How to Winterize Your Screened Porch

A Minnesota winter is hard on a screened porch. Snow piles up against the screens, wind pushes on the panels, and anything left out gets buried until April. A little prep in the fall keeps your porch ready for spring.

Your fall checklist

1. Clean the screens. Brush or gently rinse off pollen, dust, and cobwebs so grime doesn't sit on the mesh all winter.
2. Check for damage. Look for small tears, loose spline, and gaps. Small problems get bigger under snow load.
3. Clear the floor. Store cushions, rugs, and anything that can hold moisture. Mildew loves a damp corner.
4. Protect furniture. Cover it or move it so snow blowing through the screens doesn't pile on it.
5. Shovel carefully. Don't let snow drift high against the screens, and keep shovels and snow blowers away from the panels.
6. Check the screen door. Tighten the hinges, and make sure the door closer is adjusted so wind won't slam it.

Should you cover the screens?

Some homeowners add clear vinyl panels or weather shades for winter to block snow and wind. It can help, especially on the windy side of the house. Just make sure air can still move so moisture doesn't get trapped.

Spring checkup

When the snow melts, walk the porch and look for tears, sagging, or loose panels before bug season starts. That's the time to get repairs on the schedule, before everyone else calls.

Find holes or loose panels while you're closing up? We do porch screen repair in Hampton, Hastings, Cottage Grove, Woodbury and the rest of the south metro. If the whole porch is worn out, a ScreenEze screened in porch system is worth a look before spring.

Need a repair before winter?

Call or text Twin Cities Screen Solutions at (651) 243-1273. We rescreen porch panels and fix doors across the Twin Cities.

📍 Serving the Twin Cities and the south metro · 🌐 mnscreenrepair.com