How To Put A Window Screen In From Inside

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Window screens are indispensable in the summer for letting fresh air in your home while still keeping those nasty bugs out. Whether your window screen is broken or y'all don't take one at all, making one is not a big investment—all you lot need are a few materials and some tools!

1
Calculate the opening of the window you are screening. Measure the height and width of your open up window frame. Near aluminum and vinyl frames accept a channel for the screen to fit into, and so exist sure to measure all the way to the insides of this channel. Subtract ¹⁄₄ inch (0.64 cm)—also as an boosted an boosted 1.5 inches (iii.viii cm) for corner connections—from each dimension to make up one's mind the height and width of your new frame.^[1]
- Older windows with wooden frames may be trickier, and the corners won't always be square. If possible, use the original screen to obtain dimensions for your new one. Otherwise, utilize your best sentence.
2
Buy aluminum window frame stock pieces. Home hardware stores sell window screen kits with precut pieces of aluminum likewise equally individual pieces. Most private pieces are available in 72 inch (180 cm) and 94 inch (240 cm) lengths. Standard aluminum frame pieces are ²⁄₈ inch (0.64 cm) in width and ²⁵⁄₃₂ inch (2.0 cm) thick, which will work for most windows. Focus on purchasing enough aluminum for your frame'due south dimensions.^[ii]
- Take note of the spline groove on the screen frame—the width should be marked on the packaging. When y'all purchase your spline, it needs to match the width of the spline groove.
- If y'all're re-screening a window and the screen frame is still in good shape, you tin can use that instead of purchasing new framing. Simply brand sure to go on the black spine that goes around the quondam screen, since that is what holds the screen in identify.^[iii]
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3
Purchase a hacksaw with the appropriate teeth per inch (TPI). Measure the width of your aluminum pieces. If their thickness is between ¹⁄_viii to ¹⁄₂ inch (0.32 to i.27 cm), the TPI should 14 to xviii TPI. For thickness between ³⁄₃₂ to ⁵⁄₁₆ inch (0.24 to 0.79 cm), the TPI should be 24. Finally, for anything less than ¹⁄₈ inch (0.32 cm), the TPI should be 31.
- Buy hacksaws from home hardware stores or online suppliers. Check the TPI on the product label or manual.
4
Saw the aluminum frame pieces to length with a hacksaw. Marker the cutlines on each bar using a permanent marking. Adhere your aluminum pieces into a vice grip for maximum stability. Grip both handles of the hack saw and make big, long strokes away from you along the cutline. Make sure the bract teeth are pointing frontward and you're using equally much of the blade as possible with each stroke.^[4]
- If you lot don't have a vice grip, place each bar onto a clean, flat surface. With the edge to exist cutting hanging from the surface, have a friend hold the other end firmly as you advisedly saw the bar.
- Ever do caution and cut away from you and anyone helping you lot.
5
Use a metal file to remove any rough edges. Sawing aluminum can leave some rough cuts. Obtain a 2d-cut file with a medium caste of coarseness and rasp-cut teeth. Agree the aluminum firmly against a clean, apartment surface with your non-ascendant hand. Now, use your dominant hand to use pressure from the file toward the rough aluminum surface and movement the file in forward strokes abroad from you. Once the file reaches the stop of the aluminum, lift it up and bring it back toward yous.^[5]
- Never file in dorsum and forth motions.
- Whenever possible, secure your aluminum in a vice grip to go along it stable.
half-dozen
Connect the upper and lower window corners with four corner inserts. Push the frame pieces into the openings of the "L-shaped" plastic or aluminum frame corner inserts. Make certain that the spine tracks in the corners align with the tracks on the frame pieces.^[6]
- Make certain your corner inserts are one.5 inches (three.8 cm) long. Purchase them from domicile hardware stores separately or in window screen packages.

1
Purchase screen spline with charcoal fiberglass for the best results. Spline tin can be purchased from abode hardware stores separately or in window screen packages. Window screen packages will provide you with the appropriate spline for the provided aluminum pieces. Simply if yous buy your spline separately, brand certain its width matches the width of your frame's spline groove.^[7]
- Compare the width listed on the spline packaging to the width of the spline groove listed on its packaging.
ii

Identify your aluminum framing onto a flat surface and hold information technology steady. The aluminum framing is soft metallic and very flexible. It can hands be warped and ripped from the screening—hold it firmly against a flat surface and brand sure all of the edges are parallel.^[viii]
3
Lay the screening material directly onto the frame. While belongings the frame firmly confronting a apartment surface, lay your screening downward over information technology.^[9] The screening should exist 1 to three inches (2.5 to vii.6 cm) more than the aluminum framing on all iv sides.^[x]
- Have a friend hold the frame steady every bit you lot pull the screening over the surface for better results.
four
Cut the screening textile ane inch (2.5 cm) bigger than the frame. Pull the screening tight, offset in the length and then in the width. Have care not get a warp in the frame or waves in the screening cloth. At present, use a standard pair of scissors to cut the screening approximately i inch (ii.5 cm) larger than the frame.^[11]
- Don't worry nearly cutting completely straight—giving yourself enough extra screening material is more than of import.

i
Press the wire screening material into the frame aqueduct with a spline roller. Feed the spline through the spline roller starting from the back (concave) to the front end (convex). Roll the front end spline all the way effectually the front circular leg. At present, starting in the corner of the frame, push the front end circular leg downward the frame channel, making sure that the back leg follows behind. Continue rolling the spline in to the other terminate of the frame, keeping both legs straight the whole fourth dimension.^[12]
- When using a spline roller, e'er make sure the legs are aligned with the channel and don't come up loose as yous move.
- Press firmly down onto the mountain to keep it steady as you lot elevate the spline roller through the frame channel.
- Pull the screen cloth tightly away from the frame as y'all move the spline roller.
2
Press the rubber spline into the frame with the back finish of the spline roller. Remove all of the spline from the roller. At present, with the dorsum (concave) finish facing forrard, roll the mouse wheels along the channels to ensure all of the spline is firmly in place.^[13]
- Press firmly downward on the roller equally you move along the channels.
- This will wedge the screening into the frame.^[xiv]
three
Cut the unnecessary screening carefully off with a utility knife. Pull on the excess spline away from the frame. Identify the utility knife at a 45-caste angle and pull it along the frame outline correct above the spline. Continue this for all 4 sides, taking care to make even cuts.^[15]
- Apply a business firm amount of pressure downwards on the knife when making your cuts.
four
Plough the window screen with the spline facing inside your home. Before mounting your window screen, position the spline inside your abode. In addition, brand sure any leap clips confront upward to fit into the pinnacle window slot.
- Be certain the spline is firmly connected to the aluminum frame before installing information technology in your window opening.

Add New Question

Question

Tin you re-use the screen frame?

Michael Fox is a Window Repair Specialist and the President at Window Repair Systems and WindowHardwareDirect.com, based in Westminster, South Carolina. With over 25 years of feel, Michael specializes in commercial window repair and service. He holds a business caste from Monroe Community College and SUNY Brockport. Michael has helped Window Repair Systems and WindowHardwareDirect.com go an industry leader in commercial window repair and hardware distribution, servicing schools and businesses and preparation large public school systems.

Window Repair Specialist

Expert Respond

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Yep, if you're trying to supervene upon a damaged screen, but the screen frame is okay, you tin just rescreen it. Simply exist sure to keep the black spine that goes all around the edges—that's what keeps the screen mesh in.
Question

How do you put new screen on an former frame?

Michael Flim-flam is a Window Repair Specialist and the President at Window Repair Systems and WindowHardwareDirect.com, based in Westminster, Southward Carolina. With over 25 years of experience, Michael specializes in commercial window repair and service. He holds a business degree from Monroe Community Higher and SUNY Brockport. Michael has helped Window Repair Systems and WindowHardwareDirect.com get an industry leader in commercial window repair and hardware distribution, servicing schools and businesses and training large public schoolhouse systems.

Window Repair Specialist

Expert Answer

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Purchase a whorl of screen mesh that matches the frame. Coil the new mesh over the height of the screen frame, and so take the old screen spline—which looks like a long cord made of safe or foam—and push it into the track of the screen frame. That will wedge the screen into the track.
Question

How do I install a cantankerous brace?

Take a length of wood with a thickness that is equal to or less than that of the frame pieces that you have just cut. Now, cut this length equal to the length of the two brusk frame pieces that you lot just cut. Prior to installing the screen, place this length in the centre and between the 2 long frame pieces. If it moves to and fro, you may fasten it in place, temporarily, with any adhesive tape. Proceed with stretching the screen across and over the assembled frame. The cross brace may either be left in place or removed subsequently the screen window frame is in place.
Question

How do I go on the middle of the long side from pulling in when I roll the screen in using the roller?

If it is a large screen, add a cross-brace to the center of the screen. Too endeavor taping down the frame earlier attaching the screen with the spline.

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Things You'll Demand

Kit with frame strips to cut to size
Screen material (fiberglass)
Rubber spline (comes in a roll)
Clips
Hacksaw
Tape measure out
Permanent marker
Metallic file
Utility knife
Ruler
Spline roller

If the frame is intact but the spline has come up loose, you may be able to just coil the spline back into place rather than brand an entirely new window screen.
You may be able to find prefabricated frames that are screwed together. The lower and upper frame piece are assembled with 4 screws and a crosspiece is fastened with 1 screw on each end. Usually, this is done with long hex screws and basics.

About This Article

Article Summary X

To make a window screen, kickoff by measuring the height and width of the window frame y'all'll be putting the screen in. Then, purchase a window screen kit at your local hardware shop that has plenty material for your window'southward measurements. Next, use a hacksaw to cutting the aluminum pieces that came with the kit to size before assembling them with the four provided corner inserts. Once you've finished the frame of your window screen, cut some screening material so information technology's one inch bigger than the frame. Finally, use a spline roller to printing the screen and some rubber spline into the back of the frame. To acquire how to install a bootleg window screen, curl down!

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