Screen Repair
By: Amanda Campbell
Updated: August 30, 2010
Replacing or repairing a screen on a window or door is a really quick and simple do it yourself project.
Before you get started, here’s what you’ll need to get the job done:
* Replacement fiberglass or metal screening available at most hardware or home centers
* Utility knife
* Screen roller (small tool that looks like a pizza cutter)
* Spline (rubber tubing that holds screen in place around the frame)
* Super glue (if you’re just patching a small tear or hole)
TO REPLACE AN ENTIRE SCREEN
STEP 1
With a utility knife, use the tip of the blade to lift up one corner of the spline (the rubber tubing that holds the screen inside the frame). Pull the spline out all the way around the screen frame and remove the old screen.
STEP 2
Take your replacement screening, which comes in rolls, and lay it out over your screen frame. Use the utility knife to cut the screen into a rough fit, leaving about 2" - 3" of excess screen overhanging the frame.
STEP 3
Now take the spline (you can either use the old spline or install new spline) and reinstall it. Put one end of the spline into one corner of the frame (there’s a channel in the screen for the spline) and simply use the screen roller to mash the spline into the channel. As you go around the screen, the spline will actually tighten the screen (much like a skin over a drum) for a nice fit.
STEP 4
When you’re finished putting spline in around the frame, take your utility knife and cut away any of the excess screen.
PATCHING A SCREEN
To repair a fiberglass screen, take a utility knife and cut out a square patch of the damaged screen just slightly larger than the tear or hole. Use this cut out patch as a template, and put it on your replacement screen material. Again, use the knife to cut around the “pattern’ of the damaged screen to get your replacement.
Once you’ve cut that out, put the patch over the hole and use glue to hold it in place. Just use a fine bead of airplane glue to hold the new patch in place.
For making a patch on an aluminum screen, basically repeat the above steps. However, once you’ve cut out your aluminum patch, take one thread off all four sides. This will give you several threads on each side of the patch. Take the aluminum patch and place it over the hole you’ve cut out. Then take the threads and bend them, stick them through the aluminum screening and bend all the threads down flat against the screen. This will hold your aluminum patch in place.
"Bug Off Instant Screen."
“Bug Off” features hands free entry and exits with a magnetic auto-close feature. It installs without tools and will not harm door frames. It’s completely portable and can be moved from door to door with no problem. It’s great for parties or BBQ’s when there is a high traffic count going in and out of the house. And it gives year round insect protection.
“Bug Off” is available in 36" (standard front door) and 30" (standard back door) sizes.
It’s easy to install. Just insert the tension rod into the channel at the top of the screen. Then install the tension rod at the top of the doorjamb. Attach the adhesive Velcro strips (which are sewn onto the screen) to bottom sides of the doorjamb. That’s all there is to it.
When you walk through the screen, hands free, the magnets pull the screen back together for a nice seal that will continue to keep bugs out but lets you come and go quickly and easily.
Before you get started, here’s what you’ll need to get the job done:
* Replacement fiberglass or metal screening available at most hardware or home centers
* Utility knife
* Screen roller (small tool that looks like a pizza cutter)
* Spline (rubber tubing that holds screen in place around the frame)
* Super glue (if you’re just patching a small tear or hole)
TO REPLACE AN ENTIRE SCREEN
STEP 1
With a utility knife, use the tip of the blade to lift up one corner of the spline (the rubber tubing that holds the screen inside the frame). Pull the spline out all the way around the screen frame and remove the old screen.
STEP 2
Take your replacement screening, which comes in rolls, and lay it out over your screen frame. Use the utility knife to cut the screen into a rough fit, leaving about 2" - 3" of excess screen overhanging the frame.
STEP 3
Now take the spline (you can either use the old spline or install new spline) and reinstall it. Put one end of the spline into one corner of the frame (there’s a channel in the screen for the spline) and simply use the screen roller to mash the spline into the channel. As you go around the screen, the spline will actually tighten the screen (much like a skin over a drum) for a nice fit.
STEP 4
When you’re finished putting spline in around the frame, take your utility knife and cut away any of the excess screen.
PATCHING A SCREEN
To repair a fiberglass screen, take a utility knife and cut out a square patch of the damaged screen just slightly larger than the tear or hole. Use this cut out patch as a template, and put it on your replacement screen material. Again, use the knife to cut around the “pattern’ of the damaged screen to get your replacement.
Once you’ve cut that out, put the patch over the hole and use glue to hold it in place. Just use a fine bead of airplane glue to hold the new patch in place.
For making a patch on an aluminum screen, basically repeat the above steps. However, once you’ve cut out your aluminum patch, take one thread off all four sides. This will give you several threads on each side of the patch. Take the aluminum patch and place it over the hole you’ve cut out. Then take the threads and bend them, stick them through the aluminum screening and bend all the threads down flat against the screen. This will hold your aluminum patch in place.
"Bug Off Instant Screen."
“Bug Off” features hands free entry and exits with a magnetic auto-close feature. It installs without tools and will not harm door frames. It’s completely portable and can be moved from door to door with no problem. It’s great for parties or BBQ’s when there is a high traffic count going in and out of the house. And it gives year round insect protection.
“Bug Off” is available in 36" (standard front door) and 30" (standard back door) sizes.
It’s easy to install. Just insert the tension rod into the channel at the top of the screen. Then install the tension rod at the top of the doorjamb. Attach the adhesive Velcro strips (which are sewn onto the screen) to bottom sides of the doorjamb. That’s all there is to it.
When you walk through the screen, hands free, the magnets pull the screen back together for a nice seal that will continue to keep bugs out but lets you come and go quickly and easily.
