A damaged or torn window screen allows unwanted guests such as bugs and pests to come into your home. But a good window screen will help keep them off your interior living space.
Frames made of wood can decay, while aluminum or vinyl frames can lose shape or even move out of place. In addition, a window screen with holes can be annoying, though it is easy to fix.
To fix the affected window screen, you need tools such as an awl, a needle, waterproof glue, and patch mesh. With these tools and materials, window screen repair is easy. Here are easy ways on how to repair window screen.
How to Repair Window Screens with Smaller Holes or Tears
How to repair window screen may look overwhelming at first. But understanding the simple ways to get it done will be great. The following steps will guide you and even show you how to repair window screen mesh.
Step 1: Pull Out Strands around the Hole
The first thing to do is pull out some strands from the small tear in the window screen. Ensure that you don’t make the hole bigger in the process of taking out some strands.
One or two strands are enough to serve as a thread to sew up the small holes. Sewing will not work for bigger holes but patching is more effective to seal up the holes.
Step 2: Place the Screen Seams in Neat Lines
Once you have taken the number of strands required, place the seams of the screen on even lines. Make sure there are no gaps in between the seams as these will spoil the neatness of the sewing. If the seams cannot close up without a gap in between, consider patching the hole instead.
Step 3: Sew the Torn Edges Together
After lining up the torn edges, put the strands in a needle and sew them together. If there is a possibility that taking out some will create a hole larger, use a polyester thread. But make sure the color of the thread is similar to that of the screen.
Bigger needles with larger eyes are the best to use for weaving through the window screens. The reason is that this tool will allow the strands to pass through them, making it easier to handle. However, if the holes seem to remain noticeable after weaving, patch it up.
Step 4: Secure the End of the Stitch
It will take a while to finish weaving through the window screen. Make sure you sew in all the loose strands on the mesh to create a neat work. Finally, make a tight knot at the end of the stitch. That way, it secures the weaving and makes it last longer.
How to Fix Window Screens with Large Holes or Tears
Sometimes the window may have larger holes which can let in bigger pests and rodents into the house. How to repair window screen in this case will require a different approach.
Step 1: Tear the Hole into a Rectangle
Some holes are too large to close up by weaving and can create more holes if you try to sew them. In this case, first cut off the mesh strands from the holes and make the hole rectangular. Ensure it does not become bigger in the process of giving it a rectangular shape.
If the hole is rectangle now, trim them in preparation for what comes next. If the hole takes more than a quarter of the window screen, replace the screen instead of patching. Avoid tearing the holes closer to the window frame, as this will be difficult to patch.
Step 2: Get a New Screen Material for the Hole
It is time to patch with a new screen material that is big enough to cover the hole. Make sure the material is 1 inch or wider than the hole itself. If you are in doubt, use a tape rule to measure the hole to know how much of the new material to cut.
Step 3: Keep the End of Screen Opening and Patch Loose
Even if it is a single hung window screen or any type, make the ends of the opening slack to help the new material to blend perfectly. Before you complete the patch, turn the edges of the new material inward. The opening on the screen should remain straight or flat.
Step 4: Tangle the Ends of the Patch on the Screen
At this point, you must have fully come to understand how to repair window screen. With the new screen material placed carefully over the hole, it is advisable to secure it with silicone glue. But some patching screen come with adhesive and may not need weaving to keep them in place.
Steps on Window Screen Replacement
While some windows are easy to repair, others can be so bad that only a replacement can solve the problem. If you are looking for how to put screens on old windows, these steps are useful.
Step 1: Detach the Screen from Position
The first step is to remove the window screen from its position by pulling it out carefully. Some screens come with clips so you need to unfasten the clips that hold the screen in place. Once you remove the screen, place it on a flat surface.
Step 2: Remove the Old Spline from the Window
Window splines are the rubber or plastic materials that keep the screen on the frame. No matter the window screen frame sizes, remove the spline and replace with a new one. Use a flathead screwdriver to pull it out and then dispose it. If you do not have a replacement, get window screen frame kit at nearest home improvement store.
Step 3: Cut the Mesh to Create a New Screen
Buy high-quality roll of mesh from a local hardware store and then cut it in a rectangular shape of the original screen. Make sure it is about 1 or 2 cm larger than the previous screen. Cut the mesh to the right size using a utility knife. Most homeowners prefer aluminum mesh due to its durability and strength.
Step 4: Keep the Mesh in Position on the Frame
Once the mesh is ready, install it on the window frame, making sure it properly fits in place. If the screen is too large, reduce the size by cutting off the excess part. Usually, it is difficult to cut mesh without creating a curve, so place the curved side down during fixing.
You can use a heavy brick to hold the down part of the mesh to keep it straight and even while you work on it. But fix the strips of spline on the corners of the frame first before placing the brick. This will keep the mesh or the screen from sagging or becoming uneven in shape.
Step 5: Install the Screen on the Window
By now, the screen should take shape with all four sides of the spline already in place. Pick up the screen, insert it on the window, and then hold it with the window frame clips. If the window screen is still loose, pull it out and work on it again before installing.
Final Word
Window screens help to protect the house from rodents, insects, and pests. Whether you are looking for how to repair hole in window screen or how to repair torn window screen, the process is simple. Once you have the right tools and materials, you can repair your window screen.
Some window screens may have problems that will require complete replacements. Visit your local hardware store and get high-quality mesh to create a new window screen. It doesn’t take much time to fix.