Think Spring! Think Screens!
With spring comes the opening of windows to let in the fresh breeze, are your screens ready? Window screens can get punctured or torn, but as long as the frame is in good shape repairs are easy and can be done. If you wanted to repair it yourself follow these steps:
- Choose the replacement screen material
- Most durable types of screen meshes are vinyl cloth or fiberglass that come in a variety of colors and shades.
- Aluminum screens are easy to see through but also easy to damage.
- Solar fiberglass screens are expensive but cut down on the amount of UV rays and sunlight so you protect furniture or wall-to-wall carpet.
- Cut the material to size
- With the screen frame out of the window and on a flat surface, roll out your replacement screen material across the whole frame. Cut across the roll leaving enough to clamp around the frame edges.
- Remove the old screen
- Using a nail punch or other sharp object loosen the plastic spline that runs along the channel around the frame's perimeter. Pull out the spline and clean the frame before the next step.
- Lay the new screen across frame
- Lay out the new screen with the curved or concave side down to ensure the new piece lies flat in the frame. Use clamps to keep it taut across and crease the screen all the way around the channel.
- Replace the spline
- Place the spline (available at most home stores) in the channel. Starting on one side, use your fingers to push the spline into the channel. It needs to be neat and flat but not overly tight.
- Press the spline into the frame using a rolling spline tool. Gently pull it tight with one hand as you carefully press roller into groove with thte other. Be careful not to back the roller up, only go one direction with it.
- When you reach the corners use a flathead screwdriver to press the screen into the corners.
- Cut away the excess.
- Once the spline is all installed, trim the excess with a utility knife. To ensure a straight clean cut ride the blade along the outside of the frame's groove.
Now if you haven't got time to do it yourself, give us a call. At Dickey's Glass we carry the most popular replacement screen material (fiberglass) but we also carry aluminum and both materials come in gray or black to match your other window screens. If you know the size of your screen we can even give you an estimate over the phone!
