Repairing Window Screens in Your Home
Posted on: 10 August 2016
It's nice to be able to open the windows in the house and let the fresh air come in when the weather is pleasant. But if your window screens are full of tiny holes or have pulled away from the frame, you'll let more in than just the fresh air. Keep those insects out of your house by fixing the screens. This is likely a DIY project that you can do with some simple tools and a couple hours of your time. Here is how to fix those damaged screens, let the fresh air in, and keep the bugs out.
What You'll Need to Do This Repair
From home:
- scissors
- flat-blade screwdriver
- knife or razor blade
- rags for cleanup
- a heavy book or brick
From the home-improvement store:
- replacement screen material
- rubber strip (spline) for the screen
- spline tool
You may find these available together as a kit or you can buy them separately.
Doing the Repair
- Remove the window screen and place it on a flat surface, with the side containing the rubber strip facing you.
- Pull the strip out of the channel in the screen, then remove the screen material.
- Clean any debris out of the channel where the screen material and rubber strip sit.
- Place the replacement screen material over the frame, overlapping the edges a couple of inches on each side.
- Push the end of the new rubber strip, or spline, into the channel, forcing the screen material into the channel with it.
- Push a few inches of the spline into the channel.
- Using the spline tool on top of the rubber strip, push while rolling the tool to force the spline into the channel.
- Stop when you get to the corner where the spline tool can't reach into the channel.
- Use your screwdriver to push the remaining rubber strip into the channel around the corner.
- Push the spline into the channel on the next edge.
- When you have two sides of the window screen done, place your book or brick in the middle of the frame on the screen material. This keeps the proper tension on the screen so that as you complete the remaining two edges, the frame won't become deformed.
- Finish pushing the spline into the frame on the other two sides.
- Trim the spine as close as you can to the starting end of the spline and push it into the frame so there is minimal space between the two ends.
- Hold the knife at an angle against the spline and trim away the excess screen material.
- Put the repaired window screen back into place.
When You Might Need Help
There are some situations in which you'll find the help of a window installation and repair company useful. These include the following situations.
- The window screens are permanently secured into the window frame, so they can't be removed.
- The metal frame of the window screen is rusted or broken, so you can't get the spline into the channel with the screen material.
- You need to repair a screen on an upper story and are uncomfortable working up high.
If you can remove a broken or rusted frame, you can take it and the screen to the window company such as Nu-Vue Products for repair. Some companies offer a mobile service with which they will come out to your house to fix your screens. Be safe and only try to do this repair yourself if you feel comfortable with the project.
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