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Screen RepairAnother task often overlooked is maintenance on your screens. Over time your screens can tear or become oxidized giving them that silvery look, frames can become worn cracked and bent from being removed incorrectly or simply being exposed to the elements for years, springs can be missing and tabs snap all the time look detracting from the look of your home. People get their windows cleaned and looking amazing by us but then reinstall tired old looking screens. We wash the screens on every window clean that we undertake but if the frame or screen is too flimsy then we simply brush them out which does not always give the best results.
A+ Window Cleaning Services can do simple on-site repairs replacing the Screen mesh rubber seal tabs and springs or we can remove them and build you a complete new screen at our warehouse and give you custom built screens with new frames, rubber seals and mesh. A+ can do full screen replacement, screen repair or screen cleaning. The choice is yours we want to give you options for improving the appearance of your home. Selling your home? A+ window Cleaning includes washing and stacking of your screens either in your garage or wherever you would like them. Realtors usually like us to stack the screens when people sell to make the photos pop and showings look even better. It’s always best to check with your realtor and see what they would like to do which is something we will ask you on the day of service. The main types of screen are either removed from the inside of the home or from the outside. If your screens are removed from the outside of the house they are pretty simple to get in and out. At the top of the screen you have two springs one on either end. The springs fit into a small lip on the underside of the bottom window. Once in the well you simply push up to depress the screen and push the bottom in until it snaps into place. If you have the type of screen that comes out from the inside then these are a little more tricky! You will need to open the window about 2 inches, then if you look at the top of the bottom window you have just lifted you will see a tab on either side. Simply squeeze the tabs inwards and pull the top of the window towards you.. You will now see two clips which hold the screen in place, turn these clips to release the screen and pull towards you and up to remove. To replace just do the reverse, the screen will go in bottom first and sit in a small well. Then push the top of the screen in at the corners and turn the tabs to hold in place. Don’t worry if we are cleaning your windows, we will remove and replace or stack. Getting them in is pretty easy but we will also come out to replace. Use your screens during the spring and fall? Opening your windows to let in the fresh air is great but not if you have holes in your screens letting in the bugs! Call A+ for all your screen repair needs today, one or many no job to big or small. For a free on-site quote or just need some advice go to our contact page and book an appointment. Remember you can get discounts when you combine this with any other service we provide |
Window Screens: What do you have? How to remove them
In North American we have window screens, so we can throw open our windows and enjoy the fresh air. Where we live in central Texas however, we do have screen but never really open our windows as it is either to hot or to cold! Personally, we have removed ours to give a cleaner look to the exterior of our home but if you do use your screens and want to identify what you have and how to remove / install them then this is for you.
So! let us look at what type of screen you have first. There are a few different types of screen and a few different ways on how they are fitted. Let us look at the most common.
If the frame is covering the screen from the exterior these are going to come out from the side. We have found the best way to get these out is Dynamite!! (only kidding slightly) Being careful not to bend the screen push either to the left or to the right (usually right if they have been installed currently) This will then expose the edge of the screen allowing you to get your finger into the gap and pull it towards you slightly then pull out in the opposite direction. If you cannot get your finger in, make sure you have a paint can opener handy the small lip will hook onto the screen giving you leverage to pull towards you.
If the frame is not covering the screen, push upwards with your thumb on the top of the screen, it should feel springy and when pushed expose the bottom of the screen allowing you to get either a finger or paint can opener under the screen allowing you to pull towards you then down to get it out of the well it is sitting in. These are generally the easiest screens to remove and replace. If you are dealing with an upstairs window and do not want to climb on ladders, simply open the window from inside, pull up on the two tabs, push out from the window and then pull down. Please be careful not to overextend! We do not want any accidents!
The last bug screen we will discuss here is perhaps the biggest pain in the ass the one than can be taken out from the inside only. Now! If you have a full screen internally this is not a half screen and will be discussed next. These half screens must be removed internally, step one, if you look at the top of the bottom window you will see two sliding tabs.
(Note no window screens were harmed during the writing of this blog!)
Lastly if you have a full screen on the inside of your window then you will probably have a double hung window. To remove these screens loo to the side and you will see clips around four two on either side, just unlatch then using the two at the bottom pull out towards you and the screen should come away easily.
Remember with A+ window cleaning, we remove, inspect, clean and replace all screens with any window cleaning we undertake. Please feel free to call with any questions. Keep an eye open for our next blog on screen maintenance.
In North American we have window screens, so we can throw open our windows and enjoy the fresh air. Where we live in central Texas however, we do have screen but never really open our windows as it is either to hot or to cold! Personally, we have removed ours to give a cleaner look to the exterior of our home but if you do use your screens and want to identify what you have and how to remove / install them then this is for you.
So! let us look at what type of screen you have first. There are a few different types of screen and a few different ways on how they are fitted. Let us look at the most common.
- Bug Screens these are the most common screens you will see. The bug screen covers the bottom half of a single hung window (window that opens from the bottom up) allowing you to open the window and have the exposed area covered. You can also have a bug screen covering the entire window, these are usually found on double hung windows where the bottom and the top can be opened. These are usually Found on the outside of the window.
- Solar Screens. A solar screen covers the entire window top to bottom. The purpose of a solar screen is to stop the harmful UV rays from the sun from entering the house. This is beneficial in several ways. First it can help to keep your house cooler resulting in lower cooling bills. Secondly it greatly reduces the glare from the sun and lastly it can avoid costly damage to things like TV’s or from bleaching carpets flooring and furniture. Solar screens can come in many different varieties, the fabric is a lot thicker than the bug screens and comes in different strengths. The most common are 70’ 80 and 90. We use 80 when building solar screens but again it is personal preference. Sometime3s we find 90 can be a little dark and leave the room looking cave like, great if you are batman but not all of us are superheroes! These are generally screwed into the window frame to hold them in place. Couple of points to remember, if you are building these yourself or having someone build them for you it is best to go with a one-inch frame for greater strength. A bug screen frame at those sizes can get very flimsy. Also, before mounting and screwing into the frame check your warranty. Drilling into frames will void that warranty so best to check first.
If the frame is covering the screen from the exterior these are going to come out from the side. We have found the best way to get these out is Dynamite!! (only kidding slightly) Being careful not to bend the screen push either to the left or to the right (usually right if they have been installed currently) This will then expose the edge of the screen allowing you to get your finger into the gap and pull it towards you slightly then pull out in the opposite direction. If you cannot get your finger in, make sure you have a paint can opener handy the small lip will hook onto the screen giving you leverage to pull towards you.
If the frame is not covering the screen, push upwards with your thumb on the top of the screen, it should feel springy and when pushed expose the bottom of the screen allowing you to get either a finger or paint can opener under the screen allowing you to pull towards you then down to get it out of the well it is sitting in. These are generally the easiest screens to remove and replace. If you are dealing with an upstairs window and do not want to climb on ladders, simply open the window from inside, pull up on the two tabs, push out from the window and then pull down. Please be careful not to overextend! We do not want any accidents!
The last bug screen we will discuss here is perhaps the biggest pain in the ass the one than can be taken out from the inside only. Now! If you have a full screen internally this is not a half screen and will be discussed next. These half screens must be removed internally, step one, if you look at the top of the bottom window you will see two sliding tabs.
- Step one open the latches so you can lift the window up and pull up about 2 inches.
- Next remember those tabs? Using both hands push the tabs inwards and gently pull the window towards yourself. I usually rest the window on my chest. This will now expose the screen.
- As you look at the top of the screen on either side you will see two clips. Turn these clips to release the screen and gently pull it towards you. Lift the screen out by pulling up towards you push the window back in until it clips into place and is flush with the frame slide down and redo the latches. Sounds simple enough! WOW hold on remember the dynamite? You may need this! Sometimes these screens are fitted way to tight and are incredibly difficult to remove. The screen frames do have some give but it is simple to bend these or snap the tabs if this is your first rodeo! Couple of things you can do here, if the window is accessible from the ground floor have a partner go outside and push on the corners towards you as you are holding the window open, you may have to use a fair amount of force! Secondly the screen may be held in by a side tab, if so slide the screen to one side then get your finger or paint can opener into the gap get one side out then the other. Have a swear jar handy and lots of change! There is a trick to getting these back in as it will I promise you give you the same amount of frustration! Once removed if they survived the blast! You will see some small nobbles on the top bottom and side, get a box cutter and shave these off the tabs will hold the screen firmly in place, but they will go in and come back out a lot easier.
(Note no window screens were harmed during the writing of this blog!)
Lastly if you have a full screen on the inside of your window then you will probably have a double hung window. To remove these screens loo to the side and you will see clips around four two on either side, just unlatch then using the two at the bottom pull out towards you and the screen should come away easily.
Remember with A+ window cleaning, we remove, inspect, clean and replace all screens with any window cleaning we undertake. Please feel free to call with any questions. Keep an eye open for our next blog on screen maintenance.
