If you live in a part of the world where you need a window screen than you should learn how to put them in yourself. DIY windows are not a hard thing to do especially when it comes to window screens. Window screens can keep intruders out and help you feel comfortable indoors. They can help keep fresh air in, but keep bugs out. You’ll need to replace them once in awhile because they are rather fragile.

If you want to replace your own window screens then check out this list of materials that you’ll need: screening or screening patches, household cement, razor knife, scissors, screen rolling tool, square, brads, stapler, 1×2 and 1×4 stock to stretch your screening, and wood putty.

If the hole is your screening is tiny, like 3 inches across or less then you can just repair it on its own. If you have a plastic screen then you might need to replace the whole thing cause those can be difficult to patch. If you have a metal screen then patching them is really simple. A fiberglass screen could be patched or replaced depending on the hole.

All you have to do is simply measure your hole and then buy some patches for screening. If the hole is small then the patch should be about a half-inch loner than the hole itself. The hole is big then the patch should be an inch longer across than the hole.

You simply put the patch in the screen and then take off a few strands from the patch and interweave this with the area by the hole. When its in place you can bend the strands to hold them in place. You may need pliers to do this depending.

If you need to replace the screen then you should know there is a difference between metal and wooden frames. This is how you replace a metal frame:

You must remove the screen from the window and then lay out the frame. You can remove the rubber from the old screen. You can reuse it if it is in good condition, if its not then you can throw it out and cut out new rubber edging.

Throw out the old screening, but you can use good bits and save them for any future repairs. You need to measure the screening using the dimensions of the old screen to help you or measure your window. Leave a bit of screening left on the sides.

Use a screen rolling tool and start in the corner of a window frame to get the screening in the right spot. Put the rubber edging down and then put the screen in securely. Or your way around the screen with your hand. Try not to bend the screen frame. Once the screening is in securely you can cut it with a razor knife around the edges to clean it up. Remember that repairing a window is a much simpler job than doing a spray paint so you do not need tools like an air compressor to do the job.

By: Ray L. Walberg