As a pool owner, you might have also invested in a pool screen. However, just like any other structure, the pool screen is subjected to damage. If it happens, it must be fixed to prevent the issue from escalating.
How do you identify the damage? We’ll have the correct answer for that in a while. When it comes to fixing by yourself, it’s possible, but it would look better if done by a professional. Here’s everything you ought to know about pool screen repair, especially identifying an issue and fixing the damage.
Types of Pool Screen Enclosure Damage and Their Causes
Among the areas of your pool that might get damaged is your pool screen. It doesn’t matter what material you used for your screening. The screening is exposed to environmental wear and tear and will require repair and maintenance from time to time by a professional.
Here are the most common types of pool screen enclosure and their causes;
- Sunlight degradation leads to warping and faded paint, mainly caused by direct sunlight.
- Rust is caused by birds landing and resting on your screen roof and also caused by sand and salt from the sea.
- Debris hitting your roof is caused by severe weather like hail, thunderstorms, and hurricanes.
- Holes are made by squirrels, insects, and other animals.
The most common ways your pool screen gets damaged is through abrasion (dirt, sand, debris), the impact caused by high-pressure water, and puncture by dangerous projectiles, nails, or gardening tools.
DIY Steps To Repair A Damaged Pool Screen
If your screen is sagging, you can resolve the structural issue by repairing or replacing the screen. You’ll need these tools:
- New screen and new spline
- Spline roller
- Needle nose plier
- Small screwdriver
- Measuring tape
- A stiff-bristle brush
- A penknife
Step 1: Locate the Damaged Screen Area and Remove it and the Spline
Find the damaged area and use it to remove the screen you are about to replace. Starting from a damaged screen area makes it easier to remove the old one. Before you remove it, you must remove the rubber spline. Use the needle nose plier to pull the rubber spline and pull the screen with your fingers.
Step 2: Check for Leftover Thread
No thread should be left in the spline channel. Therefore, examine, and if you find any pieces of thread, remove them with a nose plier. Now clean the spline channel using a stiff-bristle brush by scrubbing lightly until the spline track is clear.
Step 3: Prep the New Screen and Spline
Measure the pool cage and then cut the needed amount of screen. Make sure the screen is slightly wider and longer than the pool cage. Don’t remove the excesses until later. For the rubber, pull it from corner to corner and cut appropriately.
Step 4: Fit the New Screen
Position the new screen on the pool cage. Get extra pair of hands to add tension as you fix the spline. Insert the spline into the channel, apply firm pressure with the spline roller, and roll it to the opposite side. Do that on all sides.
Step 5: Cut the Excess Screen
There will be an excess screen left. Cut it from top to bottom and sides along the edge of the spline channel, and be cautious about cutting the spline. If done right, then you’ll not have to redo it!
Hiring A Professional For Pool Screen Repair Service
Although you can repair your pool screen, hiring a professional is often advisable. It would save you money, time, and headache. You should hire a professional for your pool screen repair for many reasons. Here are the primary reasons why you should:
- Safety: It could be risky to install large pool screens, especially on the top, without proper ladders and walk boards. A fall could turn out fatal from high above. It would also take you longer to complete the job. Professionals use the right tools and take hours to fix a pool screen.
- Experience: Not having the skills to complete a job would complicate the process. The results could be what you never expected. If you miss a single step, it would mean repeating the whole process. A professional who has done this before would save you the headache.
- Buy special tools: You must have the right tools to repair the pool screen. Tools that you likely don’t have. If you do, you must know how to use them. A professional company invests in the right tools and skills.
Pool Screen Repair Cost
The average cost of repairing a pool screen is anywhere from $0.75 to $1.50 per square foot. A whole pool cage rescreening could cost about $1,500 to $3,500. It also matters on location. We offer some of the most affordable pool repair rates in the U.S.
Fix Your Screen Enclosure Today!
Screen enclosures take a beating from mother nature, and they’ll require repair after every while. The Pool Butler has repaired hundreds of screen enclosures in Georgia. We are a call away from fixing your screen enclosure today.
