While learning how
to replace a screen on a window or a screen door takes a bit of
practice, the amount of money saved on calling someone out to your
house to do it is more than worth your time. For a few dollars,
do-it-yourselfers can purchase a screen roller, or spline,
which is a rubber, tube-like roll of material that holds screening
into place, and a spline roller. If your screen has
a tear, or holes, or is sagging, it's time to replace the entire
screen. Keeping flies, mosquitoes and other flying objects out of
your house is as important as how the screen looks. It may take
you a few tries to get it right, but you can reuse the spline, and
screening comes in rolls large enough to deal with a mistake or
two, so just take your time learning this new skill, one which will
save you oodles of money and enable you to fix any screen, any where.
Here's how:
Remove the old screen
first. If the screen frame comes out of the window, so much the
better. Pull the old spline out with pliers, or you may be able
to remove it with your fingers.
Measure the size of
the screen frame and trim replacement screening to within about
½ of an inch all around, or at least making sure that the
edge of the screen overlaps the deep grooves within the screen frame.
Trim the corners at a 45º angle.
Note: Beginner's,
practice with a square of screening, but allow yourself 1"
extra all around.
Place the new piece
of screen over the frame, making sure sides are equal.
Starting at one side,
place the spline over the screen, centered over the groove, and
push both screen and spine down into the groove, rolling the spline
away from you. (It's easier to control if you roll away from you
rather than toward you).
In some cases, the
spline may resist tucking firmly into the groove. If desired, carefully
press the spline into the groove with the end of a flat screwdriver,
being extremely careful not to tear the screen.
Continue to the corner,
and then continue on to the next side of the screen, until you reach
your starting point.
Trim off the spline
and excess screening left exposed.
Hint: When you get
more proficient, try folding over the edge of the screen as you
use the spline to seat the screening material into the groove. You'll
find that your screen is much tighter. Go over the spline several
times with the spline roller, insuring a firm seal, pressing down
firmly
the entire time.
