How To Repair Screen Doors

A screen door is a great way to allow fresh air to your space and also keep those annoying airborne pests at bay. What more, it looks beautiful and lends an aura of bigness to your living or personal space. Nevertheless, it is heartbreaking to spot a hole on your screen. Also, the frequent jambs and creaks can leave you at your wit’s end and running for help. If you have been into one of these familiar situations earlier, knowing how to fix your screen door at home, all by yourself will help. Today, screen doors are lightweight with fiberglass covering that are easily prone to damage and destruction. However, the good news is that damaged screen are easy to repair and all it takes is a quick run to the hardware shop and a little know-how on how to fix it, to get started. To check out tips for repairing sliding screen doors, read on.

Tips For Repairing Sliding Screen Doors

Before you get on with the task of repairing your screen door, getting rid of pebbles, twigs and dust would make some sense. Often these unwanted particles pile up on the track and jam it, thereby obstructing the smooth functioning of your screen door. Just get hold of a vacuum cleaner or a brush and blow away the infestations. You can also use some grease to lubricate the tracks to help the door slide smoothly.
The next step would be to check with the alignment of your screen door. Screen doors are meant to be completely in line with your door frame, with no extra space, either above or below the door panel. Check the length and angle of the door to find out if the door is completely in tune with the track and floor. You can use professional help to sort out any disparity or disfiguration, if any. You can enhance the length of the door by adjusting the screws that often come attached to the door.
Now, move on to check for any rips or tears in your screen mesh. Rips or holes can be easily fixed with a quick patch. However, if the hole is a big one, it would make sense to replace the screen mesh. To fix a small tear, you can use a heavy duty thread to sew the patch and then seal the stitches with cement, to camouflage the run up.
To sew a patch, first trim the edges and then clip it into a square with a tin snip. You can use readymade patches to fix the hole or cut a patch from a new screen roll to mend the tear. Remove two strands of mesh from the existing screen hole and then weave the new mesh into it. Seal it with cement.
In some cases, you might need to remove your screen and replace it with a new one. If that is the case, get your tools handy and start on. You will need a new screen, utility knife, clamp, screwdriver, carpenter’s square and spline to get started.
Begin by removing the handle first. This will offer you an unobstructed access to the screen. Then, using an awl, carefully pry up the spline. Gently pull it out using your hands, to avoid causing damage to it.
Now, remove the rollers by using a screwdriver. Gently pry to remove them. If you wish to install new splines, you can cut it to desired length, using a utility knife.
Put the new screen carefully over the frame and align one edge of the screen to the exterior side of it to make sure it is square to the frame. Now, using a convex roller press the screen into the groove along the doorframe.Employ little pressure and angle the tool slightly toward the outside of the frame to prevent the screen from tearing. Secure it with a spline.
Using a knife trim out the excess screen. Slip the new roller assembly into the opening edge of the door and secure its hold with clips. Put back the screen panel in the door track and check to see if it slides smoothly.

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