Screen Repair: How to Fix a Window Screen

Get your window screens in shape for summer with this simple screen repair projection. We'll walk you through it.

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Fourth dimension

An hr or less

Complication

Beginner

Cost

Less than $20

Introduction

Window screens tin can go punctured or torn, merely as long every bit the frame is in practiced shape window screen repairs are easy and tin can be done in a few minutes. Here's how to make your screen door or window look good every bit new.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Brick
  • Screen
  • Spline
  • Wood finish block

Select Replacement Window Screens Fabric

The nigh popular window replacement screens material is fiberglass, the blazon we're installing. Its flexibility makes it the easiest to utilize. If you brand a mistake, you can take it out of the frame and endeavour again. Aluminum screen is sturdier, simply you only become ane chance. The grooves you've made with the screen rolling tool are there to stay.

The 3rd blazon of replacement window screens repair material that'south pop is sun-shading material. It blocks more than dominicus, which means less load on your air-conditioning organization and less fading of your carpet, draperies and furniture. Information technology'due south besides stronger than fiberglass and aluminum screening, so it's great for pet owners.

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

Know the size of your window when you 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, it should take a center support to keep information technology from bowing in in one case the material is in place. Newer screens usually come with this support.

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

Screens are excellent for bug control. Check out the 10 most disgusting house bugs and how to get rid of them here.

Project step-by-step (half dozen)

Step i

Screen Repair: Pry Out the Spline

  • Pry out the sometime spline with an awl or a narrow-tipped screwdriver.
  • Throw information technology abroad — spline gets hard and brittle equally information technology ages and shouldn't exist reused.

If yous have but a minor tear, yous'll want to see our tips on how to patch a torn window screen.

repair window screen spline

Step two

Secure the Frame

  • Place wooden blocks along the inside of the two longest sides of the frame and secure them to the work surface.
  • The blocks go on the frame from bowing inward when you 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. Information technology should overlap the frame past nigh 3/four-in. to 1 inch.
  • Cutting each corner at a 45-degree angle just slightly beyond the spline groove. The cuts proceed the screen from bunching in the corners.

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

position new window screen repair

Step 4

Push 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 appear, remove the spline and re-scroll.
  • Small wrinkles should tighten up as you get dorsum to the starting corner.

Push in new screen repair

Pace 5

Trim the Screen

  • Trim excess screen fabric using a utility knife with a new abrupt blade.
  • A slow blade will pull the material, not cut information technology.
  • Cutting with the blade on top of the spline and pointed toward the exterior of the frame.

trim window replacement screen

Stride vi

Pro Fob for Proper Screen Tension

  • During window screen replacement, if the screen tension is too loose the screen will sag. Only if you lot pull it too tight, specially on larger door and window screens, the tension can actually bow in the aluminum sides. Hither'south a simple way to get it just right:
    • After rolling in the screen on the starting time two adjoining sides, place a brick or similar heavy object in the center of the screen to create the proper amount of slack.
    • Then continue installing the material along the third and fourth sides of the screen frame. Remove the brick.

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

proper screen tension

Originally Published: August 17, 2020