Is this a rumor??

[NativeGirlShaun]

We are in West Palm Beach. Just had a pool built with a screened in enclosure, oh, about 3 weeks ago it was completed.

We are being told by neighbors to cut an "X" in each screen panel to let the wind go through so the winds don't take the entire enclosure away.

Any truth to this? I dont' know if I can bring myself to cut my brand new screens!

Please? Anyone? What should we do?

Thanks so much for your help, this forum is invaluable.

[Raider Power]

people give about tornadoes, i.e. open all your windows so your house does not blow apart due to the pressure difference. Seems to me with wind speed we are speaking of that cutting an X in panels would make little difference.

[Brent]

I have not heard that. It doesn't make a lot of sense, frankly(I understand what you are saying, I'm saying the plan doesn't).

[schmita]

We had a pool w/enclosure and I never heard of that. Not all the panels get damaged and the only time it came down was a tornado.
Why don't you call the company that installed it and ask them before slashing your screens unneccesarily.
Good Luck,
My sister is in Wellington........
Irina

[AlexiBlue]

Don't worry about your pool. Forget your pool. Forget your screens. Just get the hell out of there as soon as you are told to. Period. If you want to protect something in your house, board up your windows and sandbag your doors.

Mostly though, just leave. As soon as possible. This is no time to waste on trying to save 'things'. This is a major, killer storm.

[GalvestonDuck]

If the screens come out, remove them and put them inside the house or in the pool (lawn furniture goes in the pool also -- it's more secure from the wind). If not, and they are secure as ONE unit, I'd say leave them as they are. At least, that's what I'd do.

Anybody else?

[alicia-w]

I think I would ask the folks who built it for you. I did find in a hurricane prep sheet that you should removed a 6 foot panel from patio screens, but I dont think that applies to your pool enclosure. Yikes, I dont know what I would do...

[vbhoutex]

If the screens come out, remove them and put them inside the house or in the pool (lawn furniture goes in the pool also -- it's more secure from the wind). If not, and they are secure as ONE unit, I'd say leave them as they are. At least, that's what I'd do.

Anybody else?

My exasct thoughts too Duckie!! Good advice!! Also like others said call the company, if they are even open today.

[janswizard]

Last night on the news I heard to NEVER place items in the pool - so I wonder what the correct thing to do would be?

[TampaBay]

We are being told by neighbors to cut an "X" in each screen panel to let the wind go through so the winds don't take the entire enclosure away

Dumb idea. Don't do it. The screen attachments are generally designed to let go of their own accord at somewhere around 60 mph.

[Lowpressure]

145 mph winds hit and you will be worried about more than the screens. I am not being rude, just factual. Worry about your home and your family- get out if told to do so. Debris will trash your screens if not the entire enclosure at 145. If they can be removed that is good advice from the previous poster. Clear out your patio furniture and grill if out there as well.

[NativeGirlShaun]

Well I just called the screen company and they said to try and grab the little black spline (the rubber) and pull on it to let the screens come undone and vent.

They agree - if I can't get the spline, to cut 2 or 3 panels on each side of the screen enclosure.

This is wild isn't it?

They said these screens are made to withstand 120 - 140 mph winds but this particular storm has wind gusts of more than that so they DO recommend removing/venting OR cutting the screens. They said its only about 80 cents per sq ft to replace screens. Compaired to the $8000 - $10,000 to replace the entire enclosure.

So there you have it.

We were also told to NOT put patio furniture in the pool. Take it indoors.

good luck to everyone.

[dhweather]

We are in West Palm Beach. Just had a pool built with a screened in enclosure, oh, about 3 weeks ago it was completed.

We are being told by neighbors to cut an "X" in each screen panel to let the wind go through so the winds don't take the entire enclosure away.

Any truth to this? I dont' know if I can bring myself to cut my brand new screens!

Please? Anyone? What should we do?

Thanks so much for your help, this forum is invaluable.

If 125MPH winds hit, it's really not going to matter.

[janswizard]

http://www.tricitypoolservice.com/tc-strm1.html

[GalvestonDuck]

Okay, throwing items into the pool might damage them, stain them, and they may not last. But they won't be missiles anymore.

[SwampDawg]

I actually cleaned pools when i was in college in 1992 when Andrew hit Louisiana. Throw the furniture in the pool....trust me, that's where it's going to end up anyway.

[KBBOCA]

yes, I heard to vent screens. As for putting stuff in your pool, ok if plastic. Just found info on the Sun-Sentinel website.


http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/weathe ... prep.story

[isobar]

people give about tornadoes, i.e. open all your windows so your house does not blow apart due to the pressure difference.

Re: hurricanes or tornadoes, I remember reading that opening the windows increases the likelihood of roof failure as winds are being allowed to get in and help give it "lift". I don't think the pressure difference affects something large scale like a house as much as small scale like your ears.

[WxGator]

Talked about this some here in Fort Myers after Charley. Some saying the same thing, and their reasoning is that in high winds the screens still catch a lot of the wind and that all of the pressure can cause the aluminum posts/structure to buckle/collapse/break-away. Suggestion was just as you heard, to cut small lines or to pull screen/black rubber away, in small areas, from the aluminum.

No idea if true - but this concept made the circuit around here. Anecdotally - our enclosure is less than two years old and we lost no screen panels or aluminum. My immediate neighbor lost every screen panel but one or two (enclosure about 10 years old), and a few houses away lost the entire enclosure/structure, as it just collapsed and buckled (not sure of age).

As some have suggested, if you are in the direct line of the top winds, none of this will likely matter. If you are at the edge, perhaps it does???

Good luck everyone and be safe.

[wayoutfront]

I am an insurance adjuster...if you cut them, there is no peril that damaged screens, and wouldn't be covered by your insurance policy