A Guide To Wooden Screen Door Repair

Lead Image for A Guide To Wooden Screen Door Repair
  • 1-3 hours
  • Beginner
  • 5-300

Screen door repair must be done as soon as possible in order to avoid the unnecessary inconvenience of obnoxious insects roaming through the rooms of your house. You require only a few tools to repair a wooden screen door. If you pay enough attention and manage to repair the screen door correctly, then you will banish the insects from your house once again.

Checking the Wood

First of all, check the wooden frame of your screen door. Look carefully for any cracks or broken pieces in the wood. If you find that the screen is damaged, you can repair it by patching or by completely replacing it with a new one. Patching should be done if the tear or hole in the screen is not too large. However, if the screen has a long tear or a large hole, then you should repair it with a complete replacement.

Repairing a Hole in the Screen

You need a different technique depending on the size of the hole you want to repair. If you have a hole in your screen that is not larger than 1/4 of an inch, then some household glue should be enough to repair it. If you do not have household glue, use nail polish remover instead.

In case the hole is a bit larger than a quarter of an inch, you can fix it with a monofilament fishing line and weave the hole with it. Apply some glue to the hole after you finish weaving it. On the other hand, you should solve the problem by attaching a patch if the tear or hole in your screen is larger in size.

Selecting the New Screen

Pay a visit to your local home improvement store and collect a sample of different types of screen material. You can choose from metal or plastic screens. After you choose your new screen and go back home, remove the wooden screen door from the hinges and place it on a flat surface so that you will work more easily on it.

Repairing the Screen

If you want to repair the screen with a patch of the plastic screen, use a pair of scissors to cut the edges of the hole neatly, then cut a patch from the new plastic screen to cover the hole. You are recommended to cut a patch that is 2 inches wider than you want it. Apply a layer of adhesive to the new patch and to the outline of the hole. Put and press the patch into place, and leave it to dry thoroughly.

Replacing the Screen

Cut into the paint seal of the molding with a putty knife. Use a pair of pliers and a screwdriver that has a flat edge to take away the staples and nails. Take away the molding, put it aside, and remove the screen. Cut a large piece of screen that covers the wooden door as a replacement for the old damaged screen. Make sure that you have three extra inches on all four sides. Bow the frame a bit in order to avoid sags, and before you put the molding back, make sure the new screen is not hanging loosely.