HOW TO FIX
WINDOW SCREENS

Punctures, tears, and gashes can result over time, especially to a screen door in a well-trafficked home. The good news is that a screen is easy to replace with the right tools, following some basic steps.

Supplies

• Utility knife
• Metal spatula or hive tool
• Flat-head screwdriver
• Needle-nose pliers
• Paintbrush
• Fine-grade sandpaper
• Replacement screening
• Push pins
• Staple gun
• Hammer
• Small brads (slender wire nails with minimal heads)
• Nail set
• Wood filler

HOW-TO

If you have the time, do all other needed repairs (patching paint, tightening hinges and other hardware) after removing the old screen and before replacing with the new one.

1. 1. If there are moldings around the screen, use a utility knife to cut away any paint that might keep you from lifting up the molding; score along the seam all the way around the opening. To pry up the molding, insert spatula or hive tool under molding and gently lift it up as you again work around the opening, taking care as there will be nails (see diagram). Set the molding strips aside (you will use them again).
2. 2. First loosen all the staples with tip of screwdriver, then use pliers to pull out staples, being careful not to break them.
3. 3. Clean the opening with a paintbrush, then gently sand the rough wood and brush again to remove dust.
4. 4. Cut replacement screen to fit with utility knife (or have screening cut to fit at the home-improvement store); leave a ½-inch border around the perimeter when measuring. Place it over the opening, pulling taut and tacking in place in the corners with push pins.
5. 5. Starting in the center of one side, use staple gun to staple screen at even intervals, anywhere from 1 to 2 inches apart. Once you finish one side, repeat on remaining sides, pulling taut and pinning to frame with push pins as needed.
6. 6. Trim any excess screening with utility knife along outside edge.
7. 7. With a hammer, tap out nails from removed molding strips, then replace the strips in the opening; hammer in place with brads, doing this at a slight angle; use nail set to countersink each brad. Fill in holes with wood filler.

Martha Must

My favorite tool for prying up the molding is a hive tool (made for beekeeping) that has a thin flat end that slips easily under the frame, to loosen, and a large hooked end for lifting it off.