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Repairing a screen door is a simple process that can be done at home with a few basic tools. First, remove the damaged screen by carefully prying out the spline. Measure the new screen material and cut it to fit the door frame. Secure the screen by pressing the new spline into the groove. Trim any excess material and reattach the door to the frame. To fix tears or holes, apply a patch using adhesive or sew it together. Regular maintenance, such as lubricating hinges and cleaning the door, can prevent future damage. With these steps, anyone can easily repair a screen door.
During the hot summer months, when you want to let fresh air into your house by leaving your back door, front door, or patio door open, a screen door is essential to keep out mosquitoes. However, if the screen is torn or damaged, it won’t be able to protect you. This is especially concerning if you have pets or small children. Luckily, repairing a swinging or sliding screen door is a simple do-it-yourself project, and fixing a retractable screen door is even easier.
It’s important to note that even if your screen door is intact, it may not be effective in keeping out pests if the door itself doesn’t seal properly against the door frame. In this case, you can tighten or replace hinges and realign the door lock to fix the issue. In rare cases, you may need to buy replacement parts, but most of the time, you can make your existing door hardware work. However, the most common reason for screen door repair is a damaged screen.
Even if your screen is not damaged, you might want to consider replacing it with a heavier screen for added benefits. A heavier screen mesh can block sunlight, keeping your house cooler, and it is more resistant to pet damage. This is a straightforward task that only requires a few basic tools and should not take more than an hour, even if you have no prior experience.
Choosing a New Screen
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Manufacturers determine screen transparency based on the number of mesh openings per inch, measured both horizontally and vertically. The standard screen mesh is 18 x 16, meaning there are 18 mesh openings per inch horizontally and 16 mesh openings per inch vertically. A 20 x 20 mesh has smaller openings that can keep out tiny insects, while an 18 x 14 mesh is suitable for areas like pools that require more ventilation.
The two main materials used for screen mesh are aluminum and fiberglass. However, if you want a more stylish option and cost is not a concern, you can also choose copper or bronze. Aluminum and other metal screens tend to be more durable than fiberglass, but they are also more expensive and slightly more challenging to install. Therefore, most people opt for fiberglass screens.
When shopping for a new screen, consider the thickness of the mesh material, also known as the mesh diameter. A standard 18 x 16 fiberglass or aluminum screen has a diameter of 0.011 inch, while a heavier-duty screen can have a diameter of 0.013 inch. If you want a solar screen that blocks 90 percent of incident light, the diameter can range between 0.020 and 0.025 inch.
Purchasing New Spline
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Screen spline is a flexible vinyl cord that you insert into the groove around the screen opening to secure the screen in place. If you are replacing your current screen with the same mesh and diameter, you can often reuse the existing spline. However, if you are installing a heavier screen or if the existing spline is brittle or damaged, you may need to buy new spline.
Spline is available in rolls ranging from 20 to 100 feet in length and in diameters from 0.125 to 0.250 inch. To determine the size of spline you need for rescreening, you can either measure the diameter of your existing spline using a tape measure or measure the width of the groove it fits into. The purchased spline should be slightly larger in diameter than the groove to ensure a secure fit, although a slightly smaller diameter may be preferred for heavy-mesh screens that take up more space.
Tools required for the task include a Phillips screwdriver, flat-head screwdriver, pliers, new screen, putty knife, utility knife, and a spline roller.
A spline roller is an essential tool for pushing the screen into the groove and installing the spline. Before purchasing the screen, make sure it is wide enough to cover the screen opening with some overlap on both sides. Measure the width of the door before buying the screen.
Step 1: Take down the door and lay it flat. If the door has a pneumatic or spring closer, use a Phillips screwdriver to unscrew it from the door. Leave the other end’s door closer attached to the door frame. Unscrew the hinges from the door and remove the door, laying it on a flat surface with the screen side facing up. For sliding screen doors, lift the door and angle the bottom towards you to remove it from its track frame.
Step 2: Remove the old spline and screen. Locate the end of the spline, usually in a corner, and use a flat-head screwdriver to force it out of the groove. Grasp the end with your fingers or pliers and gently pull to remove all the spline from that side of the door. Repeat for the other three sides. Once the spline is removed, lift out the old screen. Use a putty knife to clean out any debris from the groove.
Step 3: Prepare the new screen. Unroll enough screen from the roll to cover the screen opening, ensuring an overlap of at least 2 inches on all sides. Use a utility knife to cut the screen from the roll. A utility knife works for both fiberglass and metal screening.
Step 4: Press the screen into the groove. Lay the screen flat, centering it over the door frame. Use a splining tool to press the screen into the groove and create a depression. The splining tool has two rollers, one tapering to a sharp edge for this step, and the other with a grooved edge for installing the spline. Take caution not to press too hard with fiberglass screen, as the roller can cut through it.
Step 5: Installing the Spline
Insert one end of the spline into a groove using the roller on the spline tool with the grooved edge. Roll the roller along the groove, pushing in the spline as you go until you reach the other end. Sometimes, gently pulling the spline while rolling can help contract it. Once in the groove, the spline will expand to its normal size and secure the screen. Trim the end of the spline with a knife and repeat the process for the other three sides.
Step 6: Trimming the Screen
Using a utility knife, cut off the excess screen along the outer edge of the spline as close to it as possible.
Step 7: Rehanging the Door
Before rehanging the door on its hinges, check if the hinge screws are tight. Loose hinge screws are often the cause of a leaning door or improper closing. Replace any screws that cannot be tightened with longer ones. Sometimes, installing shims can improve the functionality of door hinges.
Place the door back in the frame, using a piece of wood for support if needed, and screw the hinges back into the door. Then, reattach the door closer. If you are replacing a sliding door, angle the top of the door into the frame, lift it enough for the bottom to clear the bottom track, and lower it onto the track.
Replacing a Retractable Screen Door
If the screen on a retractable patio screen door is damaged, you can replace it along with the roller. Remove the roller cover and push the roller to one side to release it from the bracket, then pull it out. Insert one end of the new roller into the bracket and push it towards that bracket to allow the other end to clear the other bracket. Once the roller is installed, replace the cover, and you’re done.
