How To Make Homemade Window Screens

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Window screens are indispensable in the summer for letting fresh air in your dwelling house while even so keeping those nasty bugs out. Whether your window screen is broken or you don't have 1 at all, making one is not a large investment—all you need are a few materials and some tools!

1. 1

   Calculate the opening of the window you are screening. Measure out the acme and width of your open window frame. Most aluminum and vinyl frames have a channel for the screen to fit into, so exist sure to mensurate all the way to the insides of this channel. Decrease ¹⁄₄ inch (0.64 cm)—as well as an additional an additional 1.5 inches (iii.8 cm) for corner connections—from each dimension to make up one's mind the tiptop and width of your new frame.^[1]

   • Older windows with wooden frames may exist trickier, and the corners won't always be square. If possible, use the original screen to obtain dimensions for your new one. Otherwise, use your best judgement.

2. 2

   Purchase aluminum window frame stock pieces. Habitation hardware stores sell window screen kits with precut pieces of aluminum too equally individual pieces. Virtually private pieces are available in 72 inch (180 cm) and 94 inch (240 cm) lengths. Standard aluminum frame pieces are ^two⁄₈ inch (0.64 cm) in width and ²⁵⁄₃₂ inch (2.0 cm) thick, which volition work for well-nigh windows. Focus on purchasing plenty aluminum for your frame's dimensions.^[2]

   • Have annotation of the spline groove on the screen frame—the width should exist marked on the packaging. When yous purchase your spline, information technology needs to match the width of the spline groove.
   • If you're re-screening a window and the screen frame is still in good shape, you tin can use that instead of purchasing new framing. Just make sure to proceed the black spine that goes around the old screen, since that is what holds the screen in place.^[3]

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3. 3

   Purchase a hacksaw with the appropriate teeth per inch (TPI). Measure the width of your aluminum pieces. If their thickness is between ^ane⁄₈ to ¹⁄_two inch (0.32 to 1.27 cm), the TPI should 14 to 18 TPI. For thickness betwixt ^three⁄₃₂ to ^v⁄₁₆ inch (0.24 to 0.79 cm), the TPI should be 24. Finally, for anything less than ^ane⁄_viii inch (0.32 cm), the TPI should be 31.

   • Purchase hacksaws from home hardware stores or online suppliers. Check the TPI on the product label or manual.

4. 4

   Saw the aluminum frame pieces to length with a hacksaw. Mark the cutlines on each bar using a permanent marker. Adhere your aluminum pieces into a vice grip for maximum stability. Grip both handles of the hack saw and brand big, long strokes away from you forth the cutline. Make sure the bract teeth are pointing forward and you're using as much of the blade as possible with each stroke.^[iv]

   • If you don't have a vice grip, place each bar onto a clean, flat surface. With the edge to be cutting hanging from the surface, have a friend concord the other terminate firmly every bit yous carefully saw the bar.
   • Always exercise caution and cutting abroad from you and anyone helping you.

5. 5

   Use a metal file to remove any rough edges. Sawing aluminum can exit some rough cuts. Obtain a second-cutting file with a medium degree of coarseness and rasp-cut teeth. Concord the aluminum firmly against a clean, apartment surface with your non-ascendant hand. Now, use your ascendant hand to utilise force per unit area from the file toward the rough aluminum surface and move the file in forward strokes away from you lot. Once the file reaches the cease of the aluminum, elevator information technology upwardly and bring information technology back toward you.^[5]

   • Never file in back and along motions.
   • Whenever possible, secure your aluminum in a vice grip to keep information technology stable.

6. 6

   Connect the upper and lower window corners with 4 corner inserts. Push the frame pieces into the openings of the "Fifty-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 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) long. Purchase them from home hardware stores separately or in window screen packages.

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1. 1

   Purchase screen spline with charcoal fiberglass for the best results. Spline can exist purchased from home hardware stores separately or in window screen packages. Window screen packages will provide you with the appropriate spline for the provided aluminum pieces. But if you purchase your spline separately, make sure 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.

2. 2

   Place your aluminum framing onto a flat surface and hold it steady. The aluminum framing is soft metal and very flexible. Information technology can easily be warped and ripped from the screening—hold information technology firmly against a flat surface and make sure all of the edges are parallel.^[eight]

3. 3

   Lay the screening textile direct onto the frame. While holding the frame firmly against a flat surface, lay your screening downward over it.^[9] The screening should be ane to 3 inches (2.v to 7.half-dozen cm) more than than the aluminum framing on all four sides.^[10]

   • Have a friend hold the frame steady every bit you pull the screening over the surface for improve results.

4. 4

   Cutting the screening material one inch (2.5 cm) bigger than the frame. Pull the screening tight, first in the length and then in the width. Take care not get a warp in the frame or waves in the screening cloth. At present, use a standard pair of scissors to cutting the screening approximately 1 inch (two.v cm) larger than the frame.^[eleven]

   • Don't worry about cutting completely straight—giving yourself enough extra screening material is more important.

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1. 1

   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 forepart (convex). Roll the front spline all the way effectually the front round leg. At present, starting in the corner of the frame, push button the front circular leg down the frame channel, making certain that the dorsum leg follows behind. Continue rolling the spline in to the other finish of the frame, keeping both legs directly the whole time.^[12]

   • When using a spline roller, e'er make certain the legs are aligned with the aqueduct and don't come loose every bit you move.
   • Press firmly down onto the mountain to go on it steady as you elevate the spline roller through the frame channel.
   • Pull the screen material tightly abroad from the frame as you move the spline roller.

2. 2

   Printing the condom spline into the frame with the dorsum stop of the spline roller. Remove all of the spline from the roller. At present, with the back (concave) end facing frontward, roll the mouse wheels along the channels to ensure all of the spline is firmly in identify.^[13]

   • Press firmly down on the roller as you motility along the channels.
   • This will wedge the screening into the frame.^[14]

3. 3

   Cutting the unnecessary screening advisedly off with a utility knife. Pull on the excess spline away from the frame. Place the utility knife at a 45-degree bending and pull it along the frame outline correct higher up the spline. Continue this for all 4 sides, taking intendance to brand even cuts.^[xv]

   • Employ a business firm amount of pressure level downwards on the knife when making your cuts.

4. iv

   Plow the window screen with the spline facing inside your habitation. Before mounting your window screen, position the spline inside your habitation. In addition, brand sure any leap clips confront upwards to fit into the summit window slot.

   • Be certain the spline is firmly connected to the aluminum frame earlier installing information technology in your window opening.

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Add New Question

• Question

  Can 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, S Carolina. With over 25 years of experience, Michael specializes in commercial window repair and service. He holds a business degree from Monroe Community College and SUNY Brockport. Michael has helped Window Repair Systems and WindowHardwareDirect.com become an manufacture leader in commercial window repair and hardware distribution, servicing schools and businesses and training big public school systems.

  

  Window Repair Specialist

  Skilful Reply

  

  Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert respond.

  Yep, if y'all're trying to replace a damaged screen, but the screen frame is okay, y'all can just rescreen it. Simply be certain to go along 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 erstwhile frame?

  

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

  

  Window Repair Specialist

  Skillful Answer

  

  Support wikiHow past unlocking this expert reply.

  Buy a roll of screen mesh that matches the frame. Roll the new mesh over the top of the screen frame, and then take the sometime screen spline—which looks similar a long cord made of rubber or foam—and push it into the track of the screen frame. That will wedge the screen into the track.

• Question

  How practise I install a cross brace?

  

  Take a length of woods with a thickness that is equal to or less than that of the frame pieces that you accept just cut. At present, cutting this length equal to the length of the two short frame pieces that you merely cut. Prior to installing the screen, place this length in the middle and between the two long frame pieces. If information technology moves to and fro, you may fasten information technology in place, temporarily, with any agglutinative record. Keep with stretching the screen across and over the assembled frame. The cross brace may either be left in place or removed after the screen window frame is in place.

• Question

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

  

  If information technology is a big screen, add together a cross-caryatid to the middle of the screen. Also effort taping downwards the frame before attaching the screen with the spline.

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Things You'll Need

• Kit with frame strips to cut to size
• Screen material (fiberglass)
• Safe spline (comes in a roll)
• Clips
• Hacksaw
• Tape mensurate
• Permanent marker
• Metal file
• Utility knife
• Ruler
• Spline roller

• If the frame is intact but the spline has come up loose, you may be able to just roll the spline back into place rather than make an entirely new window screen.

• You may exist able to find prefabricated frames that are screwed together. The lower and upper frame slice are assembled with iv screws and a crosspiece is attached with 1 screw on each finish. Unremarkably, this is washed with long hex screws and nuts.

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About This Article

Article Summary X

To make a window screen, start by measuring the peak and width of the window frame you'll be putting the screen in. Then, purchase a window screen kit at your local hardware store that has enough textile for your window's measurements. Adjacent, employ a hacksaw to cut the aluminum pieces that came with the kit to size before assembling them with the four provided corner inserts. Once you lot've finished the frame of your window screen, cut some screening cloth and then it's one inch bigger than the frame. Finally, use a spline roller to press the screen and some rubber spline into the back of the frame. To learn how to install a homemade window screen, scroll down!

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