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How to replace a screen in a door

Holes in your screen? Here is how to replace the screen on your door, the easy, cheap, DIY way!

how to replace a screen on a screened door or window - super simple way to repair screens after your dog rips them! Charleston Crafted

We love our wonderful pooch CiCi. However, she can be a little rambunctious sometimes when she gets excited.

Well, we had a baby shower a couple of weeks ago and put CiCi outside. She didn’t like that, so she decided to claw her way through our screen door.

That meant we learned how to replace a screen door screen. It’s really actually quite easy and you can do it too!

How To Replace a Screen Door Screen - Charleston Crafted

How to replace the screen on a door

Supplies:

  • Drill
  • Replacement screen
  • Spline tool
  • Flat head screwdriver
  • Scissors

First, take the door off the hinges and lay it down flat. Then, remove the handle for the door as it will be in the way.

How To Replace a Screen Door Screen - Charleston Crafted
How To Replace a Screen Door Screen - Charleston Crafted

If you’ve never done this before, you’re about to learn a new term- spline.

Spline is the rubber line that runs through the grooves in your screen door that holds down your screen.

So next, grab hold of the end of the spline and pull it out all the way around the door.

How To Replace a Screen Door Screen - Charleston Crafted

Now just pull off your old screen.

How To Replace a Screen Door Screen - Charleston Crafted

Next, roll out your new screen and cut it so that there is about an inch around each edge on each side.

How To Replace a Screen Door Screen - Charleston Crafted

Now it’s time to grab your old spline if it’s still in good shape or a new line of spline if it isn’t.

Also time to grab a rolling tool that will get the spline back in the groove.

Line the spline up with the groove and use short, repetitive movements around the entire door with the rolling tool, jamming the spline down into the groove.

This will tighten the screen on itself, so no need to really pull it and tighten on your own.

You will need a flathead screwdriver or something similar to press the corners down.

How To Replace a Screen Door Screen - Charleston Crafted
How To Replace a Screen Door Screen - Charleston Crafted

Now that the spline is in place, use an Xacto knife or something similar and cut off the excess screen from around the edges.

How To Replace a Screen Door Screen - Charleston Crafted

Finally, put your handle back on and re-hang your door.

How To Replace a Screen Door Screen - Charleston Crafted

It all takes about 15 minutes and was super easy for first timers like us. So it shouldn’t be too hard for anyone else.

Now you can enjoy great evenings out your screen porch with no bugs to bother you!

Be sure to check out our guide on 3 ways to repair a screen door.

How To Replace a Screen Door Screen - Charleston Crafted
Yield: 1 new screen door

How to replace a screen door

Active Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

Check out this super simple tutorial for how to replace the screen on your screen door!

Materials

  • Screen
  • Spline
  • Door frame

Tools

  • Screen rolling tool
  • Screwdriver
  • Exacto knife
  • Scissors

Instructions

  1. Take the door off the hinges and lay it down flat.
  2. Remove the handle for the door.
  3. Grab hold of the end of the spline and pull it out all the way around the door.
  4. Pull off your old screen.
  5. Roll out your new screen and cut it so that there is about an inch around each edge on each side.
  6. Line the spline up with the groove and use short, repetitive movements around the entire door with the rolling tool, jamming the spline down into the groove.
  7. Use a flat head screwdriver to help push in the corners.
  8. Use knife to trim excess screen.
  9. Reattach handle.
  10. Rehang door.

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