How to Measure Windscreen
STEP 1 | Measure Length of All Fences
Measure length of all fences from outside tension bar to tension bar and subtract 2” for a smooth fit. Don’t include end posts in the measurement, as windscreens should only cover the fence mesh. Disregard line posts unless they are on the court side of the fence. Run measuring tape along the ground. Slack occurs if the tape is run along the fence. Measure doors and transoms the same way.
STEP 2 | Measure Height of All Fences
Measure height of all fences from the bottom of the top bar to the top of the bottom rail; taking into consideration that windscreen is generally installed one or more feet from the top and bottom of the fence. Windscreens come in standard heights of 6 and 9 feet high. Custom sizes available.
STEP 3 | Measure Doors and Transoms
Measure doors and transoms the same way as above without subtracting inches.
Pro Tip
Always measure at the site whenever possible rather than from drawings/blueprints.
— Prepare 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.
— For ease of handling, order panels 50‘ - 70’ in length or shorter.
Air vents are recommended on all panels over 6’ high and also in areas with high winds.
Installation
As the owner of Putterman Athletics' windscreen, you have a product that is warranted against defects in material and workmanship if properly installed and maintained. To do this, please note the following:
Windscreen must be as taut to the fence as possible.
Installation hardware must be used in every grommet – top, bottom, sides, and for 9’windscreen, through the center.
TO START
1. Each piece has been tagged with its size as given to us. If you prepared a diagram when you measured your fencing, merely match the sizes of the windscreen to the sizes indicated on your diagram.
2. 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 toward 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 back side.
3. If you have requested vents, there is also a top and bottom. The vents should be at the top. If you have ordered 1/2 & 1/2 (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.
POSI TION:
1. Windscreen should always be hung on the court side portion of fencing when possible.
2. 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.
3. Finally, position 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.
HARDWARE
We recommend 50 lb. plastic tie wraps along the perimeter and, if there is a center grommet strip, polypropylene rope through this strip. Any other form of attachment may potentially lead to damage and risk voiding the warranty (common issues include use of s-hooks, hog rings, or rope along the perimeter instead of through the center). Observe the following policies depending on your windscreen’s height:
For 6’ windscreen, use ties with grommets along the top, bottom, and sides.
For 9’ windscreen, use ties as above and polypropylene rope through the center.
Tie Wraps
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 ten feet 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.