How To Install Window Screen Mesh

Replace a window screen and save $$$ It's easy to do yourself! All you demand is a gyre of window screen, spline, a spline roller tool, and this simple tutorial.

How to Supersede a Window Screen?

I'm betting you're hither because you take a damaged window screen, door screen, porch screen or patio screen that you demand to repair. Well, you lot came to the right place because I'm going to show you step by step how to supervene upon a window screen!

This tutorial contains chapter links to supplies and tools. Purchases made using these links help support the Saws on Skates website and allows me to share more projects and tips with y'all. There is no toll to you lot for using these links. Visit my site policies for more information.

Earlier we get into how to supervene upon a window screen, be sure to click the subscribe push at the lesser of this page to sign up for my FREE weekly newsletter loaded with helpful pocket hole tricks, space-saving workshop ideas, clever DIY tips and more!

DIY Window Screen Frame

I recently had to brand some repairs to a window at my house. The repairs changed the size of the window opening, which meant the old wood window screen would no longer fit, so I had to build a new window frame.

In other words, for this tutorial, I'm not technically replacing an old screen. Instead, I'm installing a new screen in a new woods frame.

The adept news is the process I'thou sharing with yous is exactly the same as replacing an old screen in a wood frame or a metallic frame. The only difference is I don't have an old screen that needs to be removed first.

Please skate over to How to Build a Wood Window Screen Frame if you need to build a new frame for your dwelling.

Installing a window screen frame into a window opening

When Should You Replace a Screen?

As I mentioned, I'k installing window screen mesh in a new window frame for this tutorial. But I have replaced other window screens in my home.

The most mutual reason to supercede a window screen is when it becomes torn or develops a pigsty. Screen repair tape is bachelor to fix small-scale holes.

Another reason yous may want to replace a screen is when the mesh becomes stretched. I've noticed the fiberglass screens on the due south-facing side of my domicile tend to stretch the near.

My guess is the heat from the sun causes the fiberglass fabric to aggrandize. Over fourth dimension the screen seems to lose its elasticity and starts looking droopy.

The dominicus can also fade the black fiberglass material. The stretching and fading appear to weaken the material. Then it'south only a matter of time earlier the screen rips or tears.

How Often Should You lot Supplant a Window Screen?

In my opinion, replacing a window screen is more near the need to supercede information technology than how often it should be replaced. In other words, a damaged screen is an open invitation for insects and bees to enter your home.

In this case, you need to replace the screen (or patch it with screen repair tape) to prevent insects from entering your house.

Nonetheless, if you want to be proactive, y'all can supercede a window screen when it becomes stretched or faded. Replacing the screen tin can help to improve curb appeal and freshen up the await of your windows.

Types of Window Screen

The mesh or cloth is one of the beginning things you'll want to consider when replacing a window screen. The mesh is what covers your window and keeps the bugs out.

Material comes in rolls of various widths and lengths based on the size of the window or door you want to encompass. There are as well a variety of mesh materials, including aluminum, fiberglass, and polyester.

Aluminum Screen

Aluminum screen is a versatile selection that works for well-nigh screen projects. The advantage of aluminum is information technology's sturdy, resistant to sagging, and less noticeable than other screen materials. Aluminum screens are available in a shiny metal color or charcoal.

While an aluminum screen is more than durable, the drawback is that it can pucker. And once it'due south creased, it's there forever.

Fiberglass Screen

Fiberglass screen doesn't crease like aluminum, and it's easier to install, but I've noticed that it tin can sag, become weak, and easily rip equally it ages. Fiberglass screening is bachelor in gray and charcoal colors.

Fiberglass mesh varieties include a screen that'due south virtually invisible and others that preclude tiny insects from squeezing through the holes.

Pet Screen

Consider using a pet screening if you're a pet parent. Pet-resistant screens are designed to withstand the weight and claws of animals. I used a pet screen on the screen door that I fabricated for my friend Linda considering her cats like to climb.

Window Screen Spline

Once you decide what blazon of screen to utilise, you'll need a way to adhere the material to the frame. For that, you lot'll utilise a window screen spline. The round condom spline fits into a groove in the frame and locks the screen in identify.

Spline is available in a diversity of sizes like .125″, .140″, .160″ and more. You need to measure your old spline, so y'all become the right size. Or you can take a slice of it to a hardware store or domicile improvement store and lucifer information technology upward to the new spline.

For this tutorial, I'm using .125" spline in my wood window screen frame.

What Tools are Needed to Replace a Window Screen?

Screwdriver
Scissors
Screen Roller
Utility Knife

Spline Roller Tool

A screen roller, too chosen a spline roller, is a simple tool with a bicycle on each end. The tool rolls along the spline and pushes information technology into the groove.

Window Screen Replacement Kit

You tin purchase window screen mesh, spline, and a spline roller tool separately, or you can purchase all of them together in a window screen replacement kit.

A window screen kit is a good place to showtime if you lot've never replaced a window screen earlier. You'll need to exist sure the kit contains a screen that fits your window opening and the right size of spline for your window frame.

Where to Buy Window Screens?

Store-bought adaptable window screens are available if you don't have the time to rescreen your windows. Here's a popular expandable window screen you tin can buy online and have sent to your domicile.

Steps to Rescreen a Window

Remove the quondam screen cloth
Curlicue out the new screen on the window frame
Clamp the screen to the frame
Offset the spline in the groove with a flathead screwdriver
Utilise a spline roller tool to push the spline in the groove
Cut the spline when you achieve the concluding corner
Remove the excess textile with a precipitous utility pocketknife

Step ane. Remove the Sometime Screen

Use a flathead screwdriver to carefully pry the old spline out of the groove and remove the old screen.

Step two. Curl Out the New Window Screen

Roll out the new screen textile on the window frame. The screen needs to be larger than the opening. You lot need the screen to extend past the opening on each side at least a few inches. Use scissors to cut the screen to length.

Don't worry if the screen extends beyond the opening more than than a few inches on each side. Yous'll trim the excess later on.

Rolling out window screen to rescreen a window

Step 3. Clamp the Screen

When you lot're done replacing the screen, you'll want information technology to be tight and free of wrinkles. It'south a good idea to clamp the screen to the frame gently to ensure that the mesh remains tight while installing the screen.

I placed the frame on my workbench and used my Kreg Workbench Clamps to hold the screen in place. You could besides use spring clamps like these to hold the mesh to the frame.

Clamping window screen mesh to a window frame

Step iv. Start the Spline

Identify the end of the spline in a corner and utilize a flat head screwdriver to button information technology into the groove.

Inserting window screen spline into a groove

Footstep five. Roll the Spline

Gently stretch the spline in ane mitt and use downwards pressure with the screen rolling tool (rolling information technology back and forth) to push the spline into the groove. Cease when you lot reach the corner.

📝 Note: You may take to temporarily remove or reposition the clamps to continue pushing the spline into the groove.

Using a screen roller tool to push spline into a window screen groove

Step 6. Turn the Corner

Push button the spline into the groove on the adjacent side with a flathead screwdriver. Continue forth the remaining sides and corners of the screen using the instructions described in Step 5.

Using a screwdriver to push spline into the corner of a window screen

Step 7. Cut the Spline

Cut the excess spline with a utility knife when you reach the terminal corner.

Cutting the excess spline when replacing a window screen

Step viii. Remove the Backlog Screen

Place the utility knife blade between the intersection of the spline and the groove and use the knife to remove the backlog material.

Final Thoughts

That'south all there is to it. Now y'all can replace a window screen, door screen, porch screen or patio screen!

Thank you for stopping by. If you found this information helpful, would yous please pin it to Pinterest? Other DIYers would appreciate it and I would as well! Thank yous – Scott