Source: Daily Breeze
Publication date: May 11, 2009
If insects are invading your home, it could be that your window screens are in need of repair.
If the screen frame, usually made of wood or metal, is in good shape there is no need for replacement of the entire unit; simply re- screen the frame.
When re-screening, instead of using ordinary metal or vinyl material, consider a dense vinyl mesh. This material will not only keep out bugs but also will prevent a significant amount of heat from the sun from entering your home.
An average-size screen will take only about 15 minutes for a do- it-yourselfer, with a cost of less than $5.
For a screen with an aluminum frame, you'll need a pair of needle- nose pliers, a razor knife with a sharp blade and a spline installation tool or spline roller, which looks like a pizza cutter.
In most aluminum-framed screens, the screen material is held in place by a vinyl bead called spline which is inserted into a channel that runs the entire perimeter of the frame.
You need to remove the existing spline in order to remove the old screen material and install the new screen material. Use the needle- nose pliers to grasp one end of the spline, usually found at a corner, and peel it back until reaching the other end. The spline generally is installed in one piece, but due to aging may have to be removed in pieces.
Once the spline has been removed, simply peel back the old screen and dispose of it and the spline.
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