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How to Replace or Upgrade Screening
Build a screen using the products that fit your lifestyle and will enhance your home. These step-by-step instructions will teach you how to assemble a screen frame for your window.
Tools & Materials
Use this checklist when you go to the store and purchase your items.
Choose a Screen Type
Aluminum: Durable, long-lasting, for all screen projects, in bright or charcoal finish
Fiberglass: Easy to install, for all screen projects, in gray or charcoal finish
Clear Advantage: Greater visibility and airflow than standard screen, least noticeable, greatest curb appeal
Pool and Patio: Stronger fiberglass screening for larger openings like porches
Solar Screen: Blocks the sun’s heat and glare, saves on air conditioning cost, prevents upholstery and carpet from fading
Pet D-Fence: Extra strong, resists damage by household pets
Select Aluminum Frame Pieces or a Frame Kit
If you don't have an existing screen frame, you'll need to build a new one. To build the frame, you’ll need four aluminum frame pieces, or you can purchase a screen frame kit. If you purchase a screen frame kit, skip the next two steps of these instructions.
Replace Spline
A flexible cord, called spline, holds the screen in place when rolled into the groove (channel) of the screen frame with a screen tool. It's available in gray and black in a number of different diameters because there are a variety of different screening material thicknesses and screen frame groove widths. Black is used with charcoal fiberglass and aluminum. Gray is used with bright aluminum and gray fiberglass. The best way to ensure correct spline sizing with an existing frame is to bring a sample of your old spline and match it.
To remove existing spline, lay the screen frame flat with the spline side up, on a flat work surface. Use a flat-head screwdriver to remove the old spline and screen.
Use the following estimates to help you determine what size spline your screen needs.
.125 in. (.31 cm) diameter: Use with New York Wire frames and the following screen materials: Aluminum, Pet D-Fence, Solar
.140 in. (.35 cm) diameter: Use with New York Wire frames and the following screen materials: Fiberglass, No See Um, Clear Advantage, Pool & Patio
.160 in. (.41 cm) diameter: Use with aluminum frame pieces with 7/16-in. grooves
.175 in. (.44 cm), .190 in. (.48 cm) and .220 in. (.56 cm) diameter: Use in older homes and in screen frames with larger spline grooves
For a firmer hold, purchase spline in the next-largest diameter. If you purchase spline that's slightly too large, simply hold one end and pull gently to stretch the spline thinner as you roll it into the channel. The spline will return to its original shape for greater holding power.
Select Screen Hardware
To assemble your frame, you’ll need four screen corners that slide into the aluminum frame pieces to hold them together at the corners.
To hold your screen frame in the window frame, you may need retention hardware, such as top-tension springs, nylon turn buttons, screen frame hangers or wire loop and latch. If in doubt, purchase top-tension springs, as they're easiest to install while building your screen frame and don't require drilling into your window frame.
Build a New Frame
Step 1
Measure to cut the screen frame pieces to size. Measure the existing screen or location where the screen will be placed. Subtract 1 1/2 inches from the height and width to allow for screen corners. For example, if you want a 24-inch-wide-by36-inch-long frame, cut the lineals to 22 1/2 inches and 34 1/2 inches. If using top-tension springs, subtract an additional 1/8 inch from the length of the vertical pieces.
Step 2
Cut and assemble the frame. Mark the screen frame pieces for cutting. Square-cut the frame pieces carefully using a hacksaw. Insert the screen corners into the longer frame pieces. If top-tension springs are used, insert them into the short frame piece at the top, and then slide the other corner from the long-side pieces into place. Attach the short bottom piece to the finish frame.
Install Screening
Step 1
Lay the screening over the frame. Lay the frame down with the channel side up. Tape the center of each outside edge of the frame to your work surface to secure it. Lay the screening over the frame.
Step 2
Cut the screening to size. Using scissors or a utility knife, cut the screening 1 inch larger and wider than the frame so that the screen material overlaps the channel a 1⁄2 inch on all sides. Cut the corners of the screen material down the center to create 45-degree angled pieces that will overlap at the frame corners to create a neater corner. If using pull tabs, insert into the frame spline channel at the bottom of the frame opposite the tension springs.
Step 3
Roll the spline into the frame with the screen tool. If using aluminum, solar or pet screening, use the round end of the spline tool to roll the screening into the spline channel. This causes the screening to conform to the shape of the channel and will make it much easier to roll the spline into place.
Starting at the corner and using the grooved end of the spline tool, roll the spline into the channel on top of the screen to hold the screen in place. Hold the screen material straight and taut for the best finished appearance.
Step 4
Trim excess screen. When all four sides are completed, trim the excess screening with a utility knife by using the top of the spline as a cutting guide and the outside of the spline channel as the cutting surface.
Screen Parts and Accessories
- Top-tension springs slide into the top of the frame. If you're creating a replacement frame that has side-tension springs, simply place on the sides as per your old screen frame.
- Screen corners are inserted into the ends of the lineal to build the screen frame.
- Frame screen spring plungers are inserted by drilling carefully into the framing prior to assembly. This hardware is used to hold the screen frame into the channel.
- A cross bar should be created and inserted on a screen larger than 36 inches in height or width. This can be cut to length from a lineal frame piece and secured into place with the clips to add stability and to prevent twisting of the frame.
- Lineals (or screen frame pieces) are individual pieces of screen frame in 84-inch-long lengths used to create top-, side- and cross-bar parts for screen frames.
- Wire loop latches clip into the channel prior to rolling in the screen and spline. These are then screwed fast to the wooden window frames to secure the screen frame into place.
- Pull t abs are rolled into the channel to allow the screen to be more easily pulled out of a window frame for cleaning or winter storage.
- Use a screen tool to roll the screen and the spline into the grooved channel of a screen frame.
- Spline is a rubber cord that holds the screening into a screen frame.
- Friction screen hangers are installed into a window frame usually on the side toward the top to retain the screen frame. They're often used with wire loop latches.
- Frame clips are screwed into a window frame to hold the screen frame in place, but still allow removal of the screen for cleaning and storage by turning them.
- Nylon turn buttons are another option similar to frame clips to secure your screen frame into place.
- Screen door replacement clips with screws retain the glass or the screen framing into your door frame.
- Window grill clips reattach decorative window grills.
- Aluminum screen patch repair kits quickly repair small holes in mesh without doing a complete screen replacement.
Project Information
- Skill Level: Intermediate
*Time and Cost are estimated.