The Best Way to Keep Out Pests From Your Home

Designed to be nearly invisible, screen doors aren’t something we think about until we’re right about to accidentally walk through them. Quite possibly the most unsung hero in a home, screens don’t just protect us from pests and the elements but keep our loved ones safe inside as well. Screens prevent pets from wandering out of the house, all while sparing us from having to use the air conditioning every time.

These days, however, pest control is more crucial than it may seem. For instance, while little is still known about the emerging threat of monkeypox, mosquitos have been found to transmit smallpox, which is a similar virus. Before more research can be done on the virology of monkeypox and how exactly its transmission works, taking preventative steps such as a screen door or window can do wonders to mitigate the risk of contagion.

Pest control starts with pet control.

Unless you’re a serial desk eater, the reality is that insects usually only take an interest in an area when there’s food left out for periods of time. Food bowls for pets are a common issue when it comes to potential infestations, and a well-placed screen setup can keep the scent of your animal’s meals under the radar.

A custom-built installation that Screenmobile provides is a Catio, which can be anything from a pet-resistant screen enclosure for your new or existing porch to a separate structure intended just for your cat or dog to get a taste of the outdoors. With versatile screen materials to choose from, such as fiberglass or vinyl, We can even provide an arched tunnel leading out to an external pet enclosure in the backyard. 

Screenmobile uses an innovative system known as Screeneze, which avoids the use of splines or rubber liners to attach a screen to its frame. This is a feature that can make all the difference when it comes to cat owners, who know all too well how long those rubber strips will last once a cat notices them.

While flaps are the most convenient type of doorway for pets, they leave a home open to predators and are really not the best way to keep smaller pests out of your house, either. Screenmobile offers specialized pet doors designed to align with any door application. 

For outdoor cats that absolutely insist on living the nightlife, installing a simple screen around the legs of a balcony or wooden roof lattice (on a veranda) would allow them a last-minute opportunity to escape a coyote or other predator. 

However, while monkeypox may not be an issue with pets, please keep in mind that other diseases, including COVID, are known to be transmittable amongst animals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), making a screen enclosure an apt precaution for your pet’s health and safety (even if it’s not six feet away from the house).

If a pet’s food debris being stuck to the screen itself is attracting insects, it’s worth exploring a more easily cleanable material or screen size. 

Screening your Garden

Sometimes, the best way to keep pests out of the house lies just outside of it. Wrapping a screen enclosure around one’s garden area can prevent pests from frequenting plants and then into the house. 

While produce and pet food is arguably the most common issue when keeping a home pest free, another one of the major problem areas is a home’s temperature itself.

When it comes to screens, the sky’s the limit for us

A common food source for pests is mold, which flourishes in dark, hot and humid environments. Places with high humidity, like bathrooms, usually benefit the most from the addition of a screen in lieu of a window (for bathroom walls inside of a home). 

One of the more unorthodox, although effective, ways of venting heat and moisture from a room is via the use of skylight screens. Reducing the buildup of mold will do wonders to prevent ants from ravaging both your home and mental health. If you feel ready to explore your options with Screenmobile or would just like to learn more, feel free to set up a free consultation.

You want to install your screens, walk away, and never need to think of them again like everyone else and every other home improvement upgrade. Screens are essential and valuable but quickly forgotten. 

So much so that they deteriorate before your eyes. Before you know it, you’re wondering how this gaping hole formed. Bugs are flying in like your home is their personal playground, dust is swirling about your clean rooms, and the dog keeps making it worse with his curious muzzle. 

We’ve repaired many a damaged window screen, meeting many a bewildered homeowner confused about how their screens fell into such a dismal condition. 

You don’t want that to happen. Old window screens look shabby and diminish your curbside appeal, including losing their primary function. 

Keep reading to learn about our top signs, the causes, and how to remedy this problem. 

Top Signs You Need To Replace Old Window Screens

There are a few factors to take into consideration when deliberating whether to replace your old window screens or not. Age is one of those. If you have no added factors, change your screens every 8 to 10 years.

Damaged window screens lose their power to protect you. Solar screens can no longer block harmful UV rays, and your cat can expertly escape through a hole in her catio. 

Here are the common signs that your window screens need replacing:

Old Window Screens

Just like a good wine, window screens age, but unlike wine, they don’t improve. Window screens can live a good life of up to 10 years. But that is 10 years of blocking the sun, debris, and bugs trying to make their way into your home.  If you can’t find your receipt, then inspect your screens. 

Faded fabric/material

If your mesh is faded, then it’s old. The constant exposure to the elements tires the fabric. If you had installed your screens recently and are concerned about the quick fading, then either you paid for cheap material, or this particular window receives the most sun, and you need a better window screen material.

Ripped, torn screen

You can try to sew up a ripped or torn screen or place duct tape along the laceration, but the screen will not be functioning at 100%. It can also look quite ugly.

How did your screen rip? Do you have pets up at that level scratching to get out? Did something get caught on your screen without realizing it? 

Holes 

Holes can appear with old age, fading, tearing, debris flying at your windows, birds crashing into them, smoke, fire, and forgotten rips. The thing with holes is, once they’re there, they only get bigger.

Placing a patch on a hole in your window screen is only a temporary solution. You don’t want it becoming more significant to the point your screens don’t work anymore!

Loss of structural integrity

Areas prone to earthquakes and tremors often need to replace window screens frequently. The violent shifting of the plates can pop your screens out of their frames, losing their structural integrity. 

If you don’t replace it, it will fall out entirely, leaving you screenless and unprotected. 

Warping

Extreme weather conditions (an increasingly more common occurrence) can bend and twist your screens. You might be able to pop them back in again, but it’s not permanent, and fidgeting with a warped screen can cause further damage to your window frame. 

Melting

It should be no surprise that window screens sitting in extreme heat day in and day out start to melt. Solar screens are more resistant, but if you notice your screen melting, it’s time to replace it! 

Brittle

On the other hand, freezing weather can make your screen brittle, speeding up its lifespan. It doesn’t mean your screen is bad quality, just that you’ll need to replace it more often. 

How to find replacement window screens

Screens aren’t difficult to source. You can find them in any local home improvement store. However, their dimensions are generic, and you might not find a size that fits comfortably in your window frame. 

Stretching your screen to cover your window will weaken the fabric, making it more liable to rip and tear. 

Fortunately, at Screenmobile, we build your screens to fit your windows. You contact us with your need, and we come out, measure your window, and prepare and install your screens right there on the back of our van. Replacing your old window screens has never been easier.

To recap

Go around your house to check all your screens yearly, just before winter kicks in. 

Check for

• Fraying
• Tearing
• Warping
• Loosening
• Weakening

If you’re not confident that your screens will make it through, call a Screenmobile technician – you’ll have your window screens replaced in a matter of weeks.

Summer’s getting hotter, with 2021 being the hottest in 126 years. So we need to develop ways in homes to keep cool without breaking the bank with AC bills.

Porches are an extension of your home. You can enjoy being outdoors without losing any of your homely comforts. However, your porch sometimes feels like the air hasn’t moved since 1956. Porches can be hot, stuffy, and full of insets. A place for your delivery packages to hang out until you come home and for your pet to longingly gaze at from indoors. 

It’s time to welcome back your porch as a functioning part of your home. Keep your patio cool during these hot summer months to relax and enjoy.

Read our great porch-cooling tips and get your patio ready for summer.

How to keep your porch cool in summer

You would hope being outside on your porch would be a clever way to cool down. However, a lot of us are used to the AC now, and let’s not forget the significant (and worrying) rise in temperature. A regular porch might not be able to cut it.

But don’t worry. We have some reliable ways to ensure you and your loved ones remain cool and refreshed while perched on your porch this summer. 

• Fans (ceiling & electric)
• Screens (solar, retractable, regular)
• Misting system
• Shades (retractable awnings, umbrellas)
• Furniture
• Plants
• Light Colors & Patterns

Porch Fans

This might seem like an obvious addition, but many people don’t think a fan fits into the aesthetic of a porch. However, you can choose between a stand-alone electric fan or a ceiling fan. Either way, they are great for loosening stagnant and hot air. Ceiling fans are a bit more expensive, but they fit the outdoor environment and don’t take up any floor space. Invest in one with a light, and you’ve hit two birds with one stone–relaxing on the porch has just extended to evening hours. 

Unfortunately, porch fans won’t prevent bugs from flying in or reduce harmful UV rays. So we suggest using a fan in conjunction with an exterior shade or sun control awning. 

Porch Screens 

At Screenmobile, we are screen experts. We build and install screens to fit any dimension, so yes, your porch or patio can be screened. Enclosing your porch with screens has a massive list of benefits like pest control, added shade, and improved privacy that will leave you happier and restful. 

Here are some great screened porch options:

Solar screens if your porch is in direct sunlight between 11 am and 5 pm. Their primary benefit is blocking harmful UV rays. 

Retractable screens roll into their protective shell when not in use so that you can air out your porch at night. 

Regular screens are a perfect option too. Air can still travel through the material with a bit of wind, and bugs and dust can’t get in. A screened-in porch can change how you enjoy your home!

Misting System

There’s a reason fairs, theme parks, and other public areas provide misting systems. So why not bring those periodic sprays of refreshing mists directed at you while you serenely rock on your porch. 

Misting systems are not that expensive and are easy to install. However, look at your local weather warnings to see if water use is restricted. 

Exterior Shades

Shades can be a beautiful addition to your porch, whether you get a retractable awning, sunbrella, or any other type of solar shade. 

The main benefit of choosing a shade over a screen is your view. Some screens are darker to prevent UV rays, with a tighter mesh to prevent bugs. Unfortunately, this can darken the room, so be prepared for that. 

Furniture

Surprisingly, changing your porch furniture helps reduce the heat felt. For example, wicker chairs allow the air to circulate through them. As a result, you don’t get sweaty or sticky, and the material doesn’t heat up.

Plants

Plants are a wonderfully green way to cool down your patio. As they grow, they become a natural barrier between your porch and everywhere else, boosting your privacy and curbside appeal!

Color pattern

Choose lighter colors to reflect the heat from the sun. For example, painting your porch white has many advantages over a dark tone. Your color pattern is essential in cooling your porch, so keep it in mind!

Screened-in porch

We’ve already touched on screened-in porches, and to be fair, they are excellent for adding another room to your home at a reduction of the cost. So don’t forget about your porch in any DIY project.

Depending on the size of your porch, you can easily turn it into a sunroom, a three-season room, or a catio! It’s an extra living space attached to your home where you can escape the TV and daily living sounds.  

Make your summer a cool one!

Your porch doesn’t need to be a hotbed of bugs and dust. Neither should it be restricted because the sun is dangerously hot. Your porch is an extension of your home, and you should enjoy it as much. 

Install some screens, a fan or two, an awning, and why not a misting system? In addition, you will save money by not depending on your AC indoors, which is much cheaper than building a new room in your home. 

If you’re interested in screening your porch to make it cooler, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local Screenmobile. We are more than happy to help you choose the best for your porch and build and install custom or generic screens and shades.