As the owner of a Putterman Athletics windscreen, you have a product that is warranted against defects on material and workmanship when properly installed and maintained. Putterman’s windscreens provide instant visual appeal as well as improved performance in and around athletics facilities. Having a good understanding of materials, installation and maintenance will provide long-lasting value while avoiding costly mistakes. Here are some tips and tricks to aid in your next windscreen installation.
GET READY…
All Putterman Athletics windscreens come tagged and labeled for your convenience.
Pro-Tip: Our expert sales staff also recommends preparing a diagram when you measure your fencing, that way installation is merely a matter of matching the sizes of the windscreen to the sizes indicated on your diagram.
- It is a best practice never to assume two fences are the same size. Measure every fence panel just to be safe.
- There is a “right” side to your windscreen. The side which shows the folds of the hem should be hung toward the fence so that the smooth side is facing away from the playing area. Certain windscreens are “capped” as opposed to having hems, and in this case, you will want the side with the sewn label on it as your backside.
- If you have requested vents, there is also a top and bottom. The vents should be at the top. If you have ordered ½ and ½ (half-open and half-closed material, 9′ high), then the open material should be on the top. If you have ordered your panel with vents staggered or stacked on top of each other, then you will need to use the points above to determine the front.
GET SET…
Set yourself up for success by first positioning the windscreen on the fencing. To do this, stretch out the windscreen along the base of the fence to make sure the sizes are correct and no gaps between sections will occur.
- Windscreens should always be hung on the courtside portion of fencing when possible, smooth side out (typically the outside of the fence).
- Windscreens should be hung off the ground. Generally, a 9′ windscreen is hung 1′ off the ground on a 10’ (standard) tennis fence. Smaller sizes, such as a 6′, should be hung no more than 2′ off the ground.
Pro-Tip: Choose your failure points. Attaching a windscreen so securely to a fence that cannot break free in a controlled way in high winds is a recipe for disaster. Allowing the windscreen to break free from the top or sides of the fence when needed will allow it to remain secured at ground level, safely out of the strongest winds. We recommend 50lb. plastic tie wraps along the perimeter and, if there is a center grommet strip, polypropylene rope through this strip. Any other form of an attachment may potentially lead to damage and risk voiding the warranty (common issues include the use of s-hooks, hog rings, or rope along the perimeter instead of through the center).
Best Practices by Windscreen Height
- 6′ Windscreen: Use ties with grommets along the top, bottom, and sides.
- 9′ Windscreen: Use ties as above and polypropylene rope through the center.
- Tie Raps: Make sure when securing tie wraps that they lock in such a way that only high wind pressure or cutting will remove them from the fence and that leaving at least a 1″ loop to allow for some give is recommended.
- Rope: Cut your rope in sections approximately 10′ longer than the windscreen section you are installing. Burn the cut ends to fuse the loose strands to simplify its use. To save time, a good suggestion is to knot the rope in the center and lace the windscreen to the fence mesh beginning at mid-screen and working toward each end.
GO…
Finally, begin hanging the screens at the top corner of the fence and top corner grommet and work your way down to the bottom of the fence. Once you have attached each grommet, work your way down the fence line (left to right or right to left) starting at the top and stretching material as you go. Once you reach the end of the section, return, and do the same at the bottom porting of the screen.
Pro-Tip: Stretch material tight with each attachment for a clean, wrinkle-free fit.
For additional information on caring for and installing your screens check out our blogs Maintaining Your Windscreen and Installing Your Windscreen in 8 Easy Steps.
