Guest Darcy Westlind provides tips on quick and easy screen repairs for homeowners.
- Screen repairs may cost up to $20.
- When most people think of cleaning their screens, they think of taking them outside and hosing them down with high-power water. Think again! The best way to clean your screen is to scrub it with a bristle brush, then vacuuming it with various attachments.
- Before you remove all the screens to clean or fix, plan ahead so that the screens don't get mixed up. Once you remove a screen from the window, mark down a number with a pen, and put the corresponding number inside the appropriate window frame.
- A tiny hole in a wire screen can often be repaired with a toothpick or a straightened-out paper clip. Simply poke the end into the mesh, and reshape it by bending it back into shape.
- A temporary quick fix for a small hole in the screen is to dab a drop or two of waterproof glue onto the hole. Wipe away the drips and excess glue before it hardens.
- Another temporary fix for a larger hole in plastic or fiberglass screen is to cut a slightly larger square that will cover the hole. Apply a small amount of clear silicone caulk around the edges of the hole, then press on the patch, gently wiping away the excess silicone. When the caulk dries, it will become transparent.
- To fix a hole in metal mesh, cut a square that is slightly larger, and bend the cross thread ends so that they poke through the screen. Once the patch is in place, bend the prongs to grip the main screen.
Replacing an Entire Screen
Steps:
- Remove the old rubber spline with a thin screwdriver. For metal splines (on some types of screen), remove them the same way, but because they can be used again, you'll want to take care not to damage them. In either case, bring a piece of the old spline with you when you go to the store to purchase the right size and color.
- Buy a new piece of screening to replace the ruined section. Screening is usually available in two types--aluminum or fiberglass. While fiberglass is the easiest to install, it tends to get damaged more easily and can stretch. Also, make sure it's bigger than the actual size of the old screen, as it should overhang the frame by an inch on all four sides.
- Buy enough splining to cover all sides of the opening, a splining tool and a utility knife to trim the screen. The splining tool is a wheeled roller that presses the screen into place and pushes the spline into the groove to lock the screen into place. (These tools are available at hardware stores).
- Lay the new piece of screening on the frame, making sure it is centered and level. The idea is to get no more than an inch of screening to overhang on each side. If necessary, use a utility knife to trim it to size. Use a string clamp on one of the sides of the frame to hold it into place.
- First, roll the new spline into the groove starting opposite of the clamped corner. Hold the screen taut, making sure to keep the same row of screening aligned with the groove along the way. Continue with the remaining three sides.
- Once the spline is rolled, push it into the corners with a screwdriver. Cut off the excess splining and screening with the utility knife.
