How To Repair A Sliding Screen Door

One of the reasons the screen door is damaged. There are a lot of holes at someone's nose height.

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. 

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Tools Needed:

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

Parts Needed:

• Replacement Screen
• Replacement Spline

Tools needed from left to right: Screen door spline tool, Phillips Head Screwdriver, Slotted Screw Driver, Utility Knife, Tape, Tape Measure.

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This door handle needs to be removed in order to replace the screen.

Door handle removed from the outside. The inner half can stay in place.

Step 1:

Remove any hardware on the outside of the door. 

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Start in the corner to pry out the spline.

Work the screwdriver under the spline and pull straight out.

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. 

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Remove the damaged screen from the frame.

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. 

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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.

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.

Old spline material pulled from damaged door. This could be re-used or purchase new spline material when you get the replacement screen.

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Pre-cut fiberglass mesh screen. This is generally the more expensive option.

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.

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Secure the replacement screen with tape to aid in installation.

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.

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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.

Press the spline material in to the channel on top of the pre-creased replacement screen.

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.

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Right side of the door. Using the spline tool to pre-crease the screen in to the channel.

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.

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Keep the screen taut along the bottom and left side when placing the spline.

Spline all the way back to the start. Make sure the spline is firmly seated all along the perimeter channel.

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.

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Place the tip of a utility knife just on the outside edge of the spline.

Lightly draw the utility knife along the outside edge of the spline.

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. 

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Replace the door handle hardware over the replacement screen.

The replacement screen is in place.

Step 11: 

Replace the door hardware. Adjust the door as needed and lubricate the tracks.