Screened In Porch Care: Simple Tips for Twin Cities Homeowners

A screened in porch is the best seat in the house from May to October. A little care keeps it that way, and it catches small problems before they turn into a bigger repair.

Walk the porch twice a year

Spring and fall are good times to take a close look. Check for small tears, mesh pulling loose at the corners, and spline popping out of the channel. Small holes only get bigger, and in Minnesota that means mosquitoes.

Clean screens gently

A soft brush, a bucket of mild soapy water, and a light rinse with the hose is all screens need. Skip the pressure washer. It can stretch the mesh or blow it right out of the frame.

Keep an eye on the door

The screen door takes more abuse than anything else on a porch. Make sure it closes on its own, the latch catches, and the bottom of the screen isn't getting pushed out by pets or kids.

Plan for pets

If the dog likes to jump on the screens, pet-resistant screen on the lower panels can save you a lot of patching.

Before the snow flies

Brush off leaves and debris, and pull furniture away from the screens so wind and drifting snow don't push it into the mesh.

When it needs more than a patch

If several panels are torn or sagging, it's usually time to have them rescreened. Twin Cities Screen Solutions does porch screen repair in Hampton, Hastings, Cottage Grove, Woodbury, Eagan and across the south metro. Thinking about a new porch instead? See our ScreenEze screened in porch installation. Call or text (651) 243-1273 or request a free estimate.