Screen Repair: How to Set up a Window Screen

Go your window screens in shape for summer with this elementary screen repair project. We'll walk you through it.

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Time

An hr or less

Complexity

Beginner

Cost

Less than $xx

Introduction

Window screens can become punctured or torn, but as long as the frame is in good shape window screen repairs are easy and can exist done in a few minutes. Here's how to brand your screen door or window expect skilful as new.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Brick
  • Screen
  • Spline
  • Wood stop cake

Select Replacement Window Screens Material

The nearly popular window replacement screens cloth is fiberglass, the type we're installing. Its flexibility makes it the easiest to use. If you make a mistake, you can accept information technology out of the frame and endeavour again. Aluminum screen is sturdier, just yous just get one chance. The grooves yous've made with the screen rolling tool are there to stay.

The 3rd blazon of replacement window screens repair material that'southward popular is sun-shading textile. It blocks more sun, which means less load on your air-workout system and less fading of your carpet, draperies and furniture. It's also stronger than fiberglass and aluminum screening, so it's great for pet owners.

All three materials come in grey or blackness to match your other window screens. Yous can also get shiny aluminum every bit well equally dominicus-shading fabrics in bronze and brown tones.

Know the size of your window when you go to the home middle. It will sell pre-measured rolls to fit nearly whatever opening size. If your screen frame is taller than 36 inches, information technology should have a middle support to go along it from bowing in in one case the fabric is in identify. Newer screens normally come with this back up.

If your long screens don't have a back up, you can make one out of aluminum frame stock. It's located near the screening supplies in most stores. The aluminum stock can be cut with a tin snips and trimmed to fit. Keep reading to learn about a common type of screen repair: replacement.

Screens are excellent for problems control. Check out the x almost disgusting house bugs and how to get rid of them hither.

Project step-by-step (6)

Step 1

Screen Repair: Pry Out the Spline

  • Pry out the onetime spline with an awl or a narrow-tipped screwdriver.
  • Throw information technology away — spline gets difficult and brittle as information technology ages and shouldn't be reused.

If you have just a modest tear, yous'll desire to run into our tips on how to patch a torn window screen.

repair window screen spline

Step 2

Secure the Frame

  • Identify wooden blocks forth the within of the ii longest sides of the frame and secure them to the work surface.
  • The blocks go along the frame from bowing inward when you lot install the new window screen repair material.

secure frame screen replace

Step 3

How to Put a Window Screen Back In and Position the New Screen

  • Lay the new screen material over the frame. It should overlap the frame by about 3/4-in. to 1 inch.
  • Cutting each corner at a 45-degree angle merely slightly beyond the spline groove. The cuts keep the screen from bunching in the corners.

If you lot think you need a heavy duty screen, here are tips for installing a heavy duty window screen.

position new window screen repair

Stride 4

Push the New Screen In

  • Begin installing the new spline at a corner.
  • Employ the screen rolling tool to push button the spline and screen material into the groove.
  • Continue around the frame. If wrinkles or bulges appear, remove the spline and re-roll.
  • Small wrinkles should tighten up as you get back to the starting corner.

Push in new screen repair

Pace 5

Trim the Screen

  • Trim backlog screen material using a utility knife with a new sharp bract.
  • A dull bract will pull the material, non cut it.
  • Cut with the bract on elevation of the spline and pointed toward the outside of the frame.

trim window replacement screen

Step 6

Pro Play a joke on for Proper Screen Tension

  • During window screen replacement, if the screen tension is as well loose the screen will sag. But if you lot pull it likewise tight, especially on larger door and window screens, the tension can actually bow in the aluminum sides. Here's a simple way to get it merely right:
    • Later rolling in the screen on the start 2 adjoining sides, identify a brick or like heavy object in the center of the screen to create the proper amount of slack.
    • Then proceed installing the fabric forth the 3rd and fourth sides of the screen frame. Remove the brick.

Learn how to replace a door or window screen in our video tutorial.

proper screen tension

Originally Published: August 17, 2020