Screen Guide / November 14, 2026

Is That Dew or a Leak on Your Lanai Screen?

Use timing, location and drip patterns to distinguish morning dew on a screened lanai from irrigation spray, roof runoff or a drainage problem.

If fine beads appear across several lanai panels on a rainless morning and disappear as the space warms, dew is a plausible explanation. If water repeatedly drips from one corner or follows the same path down the wall, check for a more localized source. Replacing screen will not stop condensation, repair a roof joint or redirect irrigation.

Watch when the moisture appears

The National Weather Service explains how overnight cooling can lead to condensation, particularly on clear nights. A useful distinction is whether the screen is already wet when you first go outside or only gets wet after a sprinkler runs or rain starts. Compare the screen with other exposed surfaces, such as a railing or patio chair. Matching beads on several different surfaces support the dew explanation without proving it.

Trace the pattern without climbing

Notice where the water begins and where it lands. Fine droplets spread across the fabric differ from a stream that starts above the screen and ends at the same spot on the deck. A fan-shaped splash low on one wall may line up with a sprinkler. A track that wets only during wind-driven rain could have a different source from one that wets on a still, dry morning. Observe from a dry spot on the ground. Do not climb on the enclosure to trace a drip.

Compare three mornings before buying mesh

Pick a dry morning, one when irrigation normally runs, and the next time you can safely observe the lanai after rain. Record the time, which surfaces were wet and whether the wet area dried evenly. Photograph the same opening from the same angle each time. If the deck stays wet long after the mesh dries, record that separately; follow the water toward its origin rather than assuming the fabric is the source.

Choose the right repair for the symptom

Consider screen repair if the affected panel is torn, slack, or pulling out at an edge. If it is intact and the only concern is morning droplets, watch the pattern before choosing a different fabric. If the same upper joint drips repeatedly, have the relevant roof, gutter or drainage component assessed. Do not ask a mesh installer to seal a track blindly: an opening may be intended to let water out, and its function depends on the system.

What to put in your estimate request

For a Palm Valley lanai near the Intracoastal, compare the open side with the sheltered house-side corner rather than assuming that proximity to water explains every wet patch. In an estimate request, identify the problem opening, the weather and irrigation timing, the first visible drip point, and any actual mesh damage. A sound panel with a recurring drip calls for a different conversation than a loose panel that also happens to collect dew.