DIY Tips For Repairing Your Screens

Window screens are ideal for keeping insects out of your home and ensuring a comfortable living environment. Screens on windows are popular in most parts of the world but particularly in wetter climates where there are more pesky insects. Screens are generally made of aluminum mesh so they are lightweight and allow air to pass through. Since they are very thin, they tend to be delicate and easy to damage or ruin.

While you can hire a handy man to repair or replace your screens, it's a fairly easy DIY (do-it-yourself) project. You'll only need a few materials, and if you have pets or small children you'll likely want to keep a box with the materials handy since damages are more frequent.

To repair a small hole (less than 3 inches in diameter), cut a ready made patch or a piece of scrap screening about a half inch to an inch larger than the whole. Unweave a few strands around the edges of the patch and then weave the loose strands into the hole so it covers the entire hole. You can usually weave the strands using your hands but if the mesh is thicker you may need to use a pair of needle nose pliers. You can put some rubber cement around the woven edges to smooth over the ends and help keep the patch in place.

Screen replacement is necessary if you have a large tear in your screen and even then you can do-it-yourself. It's not necessary to purchase a new screen unless the frame is broke or bent. You can purchase new screen mesh, cut it to fit the frame and

ttach it.

First, remove the rubber edging from the old screen and insert new edging. Cut the new screen mesh about a half inch larger than the open and then insert the new screening using a screen rolling tool. Start in one corner and then slowly work your way around. Make sure the screen is taught but be careful not to tear the screen or bend the frame. Once the mesh is in the frame, trim the excess material close to the edging. You can use rubber cement to keep the new mesh in place and smooth over the rough edges.

Sometimes the original frame is made out of wood and more work is required to attach new mesh. The new mesh should be cut a little smaller then the border of the wood frame. Affix the new screen using a staple gun making sure the screen is taught.

Repairing or replacing a window screen doesn't require a call to the handy man or complicated power tools. It's an easy DIY project that will save you money especially if you frequently have damaged screens.

Ken Morris's detailed reports can be found on countless websites with information about rockwell tablesaws. His observations on rockwell power tools can be found on http://www.insidewoodworking.com/powertools/rockwellpowertools.html.