Ready to open the windows and let some fresh air inside your home? If your window screens are torn or broken, you could wind up letting insects in, too. The good news is, it’s easy to repair a broken window screen on your own. All you need is a roll of replacement screen, a pair of pliers, a utility knife and a special tool called a spline tool that looks something like a small pizza cutter. All of these items can be purchased from your local hardware store for just a few dollars each.
Start by removing the damaged screen frame from the window.
Lay the frame on a flat surface and look for a rubber spline that holds the screen in a groove on the inner surface of the frame. Find the end of this spline and use your pliers to carefully remove it from the frame. This will free the broken screen from the frame and allow you to replace it with a new one.
Next, cut a new piece of screen that is a few inches larger than the frame itself. Lay your new screen flat over the frame and position one end of the rubber spline at a corner of the frame. Now you can use the spline tool to press the spline back into the groove so that it holds the new screen in place. Roll this tool around the entire perimeter of the frame until the screen is taught and secure on all sides. Once the spline is back in place and the screen is secure, you can use a utility knife to cut the excess screen from the edges of the frame.
And there you have it! Your window screen is good as new. Just pop the frame back in the window and you can enjoy a cool breeze without having to worry about insects finding their way inside.
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