Fall Screen Prep: Get It Done Before Storm Windows Go Up

Once the leaves start turning in Minnesota, it's time to think about swapping screens out for storm windows — but before you do, fall is your last real chance to deal with any screen damage before everything goes into storage for the winter.

Fixing a screen in October is a lot easier than trying to do it in January with frozen hands in an unheated garage.

Do One Last Inspection Before Storage

Walk through your screens one more time and check for:

• Tears or holes that developed over the summer
• Sagging mesh or loose spline
• Bent or dented frames from storm damage or heavy use
• Storm door spline issues, especially on Andersen and Larson doors that see a lot of daily use

Anything you catch now is a quick fix. Anything you miss will still be there — probably worse — when you pull screens back out in spring.

Clean Before You Store

Screens that go into storage dirty tend to come out worse than they went in. Grime, pollen, and moisture trapped against the mesh over a long winter can lead to staining or mold.

1. Remove the screen and vacuum both sides
2. Wash with mild soap, warm water, and a soft brush
3. Rinse gently — skip the pressure washer
4. Let screens dry completely before stacking or storing

Repair Now, Not in Spring

If you've been putting off a repair all summer, fall is the time to actually deal with it. Trying to fix a torn screen or a bent frame in the middle of winter — especially if you need custom-sized mesh or spline replacement — is a lot more of a hassle than getting it done now while the weather's still cooperative.

This is also the best time to handle storm door spline repair, since a damaged storm door screen tends to get more use (and more wear) as the weather cools and doors are opened and closed more often for deliveries, kids, and pets.

Set Yourself Up for an Easy Spring

A little effort now saves a lot of hassle later:

• Label screens by window or door if you've got more than a few, so spring reinstall isn't a guessing game
• Fix anything bent, torn, or loose before it goes into storage, not after
• Consider a full re-screen for anything with multiple issues rather than patching your way through another season

Twin Cities Screen Solutions handles screen repair, custom fabrication, and storm door spline repair for Andersen and Larson doors across the Twin Cities metro — before your screens go into hibernation for the winter.

If your screens need attention before storm windows go up, contact us for a free estimate.