By: Barry Stone
Dear Barry,
This may be your easiest question for the day: During a home inspection, we learned of a torn screen at the patio door. By law, does this have to be fixed? Also by law, does every window and sliding glass door have to have a screen? Finally, can you use a handle guard to cover a rip, rather than replacing the screen? -- John
Dear John,
Here are some easy answers to the easy questions of the day: There is no law requiring repair or replacement of damaged screens on doors and windows, nor is there any requirement that screens even be installed. As part of a real estate transaction, your purchase contract may call for screen repairs, but you'll have to check the wording on this or ask your Realtor. As to installation of a handle guard on a sliding screen door, this is a common and inexpensive way of addressing a small tear in the screen.
In general, however, conditions of this nature should not become the main focus of a home inspection. It is good that your inspector pointed out minor maintenance items for future attention, but conditions involving function and safety are of far greater import when reviewing the findings in a home inspection report. Insistence on the repair of minor routine defects can generate bad feelings in a real estate transaction and has been known to make some deals fall out of escrow.
. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be submitted to our "