Your outdoor living space is likely your family’s favorite gathering spot. And, if the space is enclosed, the kids would probably move in if you let them. Right? We like to spend a lot of time outdoors around here. Now that summer is winding down, it might be a good idea to take a good look around and see if your outdoor screen enclosure could use a little sprucing up.
It just makes sense because keeping the space in tip-top condition will ensure your family will enjoy the space for years to come. We’ve got a few tips to help you take that task in hand.
Keep it clean
Sure, you keep after the kids to clean up after themselves and not leave their stuff all over the place. However, sometimes a deep clean is necessary. Living in Florida, the experts recommend that we hose down nearly everything we own three times a year to clean off the salt accumulating on it.
If we don’t, it greatly reduces the lifespan of what ever it is—short of plastic—that’s been exposed. Of course, dirt and pollen accumulate as well. While those things aren’t as detrimental to the integrity of your outdoor screen enclosure, taking the time to wash it away makes more of a difference in your surroundings than you might think.
It’s easy to do
All you need to do the job is a bucket of sudsy water—dish soap works great, by the way! Hand out some bristle brushes to the kids and watch them go! After scrubbing down the screens—you might remind them that there doesn’t need to be much pressure involved so they don’t come loose—grab the hose and give them a thorough rinse.
If you’ve got a pressure washer, it makes the job go even more quickly. And, while you’ve got it out, it’s a great time to go ahead and power wash the floor. You’ll probably be amazed at how grungy it had become over time. Make sure you have your power washer switched to low power though. You don’t want to blow your screen right out of the frame!
If it’s been a while since you tackled this job and the screens still look dirty, the screen itself is probably stained. An equal mix of vinegar and water should brighten them up. Or, you could try a solution consisting of one part of household bleach to three parts of water. We’d recommend that you take over here if using bleach rather than vinegar though. The kids don’t need to be messing around with that stuff! Rinse the screens off well afterward and let them air dry.
While the kids have the scrub brushes out, have them do a quick once over on any patio furniture, sturdy decor, and whatever else you see that needs to be done! We should put their naturally high energy to good use whenever possible, right?
A quick coat of paint
You may or may not have the kids get involved with this project, but painting your aluminum frames is a fairly quick project that can give your outdoor screen enclosure an entirely new look! It may spur you to create an entirely different type of ambiance altogether.
Time to rescreen?
If well maintained, your screens should hold up for years but things happen—especially if you have children and pets. Take a quick inventory of your screens themselves. Are there any holes that need to be patched? Is a rip in a screen bad enough that the entire screen needs to be replaced? Are there any places where the screen is pulling away from the frame?
Taking the time to fix any of the above is going to keep your space bug free.
Keep it battened down
One area that you might overlook when sprucing up your outdoor screen enclosure is the fasteners. Over time, metal screws, bolts, or anchors rust. They’ll need replacing at some point. When the time comes, make sure new your fasteners will withstand hurricane-force winds.
Ready for action
Spending time with family and friends is what life’s about! Having a space to gather together is paramount to making memories that you will always hold dear. Taking time to spruce up your outdoor living area so that it remains in good condition just makes sense.
In doing so you maintain the integrity of the structure allowing you to continue to reap the benefits it provides.
We mentioned the fact that keeping your screens in good shape keeps bugs and mosquitoes from getting to you and your family. You don’t want to have to go back to fighting them off every time you walk out the door! Enclosures provide some protection from the harmful rays of the sun too. That’s good news for you and for your stuff. It’s not going to fade as quickly.
Lastly, when you maintain the integrity of your screens, you are enhancing the safety feature. Once they discover a hole, kids just can’t seem to keep away from it. A tiny puncture can become a gaping hole in no time! The same goes for pets… however their intention is probably to gain freedom, right? That’s a nightmare to avoid if at all possible!
Ultimately, sprucing up your outdoor living area is going to keep it looking its best. That’s what we want for our families more than anything, yeah?
Oh, and hey, if it’s your year to host the family gathering over the coming holidays, you got a great head start! The year is flying by. They’re going to be here before we know it!