How to maintain your flyscreen windows and doors

 

Flyscreens provide long-lasting protection for your home. Keeping away mosquitoes, flies and other insects while letting in natural airflow and sunlight. 

Whether you live rurally, in the city, or by the sea, regular flyscreen repairs and maintenance are a quick and easy way to keep your screens in top condition all year round. But there’s no need to hire someone else to repair or clean your flyscreen for you. With the right tools and inspiration, maintaining your flyscreen windows and doors is a simple DIY job.  

When does your flyscreen need repairs?

Beyond general wear and tear, there are different types of damage your flyscreen might experience:

• The mesh might become faded, brittle, and prone to rips after being exposed to prolonged sunlight. 
• Pets can damage your flyscreen mesh by walking through it or clawing at the doors. 
• The door or window frames can get rusted or bent, making them harder to close.
• The hinges can also get rusty.
• The screens and spline can become loose, creating a gap for flies to get in. 

If your flyscreen mesh has been damaged, it’ll need to be repaired by replacing the frames or mesh. 

What you’ll need for DIY flyscreen repairs

The first thing you’ll need to do when repairing your flyscreen windows or doors is to measure them. Once you know the size of the screen you’re replacing, you’ll need:

• A new frame.
• Flyscreen clips to keep your flyscreen in place.
• A door hinge and latch.

To replace flyscreen mesh, you’ll need:

• A mesh trimmer to get your screen down to the right size.
• Some spline and a spline roller to attach the mesh to the frame.
• Flyscreen lift tabs to allow for easy removal.

For full instructions, check out our how-to article on replacing flyscreen mesh. 

Maintaining your flyscreen

There are a range of factors that can cause flyscreens to become dirty. A salty sea breeze, dust in rural areas, and pollution in cities all have a role to play. 

Regular maintenance of your flyscreen doesn’t just keep them looking fresh and clean, but it helps your flyscreen last longer and creates a healthy environment for your home.

Avoiding dust and dirt build-up

Over time, dust and dirt can get trapped in the mesh of your flyscreen doors or windows, which can be a health hazard. Clean air won’t be able to get through a dirty flyscreen. There is also the aesthetic – a dusty old flyscreen doesn’t look very good. 

If you are renting out a property, clean flyscreens are vital to make the most of its curbside appeal. Details such as your flyscreen condition can significantly impact a potential tenant’s impression of your property.

Improving air quality

Easy airflow between indoor and outdoor living areas is important for better air quality, particularly for family members who suffer from respiratory conditions such as hay fever or asthma. A cool breeze through a flyscreen can also help regulate your home’s temperature without relying on costly air conditioning.

Keeping them functioning well

A variety of things can happen that impede your flyscreen windows and doors from functioning properly. Tears can appear in the mesh, the frame can bend as you remove it from the door socket, and flyscreens and spline can become loose. Make sure your doors and windows close firmly and continue to keep flies out with regular maintenance and repairs.

Flyscreen repairs are easy with Rolltrak

When you have the right tools for the job, DIY flyscreen repairs are a walk in the park. At Rolltrak, we have everything you need to repair your flyscreens and keep up with maintenance. 

See our full range of flyscreen parts online or visit your local Bunnings Warehouse.