Monday, November 17, 2008

Rusted Screen Enclosure Screw Replacement









Most screen enclosures in Florida have been installed using regular ceramic coated steel screws. After a few years under the action of the weather, pool water and chemicals, rain, proximity to salt water, etc. this kind of fasteners begin to rust. Many times the screws that anchor a pool/patio enclosure to the ground are the first ones to rust, living ugly stains and most of the time, snapping and braking or getting loose, compromising the strength and integrity of your cage. This is specially dangerous during hurricane season.

The solution to this problem is a complete screw replacement of your screen enclosure. There are 2 kinds of fasteners that can be used:


  • Regular ceramic coated steel screws

  • 304 series ultra coated stainless steel screws

Regular ceramic coated screws:

These are probably the same kind of screws that have rusted on your pool cage. You can get them in white or bronze to match the colour of your enclosure and are cheaper than stainless. The cons are that they will eventually rust again after a few years. It's a good option if you are not keeping your screen enclosure or house for a long time, or if you are trying to save some money.

304 series stainless steel screws:

These are more expensive than regular steel screws (2 to 4 times), but they will virtually last forever, even outlasting your screened cage. They are a great option if you are concerned about the integrity of your enclosure on the long run, but not much about budget. Just like regular screws you can get them in white or bronze to match your cage, and they are ceramic coated to avoid galvanic reaction and corrosion of the aluminum frame.

If you are planning on replacing the rusted screws on your screen enclosure for new regular or stainless fasteners, and you live in Sarasota or Manatee counties in Florida, give Juan Zorrilla Inc. Screen & Aluminum a call for a free estimate on screw replacement: 941-928-2296.