Fed up of damaged window screens? Well, we got you covered. Window screens can get torn or punctured over time, but as long as the frame is adequate, it is fixable. When dealing with a broken or a damaged window, it is not always necessary to call in a window screen repair specialist. You can fix it yourself by being the repair specialist, and if not, you can always go for screen replacement.

How to fix a window screen?

Before jumping into the procedure of repairing the window screen, you must select the material you would use as a replacement carefully. There are usually three different types of material available in the market which you can select according to your need and use as a replacement. The first and most common kind is fibreglass. It is best suited for the purpose because of its flexibility and also because if somehow you manage to mess the instalment up, you can always take it out and try again. Next up is aluminium screens. These screens are sturdier than fiberglass, but you only have one shot at installment with them. The third type of material is a sun-shading fabric. Not only does it block the sun but also is stronger than the other two materials. It is best suited for pet-owners. So, before starting the repair process, know your material!

1. Step one: Throw the spline away

The first step includes prying the old spline out with the help of a narrow screwdriver. Splines tend to get hard and brittle as they age, which makes it non-advisory for reuse. So it's better to throw that old spline away.

2. Step two: Secure the frame

Next, you would have to place wooden blocks at the insides of the two longest sides of the frame and secure it to the work surface. The blocks prevent the frame from bowing inwards when you install the screen replacement material.

3. Step three: Place the new screen

Carefully position the new screen over the frame. Keep in mind that the new screen should overlap the frame by about an inch. Once that's done, make 45-degree cuts at each corner slightly beyond the spline groove. This would prevent bunching of the screen in the corners.

4. Step four: Begin installing

Start pushing the new screen in and always start from a corner. The spline and the screen material can be installed into the groove by using a screen rolling tool. Continue the process around the frame. If bulges or wrinkles appear, don’t panic. Just take the spline out and re-roll. Apart from that, the small wrinkles should tighten up as you reach the starting corner again.

5. Step five: Trim the screen

For this, you would need a utility knife with a new blade. You just need to trim the excess screen material off with the help of the knife. Placing the knife above the spline and pointing it towards the outside of the frame might do the trick. Don't forget to check the blade before using it. As mentioned, the blade should be a new and a sharp one because dull and blunt blades tend to pull the material rather than cutting them.

6. Step six: Maintaining proper screen tension

During the installation of the new screen, proper screen tension needs to be maintained. If the screen tension is loose, the screen will sag. If you pull it too tight, especially on large window screens, the tension can bow the aluminium sides. All you need to maintain the proper amount of tension is a brick or a similarly heavy object. Once the screen is rolled inside the first two adjoining sides, place the heavy object in the center of the screen and continue to install the fabric on the other two sides. This evens the tension and makes the process smooth. Once done, remove the object.

So, these were some simple steps which you can follow when you feel like repairing your window screens. The next time you feel like your windows need some maintenance; you can skip the part where you call a window screen repair guy and get the job done yourself. This way you can save some money and learn a skill that comes handy in every season because a hole in the window screen in summers is an open invitation for insects and flies while in winters, it can bring a cold breeze in. Both ways, it is very unpleasant and hostile.

With that being said, window screens are a gift to mankind. They protect your windows, and now you can protect them, or at least repair/replace them. Well, don't worry if your screens are damaged or broken because once you're done with the above mentioned six steps, you would've made a breakthrough in the window screen repairing department!

Jenny Clarke is a professional writer, blogger who writes for a variety of online publications. She loves writing blogs and promoting websites related to education, beauty, fashion, travel, health and technology sectors.