Screen Repair: How to Set a Window Screen

Get your window screens in shape for summer with this unproblematic screen repair project. Nosotros'll walk y'all through information technology.

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Fourth dimension

An hr or less

Complication

Beginner

Cost

Less than $20

Introduction

Window screens can get punctured or torn, but as long as the frame is in skilful shape window screen repairs are easy and tin can be done in a few minutes. Here'south how to make your screen door or window look skilful as new.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Brick
  • Screen
  • Spline
  • Wood stop cake

Select Replacement Window Screens Material

The near popular window replacement screens material is fiberglass, the type we're installing. Its flexibility makes it the easiest to use. If you lot make a mistake, you tin take it out of the frame and try again. Aluminum screen is sturdier, but you only get one take chances. The grooves y'all've made with the screen rolling tool are at that place to stay.

The third type of replacement window screens repair fabric that'due south popular is sun-shading fabric. It blocks more dominicus, which means less load on your air-conditioning system and less fading of your carpet, draperies and furniture. It's also stronger than fiberglass and aluminum screening, so it's not bad for pet owners.

All three materials come in gray or black to match your other window screens. You can also get shiny aluminum besides every bit sun-shading fabrics in bronze and brown tones.

Know the size of your window when yous go to the home center. It will sell pre-measured rolls to fit nearly any opening size. If your screen frame is taller than 36 inches, information technology should have a eye back up to keep information technology from bowing in one time the material is in place. Newer screens ordinarily come with this support.

If your long screens don't accept a support, y'all can make ane out of aluminum frame stock. It's located nearly 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 splendid for bug control. Check out the 10 nearly disgusting house bugs and how to go rid of them hither.

Project footstep-by-step (6)

Step 1

Screen Repair: Pry Out the Spline

  • Pry out the one-time spline with an awl or a narrow-tipped screwdriver.
  • Throw it away — spline gets hard and brittle as it ages and shouldn't be reused.

If you have just a minor tear, you'll want to meet our tips on how to patch a torn window screen.

repair window screen spline

Stride two

Secure the Frame

  • Place wooden blocks along the inside of the two longest sides of the frame and secure them to the piece of work surface.
  • The blocks proceed the frame from bowing inwards when y'all install the new window screen repair material.

secure frame screen replace

Footstep iii

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

  • Lay the new screen textile over the frame. It should overlap the frame by about three/4-in. to i inch.
  • Cut each corner at a 45-degree angle just slightly beyond the spline groove. The cuts keep the screen from bunching in the corners.

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

position new window screen repair

Step iv

Push button the New Screen In

  • Begin installing the new spline at a corner.
  • Use the screen rolling tool to push the spline and screen material into the groove.
  • Continue around the frame. If wrinkles or bulges announced, remove the spline and re-roll.
  • Small wrinkles should tighten upwardly equally y'all get back to the starting corner.

Push in new screen repair

Stride 5

Trim the Screen

  • Trim excess screen cloth using a utility pocketknife with a new sharp blade.
  • A dull bract volition pull the fabric, not cut it.
  • Cut with the blade on summit of the spline and pointed toward the outside of the frame.

trim window replacement screen

Step 6

Pro Fox for Proper Screen Tension

  • During window screen replacement, if the screen tension is too loose the screen will sag. Only if yous pull it too tight, especially on larger door and window screens, the tension tin can actually bow in the aluminum sides. Hither'southward a simple way to become it only right:
    • After rolling in the screen on the first two bordering sides, identify a brick or similar heavy object in the middle of the screen to create the proper amount of slack.
    • Then continue installing the cloth along the third and quaternary sides of the screen frame. Remove the brick.

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

proper screen tension