Replace Screen – How to Replace a Window Screen

Replacing a window screen a fairly easy process. The benefits of a window screen will vary, but most will keep insects and debris out of your home, while allowing fresh air in. The process is easy and inexpensive if you follow the steps below.

The cord or rubberized portion that holds the screen to the frame is called the spline. This spline will need to be removed, in order to remove the damaged screen away from the frame. You can use your best judgment if you would like to attempt to reuse a spline. Generally these are fairly inexpensive and it is common for splines to begin to breakdown overtime, due to their constant exposure to sun and rain. You will find that the spline may get damaged during the removal process. In summary, a new spline is recommended to help keep your new replacement screen in place.

Once you have the damaged screen removed from the frame, this may be useful in cutting the new screen. Of course, it is easier to cut the new screen a bit larger than you need, then trim back the excess. To measure your cut, place the old screen over the new screen and cut the replacement screen to be at least one inch larger than the older screen. This cut does not have to be perfectly straight as we will be removing the excess.

The next step is to lay the replacement screen over the frame and begin the process of securing the screen to the frame. To do this, tuck the spline into the frame to secure the screen. This works best with a spline roller, which will free up one of your hands to ensure the screen is pulled tight in the area you are working on. Work your way around the frame until the screen is snug.

At this point, the screen replacement is almost complete, but a bit of cleanup may be needed. In particular, the excess portions of the replacement screen may need to be trimmed. The easiest tool for this is a box cutter, but be careful to only cut away the excess area. To do this, you may want to protect your screen area to ensure you are only cutting away the excess portions of the screen.

As you can see, replacing a screen can be fairly easy. This is certainly something that will be come easier as you gain experience, but many homeowners do not have to complete this task very often. However, with the proper planning, a replacement screen can be easy to install and provide years of enjoyment.