Fall Is the Right Time for Screen Maintenance
Screens take a beating over the summer. Sun, dust, pollen, and the occasional stray baseball all add up. Once fall arrives, most homeowners stop opening windows as often, which makes it the ideal window to inspect, clean, and repair before the rain and cold arrive. Damage that gets ignored in October only gets worse over a wet Oregon winter, so catching it now saves you money and hassle come spring.
Your Fall Screen Maintenance Checklist
Work through these steps one window at a time. Most homeowners can knock out the whole house in an afternoon.
1. Inspect every screen for damage
Look closely at each screen for tears, holes, fraying mesh, and dents in the frame. Small holes let in insects and only grow larger over time. Pay special attention to screens on doors and lower windows, which get the most wear and tear.
2. Check the frames and corners
Press gently on each corner. If the frame flexes or the corners feel loose, the plastic corner keys may be worn out. Bent or bowed aluminum frames will not seal well and can pop out in a windstorm.
3. Clean the mesh and frames
Remove each screen, lay it flat, and wash it with warm water, a drop of mild dish soap, and a soft brush. Rinse thoroughly and let it dry completely before reinstalling. Clean screens let in more light and last longer because trapped dirt and pollen hold moisture against the mesh.
4. Clear the window tracks
While the screens are out, vacuum and wipe down the window and slider tracks. Grit in the tracks is the number one cause of sticking screen doors and windows that will not close tightly.
5. Decide: store or leave in place
Screens can stay in place year-round here in the Willamette Valley, but if you have delicate or specialty screens, storing them flat in a dry garage over winter extends their life. Never stack heavy items on top of stored screens.
Common Problems to Watch For
As you go through your screens, these are the issues we see most often this time of year:
- Torn or stretched mesh that no longer keeps bugs out
- Loose or missing spline, the rubber cord that holds the mesh in the frame
- Bent frames that will not sit flush in the window
- Sliding screen doors that jump the track or drag
- Sun-brittle mesh that crumbles or fades after years of exposure
If you spot any of these, it is usually cheaper to repair than replace, and we can often re-screen an existing frame the same day. Call us at (503) 245-0048 and we will let you know your options.
Should You Repair or Replace?
A good rule of thumb: if the frame is straight and solid, a torn screen just needs new mesh and spline, which is an inexpensive fix. If the frame is bent, corroded, or falling apart at the corners, replacement is the better long-term value. Screens with sun-damaged mesh across the board are usually worth replacing so you are not back at it every season. Not sure which way to go? We are happy to take a look and give you an honest recommendation.
Get Storm Doors and Storm Windows Ready Too
Fall is also the season to think about storm windows and storm doors. If you have them, check that the glass panels slide smoothly, the weatherstripping is intact, and the frames are sealed. Well-maintained storm windows add a real layer of insulation that pays off on cold, wet Portland nights. If yours need attention or you are considering adding them, we can help with that as well.
Let Mobile Screens Etc. Handle It
If your fall checklist turns up more damage than you want to tackle yourself, we make it easy. As a mobile service, we come right to your home in Tigard, Portland, Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Hillsboro, Tualatin, Sherwood, and the surrounding areas, so there is no need to load screens into your car. With more than 25 years of experience, we repair, rebuild, and replace window screens, door screens, storm windows, and storm doors quickly and affordably.
Beat the winter rush and get your screens in shape now. Call Mobile Screens Etc. at (503) 245-0048 or visit our shop at 9448 SW Tigard St, Tigard, OR 97223, open Monday through Thursday, 8am to 5pm. A little fall maintenance today means worry-free screens all winter long.
Recent Comments