How to Replace a Broken Window Screen for Less Than $20
Warmer weather is coming. Before it’s time to literally throw caution to the wind and open the windows, it’s time to repair those torn screens that have been torn apart by birds or damaged by winter weather. Fresh air intake and bug protection require your screens to be in top shape, and thankfully, you can easily replace a torn or damaged screen in your window or door with just a few tools, a little time, and not much. generally money.
Tools needed to repair a torn or broken window screen
For this project, you will need replacement screen material and a dowel (a type of cord that attaches the screen material to the frame), a screwdriver, an awl , a drill, scissors, a utility knife, something heavy (my grandfather use the phone book), and a block of wood not much thicker. screen frames. Be sure to measure the opening of the screen to determine the width of the screen material you will need first. (Many hardware stores also sell window screen repair kits for about $13, which include the screen, slots, and screen roller .)
Select screen material type
For the screen material, you will have several options. The fiberglass screen is easier for beginners to work with because it is flexible and will rebound if you need to remove and reapply the spline. Other alternatives include a sun shade, which is stronger than fiberglass and can also help keep your home cool; filtering pollen mesh; and aluminium . If you are trying to match your existing screens, use the same material type. If you’re looking to upgrade to sunscreen or pollen filtration options, you can bring an old screen sample to the store to pick the color that works best.
How to replace a window screen
Remove the old screen. To remove the old screen from the frame, place an awl on the end of the channel at the edge of the frame that holds the groove and pry it up, which will loosen the screen. Once you’ve freed the material from the frame, keep working until the old screen and spline are removed. Throw away the old screen and slots and leave the frame flat.
Cut and paste the new screen. Then use scissors to carefully cut the new screen material to size. It should be about one inch larger than your frame hole all around. Cut off a 45 degree corner at each corner to make it easier to wrap the spline around the corner of the frame. Place the shield over the hole, then start pushing the spline into the groove along one side of the frame with the roller tool. To tighten it easily, attach a thin piece of wood to your work surface with a screw and press the edge of the frame, to which the slots and screen are attached, to the bar.
To tighten the other side, make sure the sieve stays taut as you continue to use the roller to push the splines into the groove as you work your way around the perimeter of the frame. Once you’ve completed two sides, place a heavy book or brick in the middle of the screen. This will allow you to stretch the screen enough on the remaining sides without stretching it so much that it damages the frame.
As you round each corner of the frame with a spline, rotate the screen so you can use the block to click on it. With a heavy object placed in the center of the screen, pull the memorized material and use the tool to screw the slot into the groove. Repeat this step for the last side, then trim the spline just past the last corner. The last step is to trim the excess screen material with a utility knife and install the screen back into the window.