Replacing or repairing patio screens


  #1  
Old 04-09-21, 01:04 PM
D
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 421
Received 3 Upvotes on 3 Posts
Replacing or repairing patio screens

I have a large patio with screens enclosing all three sides and one screen recently got damaged. I'm looking at repairing or replacing it but I'm a little lost. These are older screens, at least 10 years old. Would it be better to replace? If not, how would I repair a screen? These are held on with four screws. I don't see a way to open one up to repair.
 
  #2  
Old 04-09-21, 01:17 PM
Norm201's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: United States
Posts: 10,956
Received 721 Upvotes on 640 Posts
Pictures please! Both from afar and close up.
You might be able to rescreen without taking the frame out. You need to measure the width of he screen and determine the total length of spline needed.
If I see some pics maybe I can walk you through it.
 
  #3  
Old 04-09-21, 02:29 PM
Marq1's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: USA MI
Posts: 9,745
Received 1,210 Upvotes on 1,098 Posts
Its been a few years but screen repair is relativly simple. Getting the right screen material, the rubber spline, and a roller tool to insert the spline into the frame.

Price our replacement screens, might convince you to give it a try!

The biggest question, are the frames straight and square?
 
  #4  
Old 04-09-21, 03:05 PM
Norm201's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: United States
Posts: 10,956
Received 721 Upvotes on 640 Posts
The biggest question, are the frames straight and square?
Those can usually be straighten out if you can take apart the frame. If it's too far bent or twisted I usually put a wood core into the framing at the point of bend or kink. Problem is once a screen gets warped no matter how much you straighten the frame, once you put that screen on it tends to want to go back to bow.
 
  #5  
Old 04-09-21, 03:07 PM
P
Group Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NC, USA
Posts: 27,592
Received 2,144 Upvotes on 1,920 Posts
In most cases it's pretty easy to replace screens whether it's stapled or with the more popular spline. If you can find a matching screen you can probably get away with replacing only the one damaged panel. But, both aluminum and fiberglass screen break down over time so now is a good time to look at your other screens to see if they are ready to be replaced.
 
  #6  
Old 04-09-21, 03:13 PM
Norm201's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: United States
Posts: 10,956
Received 721 Upvotes on 640 Posts
My suggestion is stay away from aluminum screening. It's the last choice I offer my customers. Only because it dents, can have bubbles and it's tough to get a tight lay, especially the bigger the screens.
Also if you have more than one screen, it's worth checking prices for new ones vs repairing. Often the cost of repair can exceed to cost of new if you have enough frames to be replaced.
 
  #7  
Old 04-09-21, 03:26 PM
Norm201's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: United States
Posts: 10,956
Received 721 Upvotes on 640 Posts
Speaking of screens I'm at the height of my repairs. I'm averaging twenty units at any given day for the past month and that should increase as late spring and early summer approach. Most are just rescreening, but repairs is what takes the time. I'm about 45% over in quantity from last year at this same time. COVID has people pent up and first chance they get all hell breaks loose. I'm only officially scheduled one day a week for 6 hours, I'm already averaging three days a week at 8 hours each. Only 9 days into the month and I have had 38 units already. 78 units for the month of March. 137 units since beginning of the year.
And if I get a glass window repair that really cuts into my turn around time. Two glass windows this week. One metal frame, one wood glazing. I quote 7 to 10 days or B4 but so far I'm averaging 3.5 days turn around completion.
 
  #8  
Old 04-11-21, 09:34 AM
D
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 421
Received 3 Upvotes on 3 Posts
Here's the hole. It's not too big. I'm open to anything to fix it.
 
  #9  
Old 04-11-21, 02:33 PM
Norm201's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: United States
Posts: 10,956
Received 721 Upvotes on 640 Posts
Well I've seen just about everything as far as fixing a torn screen.
You can put clear packing tape over it. You can sew it back together.
You can't do anything but replace it if you wait it to look good.

How is the screen held in the frame? Spline or staples or wood trim?
 
  #10  
Old 04-11-21, 07:17 PM
D
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 421
Received 3 Upvotes on 3 Posts
It's in an aluminum frame...I'm not sure what you mean. There's a few holes that hold it to the wood.
 
  #11  
Old 04-11-21, 07:36 PM
Norm201's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: United States
Posts: 10,956
Received 721 Upvotes on 640 Posts
So how is the aluminum (or cloth) screen held into the aluminum frame which in turn is screwed to the wood frame? I suspect that if it's an aluminum or metal frame then a spline (thin rubber cord in a groove) is holding the screen material in place.
Need more pics both from afar and close up.
 
  #12  
Old 04-12-21, 06:17 AM
D
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 421
Received 3 Upvotes on 3 Posts
Here's a close up of the frame and I guess how it's held in


 
  #13  
Old 04-12-21, 06:40 AM
Norm201's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: United States
Posts: 10,956
Received 721 Upvotes on 640 Posts
Looks like a spline cord and I don't think you can or should remove the frame. This is a rescreen on the job site situation. Buy a piece of cloth screen the width plus a couple inches more and about the length plus about 6" more. Remove a piece of the existing spline and bring it with you to get the same size. Buy enough to cover total perimeter. Buy a decent screen tool. Try to get the larger style wheels if available. after removing the old screen start at the top and using the then blade of the tool run a groove with the screen into the frame. Repeat on opposite end. Do not pull to tight (a little slack is OK). Repeat on either side. The spline will stretch and you may end up with a foot or two left over, that's normal.
 
diy_in_atl voted this post useful.
  #14  
Old 04-12-21, 07:18 AM
D
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 421
Received 3 Upvotes on 3 Posts
Understood. Where do you suggest I get the supplies to do this?

 
  #15  
Old 04-12-21, 08:47 AM
P
Group Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NC, USA
Posts: 27,592
Received 2,144 Upvotes on 1,920 Posts
You can buy the supplies almost anywhere; local hardware store, big box home center, order online... Screen and spline are commonly available items. If replacing just one panel you want to find a new screen that matches the others as closely as possible so they look the same. Or, if redoing all the panels you can choose what type of screen you want. Some has smaller openings for keeping out tiny insects. Some is more durable to resist damage while others are specially made to resist damage from dog and cat claws. And even others are designed to block some of the sunlight.
 
Norm201 voted this post useful.
  #16  
Old 04-12-21, 01:47 PM
D
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 421
Received 3 Upvotes on 3 Posts
Ok. I didn't know if there was some particular place that specialized in this type of this.
 
  #17  
Old 04-14-21, 07:34 PM
D
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 421
Received 3 Upvotes on 3 Posts
One more thing...is there a good way to make this screen quick removable? I'd like to just remove it while I'm grilling.
 
  #18  
Old 04-15-21, 03:56 AM
Norm201's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: United States
Posts: 10,956
Received 721 Upvotes on 640 Posts
Depends on how the frame is attached.
 
  #19  
Old 04-17-21, 08:14 PM
D
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 421
Received 3 Upvotes on 3 Posts
There's two holes drilled in the frame that mount to the wood pillars in the patio.
 
  #20  
Old 04-18-21, 04:54 AM
Norm201's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: United States
Posts: 10,956
Received 721 Upvotes on 640 Posts
Remove them. Does the screen frame come off?
 
  #21  
Old 04-18-21, 06:02 PM
D
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 421
Received 3 Upvotes on 3 Posts
Yes. That's what held them in. I'd like to make the screen easier to remove
 
  #22  
Old 04-19-21, 03:34 AM
Norm201's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: United States
Posts: 10,956
Received 721 Upvotes on 640 Posts
Well you'll need to use your imagination a bit. You might try butterfly wings

 
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question
Question Title:
Description: