Jovag Home Inspection, LLC ​License #1820
  • Home
  • Services
  • Blog and DIY
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Services
  • Blog and DIY
  • Contact

How To Repair A Sliding Screen Door

8/11/2017

7 Comments

 
Dog looking through screen door.
One of the reasons the screen door is damaged. There are a lot of holes at someone's nose height.
Damaged screen door
If your fingers can fit through the screen door it is very likely that bugs can make it through as well.
Sliding screen doors are great at keeping bugs out and allowing pleasant breezes in but they are prone to damage. Dogs trying to get in, cats trying to get out and children who try to grab on to the frame too enthusiastically can all be a problem. Follow this step by step guide to learn how to replace a damaged screen on a sliding screen door. 

Tools Needed:
  • Screen Door Spline Tool
  • Phillips and Slotted Screwdrivers
  • Utility Knife
  • Tape Measure
  • Tape

Parts Needed:
  • Replacement Screen
  • Replacement Spline
Screen Door Spline Tool, Screwdrivers, Utility Knife, Blue Masking Tape, Tape Measure
Tools needed from left to right: Screen door spline tool, Phillips Head Screwdriver, Slotted Screw Driver, Utility Knife, Tape, Tape Measure.

Screen door handle being removed
This door handle needs to be removed in order to replace the screen.
Screen door handle removed.
Door handle removed from the outside. The inner half can stay in place.
Step 1:

Remove any hardware on the outside of the door. 

Prying the spline out of the screen door.
Start in the corner to pry out the spline.
Working the spline out of the screen door.
Work the screwdriver under the spline and pull straight out.
Removing the spline from a screen door.
A steady pull on the spline all around the perimeter of the door will remove it.
Step 2:

Choose a corner and start to remove the spline (rubber piece holding the screen in the channel). A slotted screw driver is a good starter to pry out the spline. Once it is started you can pull the spline out around the perimeter of the door. 

Removing damaged screen
Remove the damaged screen from the frame.
Removing the damaged screen from a screen door.
Pull the screen from the channel all the way around the door perimeter.
Step 3: 

​Remove the damaged screen from the frame. The screen should remove easily once the spline is out. 

Measuring a damaged screen door screen
Damaged screen about 27 inches wide. You need to add an inch to each side for proper installation. The replacement screen needs to be at least 29 inches wide.
Step 4: 

Lay the damaged screen out on a flat surface and take measurements. You will need the width and the length. The damaged screen dimensions are the minimum amount required for a replacement. You want to have about an inch overlap on each side when buying the replacement. The replacement screen for this door needs to be at least 29 inches wide by 79 inches long for proper installation.
Measuring the length of a damaged screen door screen
Damaged screen about 77 inches long. You need to add an inch to each end for proper installation. Replacement needs to be a minimum of 79 inches long.
Spline material for a screen door.
Old spline material pulled from damaged door. This could be re-used or purchase new spline material when you get the replacement screen.

Pre cut rolls of fiberglass screen door screen
Pre-cut fiberglass mesh screen. This is generally the more expensive option.
Rolls of fiberglass and aluminum replacement screens.
Cut to length fiberglass and aluminum screen. This is usually the less expensive option than pre-cut rolls.
Step 5: 

Find a replacement screen at your local hardware store. This store sells common pre-cut sizes in rolls and cut to length rolls in both aluminum and fiberglass mesh.

​

Replacement screen secured by tape.
Secure the replacement screen with tape to aid in installation.
Overlap the replacement screen by an inch on each side of the frame.
The replacement screen needs to overlap the channel by an inch on each side for proper installation.
Step 6: 

Position the replacement screen over the door frame. Each side needs to overlap by about an inch for proper installation. I like to secure the replacement screen in place with blue painter's tape.

Using a spline tool.
Starting in the upper left corner, use the thin, convex side of the spline tool to pre-crease the screen in to the spline channel.
Pressing spline material into place by hand.
Press the spline material in to the channel on top of the pre-creased replacement screen.
Using a spline tool.
Using the concave roller of the spline tool, firmly seat the spline in to the channel along the entire top of the door.
Step 7: 

Start at the top. Use the spline tool to pre-crease the screen in to the channel. Press the spline into place over the screen and in to the channel by hand. Follow up with the spline tool to roll along the spline and firmly seat in place.

I concentrate on the top of the door frame first and try to get everything positioned evenly along the width of the replacement screen. Don't be afraid to start over if you notice the screen isn't quite level with the frame. Just pull out the spline, reposition the screen and repeat until everything is nice and even.

Using a spline tool.
Right side of the door. Using the spline tool to pre-crease the screen in to the channel.
Using a spline tool.
Firmly seat the spline material in to the channel along the perimeter of the door.
Step 8: 

Once you are happy with the top of the door move to the right side. Once again use the thin side of the spline tool to pre-crease the screen in to the channel. Place the spline and then use the concave side of the tool to seat the spline in place.


Putting a new spline in for a replacement screen.
Keep the screen taut along the bottom and left side when placing the spline.
Splining a screen door.
Spline all the way back to the start. Make sure the spline is firmly seated all along the perimeter channel.
Cutting the end of a spline with a utility knife.
Use a utility knife to cut the spline to length. Tuck the end in to the channel and firmly seat with a small screwdriver.
Step 9: 

The bottom and left side of the door are a little bit tricky. You want to make sure to pull the screen tight before creasing the screen and placing the spline. 

Hold the screen tight and work a few inches at a time with the spline to ensure that everything stays level and taut. 

Once you reach the starting point with the spline you will likely have a bit left over. Cut to length with a utility knife.

Trimming excess screen door material
Place the tip of a utility knife just on the outside edge of the spline.
Trimming excess screen door material
Lightly draw the utility knife along the outside edge of the spline.
Trimming excess screen door material
A slow and steady cut will leave a clean edge along the replacement screen.
Step 10: 

Once the spline is firmly seated and the screen is to your liking it's time to trim the excess screen away. Using a utility knife, cut just outside the spline on the screen. Slow and steady will give you a nice clean edge. 

​

Replacing the door handle on a screen door.
Replace the door handle hardware over the replacement screen.
Completed project, the replacement screen is installed.
The replacement screen is in place.
Step 11: 

Replace the door hardware. Adjust the door as needed and lubricate the tracks.
7 Comments
Garage Doors Repair Wizard Concord link
3/22/2019 23:22:02

Thanks for a wonderful share. Your article has proved your hard work and experience you have got in this field. Brilliant .i love it reading.

Reply
lisa link
4/20/2020 11:15:34

Hi, Thanks for the wonderful post!Those who come to read your article will find lots of helpful and informative tips.

Reply
Doors Repair link
5/5/2020 10:40:39

Hello! I just would like to give huge thumbs up for the great info you have here on this post. I will be coming back to your blog for more soon.

Reply
Sarah Smith link
3/26/2021 14:18:37

Thanks for the screen repair tips! I need to get my screen repaired. Our cats have really scratched it up.

Reply
Tex Hooper link
9/29/2021 17:40:19

I like your door tips. My garage door broke. I need a replacement.

Reply
pool screen repair link
10/20/2021 07:40:00

Thank you so much for sharing! Your construction party kit is the most complete party kit I’ve ever used and I LOVE it! It made planning this party so easy!

Reply
holly
5/12/2022 19:42:27

This is such a detailed step-by-step guide and I appreciate you for writing this for everyone's knowledge. I want to share a company that always gives out the best security doors. "Page Doors". https://www.pagedoors.com.au They have all types of doors which all prioritizes security. Thanks again!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Brian Jovag, owner of Jovag Home Inspection.

    Archives

    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017

    Categories

    All
    Attic
    Brick
    Chimney
    Construction
    Corrosion
    Crawl Space
    Deck
    DIY
    Electrical
    Furnace
    Gutters
    Heating
    How To
    Information
    Insulation
    Jovag Home Inspection
    Maintenance
    Moss
    Needs To Be Fixed
    Plumbing
    Roof
    Rust
    Safety
    Smoke Alarms
    Tools
    Video
    Wall
    Water Damage
    Water Heater
    What Could Go Wrong?
    Yard

    RSS Feed

    Helpful Info

    Infographics
    CPSC Water Heater Temperature
    File Size: 49 kb
    File Type: pdf
    Download File

    CPSC Garage Door Safety
    File Size: 129 kb
    File Type: pdf
    Download File

    CPSC GFCI Info and Facts
    File Size: 263 kb
    File Type: pdf
    Download File

    FEMA Smoke Alarm Recommendations
    File Size: 1942 kb
    File Type: pdf
    Download File

Site powered by Weebly. Managed by MacHighway