A New Screen for our Front Door
>> Wednesday, May 5, 2010 –
home improvement projects,
tutorials
What's the best thing about spring
after your house has been cooped up all winter long?
Why, opening up the windows, of course!
And being able to have a fresh breeze
flow through your house is even better!
Our front door came with a removable glass window
but no screen replacement.
Ugh.
So my wonderful husband discovered
that you can make your own screen door replacement
for less than $20!
Amazing!
{HERE'S WHAT WE NEEDED}
screen material
(we went with a roll of the thicker stuff
because we have a cat and a dog in the house)
a screen repair tool
(it looks like a double-sided pizza cutter)
spline (black rubbery string that holds the screen inside the frame)
(the size spline you need depends on the frame you get)
3 pieces of frame
they look like this (except longer)
a pack of 4 corner pieces
they look like this:
a tape measurer
saw (something that will cut through metal)
a flat-head screw driver
a utility knife
{1} Measure the frame to figure out the final dimensions of the frame.
Before you make any cuts, make sure you measure
the corner pieces--ours added 3/4 " on each end.
{2} Cut the frame pieces accordingly.
Two of the metal frame pieces will be for the two long sides,
the last metal frame piece will give you both of the shorter sides.
{3} Put your frame together.
Lay it face down on a flat surface
so that the ridge for the spline is facing up.
{4} Roll out your screen.
We cut it so there was a little hanging over both the top and bottom.
Make sure it's straight!
{5} Using the convex (cuved out) side of the screen repair tool,
carve a path for the spline along the top short edge of the screen .
{6} Starting in a corner, lay the spline along the path
and use the concave (curved in) side of the screen repair tool
to push in the spline. It will take several attempts to get it in all the way,
especially if you use a thick screen like we did.
Go until you reach the next corner.
{7} To do the corners, the screen repair tool doesn't fit quite right,
so pull out the flat head screwdriver to shove
the spline into the corner.
{8} Repeat convex roll, spline with concave roll, corner
until you get back to the beginning.
When you turn the corners,
be sure to help pull it as tight as you can so the screen
will lay flat.
{9} To finish, measure how much spline you need
to reach the corner, cut it with a utility knife (or scissors)
and finish putting it in with the flat head screwdriver.
{10} Cut away the extra screen with your utility knife.
Be careful!
{11} Install screen in door and
enjoy the cool breeze!
Wondering what Mezuzah means
and why we have it hanging above our door?
We have this explanation framed for all of our guests to read:
(click image to enlarge)
