Well our home is 22 years old and because of recent life changes (job loss and not quite old enough to retire) we are going to be selling our home and down sizing in the near future (this will be good for us in so many ways). We have been addressing the things that will make this home more attractive to sell and the next thing on my list is replacing all of the screens because all are worn, faded, and/or torn. This way they will all match. The current windows are Jordan Premium and have good removable aluminum frames in each window. Jordan windows is no longer in business therefore this just became a DIY project for me.

I wanted to ask if anyone can provide any recommendations, shortcuts, tools, etc. that will make this project run smoother. The current screens are fiberglass or nylon and the plan is to go back with the same (not going with aluminum).

Thanks in advance for any help. I am about to watch as many You Tube videos as I can related to this DIY project also.

Mark

Take the screens off and put them in the basement. Save the money.

quote:

Originally posted by sigarmsp226:
... the next thing on my list is replacing all of the screens because all are worn, faded, and/or torn.

Are you referring to the screen material, the frames, or both?

quote:

Originally posted by sigarmsp226:
I wanted to ask if anyone can provide any recommendations, shortcuts, tools, etc. that will make this project run smoother. The current screens are fiberglass or nylon and the plan is to go back with the same (not going with aluminum).

If you're just talking about replacing the screen material in the existing frames: It's a fairly trivial project.

You just need the material, the window screen spline material that secures the screen material into the channel around the perimeter of the frame, a pair of scissors suitable for cutting the material, and a spine roller for press-rolling the spline material into the channel.

You are planning to sell so fiberglass is cheap and easy.
If you were keeping I would recommend using aluminum screen as it lasts longer and looks better in my opinion.

We have a guy here who does window screens for very little more money than the material would cost me at the hardware store. In fact, a clerk at the hardware store told me about him. Might be worth asking around to find out if there’s a guy who does that in your area.

Our local ACE Hardware offers a screen repair service, we took every screen off the house to them and it wasn't very expensive at all.

They replaced cracked and broken plastic corners, screen material, etc, all came back as good as new..

You could also check FB Marketplace or Craigslist for someone that will come out and pick them up and repair.

Thanks guys for the replies. I will check with our local Ace and small hardware stores to see if they provide this service. If not I will gather the required materials and start working on this during bad weather (in my heated shop), one by one over the winter..

Thanks again for everyone taking time to respond.

It's not hard. Using new spline material, and the screen roller tool, makes things easier. Hardware stores have replacement plastic parts, and even replacement aluminum, if you have frames that are badly faded or damaged.

The key is not to get the screen material too tight in the frame. Use the screen material itself to make sure you are "square" and not either off line, or too tight, where there are fewer columns in the middle of the span, than there are at the top and bottom. Ask me how I know. It involved a screen door. And swearing...

The screening material can be expensive, particularly if your sizing results in a lot of waste. It is definitely worth asking for the price of a local service.

Replacing the screen fabric is not a tough job. That is, unless you are using the wrong tools, or are terminally impatient! There is a little bit of trial and error needed in getting the tension right, but otherwise, just take your time (and buy a quality spline roller tool).

BTW, there are of different screen fabrics available of which most people are probably unaware. Pet resistant, invisible, solar, etc.

However, if you plan to sell before Spring, I suggest "taking the screening down for the winter" and storing in an unobtrusive place. Unless your windows are absolutely filthy, the house will probably show better without them, even with new fabric.


Quality Window Screen is an on-line provider I've bought from and been happy with.

Taking a couple of mine out to clean the windows and the Plastic Pull Tabs cracked / broke. Replaced all the tabs with Metal ones.

quote:

Our local ACE Hardware offers a screen repair service...

Not Ace where I am, but our local hardware store does this. I took 3 window screens, and our deck door screen in to have them done. They completed it in a day or two and the bill was under $35.

Another vote for ACE. They made them screens, and they were quite affordable. I am satisfied with their stuff. And yes, they also do repairs, but I didn't go that way, because mine were really falling apart.

If Ace or anyone around you offers the service, the odds are it's cheaper to go that route. I couldn't even buy the bulk aluminum screen online for what Ace quoted me...