Spending time outdoors is so much more enjoyable without bugs and mosquitoes showing up en masse. Spring is right around the corner now though. That means the insect invasion isn’t far behind. How are your screens looking? If there are some that need replacing, it would be a good idea to get on that job now. Bugs will only become more of a nuisance the warmer the weather gets. If you put it off, odds are you’ll turn around and summer will be in full swing!
That’s totally understandable because life stays busy—especially if you have kids in sports or other extracurricular activities. If you choose to hire someone to handle the job, take some time to compare online reviews or ask friends and relatives if they can refer a company they’ve used in the past. A good rule of thumb is to have at least three companies come out to give you a job estimate. That way you can compare costs for materials and labor. We recommend throwing out the lowest right off the bat because they are the most likely to cut corners. Then, decide which contractor you’ll hire between the other two bids.
DIY screen replacement
If you are someone who likes to tackle minor jobs on your own, screen replacement isn’t a difficult task. It can get frustrating at times if you’re completing the job by yourself though. Especially if you’re replacing the screens on your pool or lanai enclosure—the new screen needs to be stretched tautly across its frame as it’s replaced. Replacing large screens with only two hands on the job can get tricky. It’s best to have a helper if at all possible.
Vinyl screen isn’t difficult to replace overall though. The screen is pushed into a small channel built into the aluminum or vinyl frame. It’s held in place with a thin tubular-shaped gasket called a spline. Replacing the screens requires a special tool called a spline tool. It’s a simple tool with a wood or plastic handle and has two small wheels on each end. One wheel has a convex edge and is used to work the screen into the channel. The other wheel has a concaved edge and it used to work the spline into the groove holding the screen in place.
To replace your screens, you will need:
- Replacement screen
- Replacement spline
- A small-headed tool, such as a thin flathead screwdriver or an awl
- Scissors
- Utility knife
- Spline tool
If you haven’t replaced screens before, it’s unlikely that you’ll have a spline tool on hand. They’re inexpensive though and make replacing the spline much easier. If you’re not sure what size spline you need to use, cut off a small section of the old spline and take it with you to the store.
How to replace your screens
Once you’ve gathered everything you need, the first thing to do is to remove the old spline and screen. Weather causes the spline to rot over time so you may need to use your screwdriver or awl to help you dig the old sections out of the groove. Hopefully, though, if you gently pull the end, it will continue to pull right out in one piece releasing the screen as you go.
Make sure the groove around the edge of the screen frame is clean of debris. Then, roll out the replacement screen over the top of the frame and cut it using the scissors. Cut the screen leaving one inch of excess on all sides. The next step is to begin working the screen into the channel one side at a time using the convex edge of the spline tool. We suggest beginning on one of the long sides of the screen. Use your small-headed tool to push an inch or so of the spline into the channel. Once you’ve gotten the spline started, use the concaved edge of the tool to work the spline into the channel.
Take your time so you can make sure you keep the screen as straight as possible while you work. This might be a good time to have that extra set of hands, by the way. Make sure not to pull the spline as you work it into the groove. It may be hard to refrain because it makes it easier to insert the spline into the groove of the channel. However, it will retract later and leave a gap in the channel and the screen can work its way out. When you reach the corner of the frame, use the convex edge of the spline tool to work the screen into the next side.
Continue your way around the frame until you come back to your starting point. Use your utility knife to cut off the excess spline. Trim any remaining excess screen along the outer edge of the screen channel.
That’s one down! Repeat the process if you have other screens to replace. The job takes some patience but isn’t labor intensive.
Other ideas to keep bugs at bay
Crickets and grasshoppers can actually eat their way through your screens. Grasshoppers are the biggest culprits and do their worst damage in late summer and during the fall when they start moving closer to homes to stay warm overnight. Wasps have been known to make their way through screens as well.
It’s best to deter them before they become a problem because if they make their way through, other pests are sure to follow. Keeping them away can be as easy as periodically spraying your screens with insect repellant! The smell won’t linger long—and spraying it on your screens is far better than coating every exposed inch of skin with the stuff.
You’ll find that having your lawn serviced regularly by a pest control company is going to eliminate the threat of crickets and grasshoppers. Keeping them out of your yard to begin with means that they won’t make it onto your screens at all. In the long run, paying a monthly fee for professional pest control is cheaper than replacing your enclosure and window screens.
Summer’s coming! Get your screens in shape now so you and your family can enjoy the sunshine and fresh air to the utmost—bug-free.