Replacing Screen On Sliding Patio Door

A sliding screen door allows warm air to enter the home while keeping out bugs and other pests. Over time and with use, the screen in the door can become worn and even tear. When this happens the screen can no longer keep out the bugs and pests as it was designed to do. You can replace an old and worn screen in your patio door with the right tools and materials and with a moderate investment of time.


Tools Of The Trade
Two saw horses
Piece of plywood
Eight one foot pieces of 2-by-4s
2-1/2 inch wood screws
Electric drill
Driver bit
Standard screwdriver
Spline
Screen
Spline tool
Utility knife

Step 1:
Remove the door from the frame by grabbing it on both sides and lifting it up and pulling out the bottom from the track. Pull the top out of the track on top once the bottom has been removed.

Step 2:
Setup two saw horses parallel to each other and about five feet apart. Lay a piece of plywood on top of the saw horses. Place the screen door on the plywood.

Step 3:
Place two pieces of one foot lengths of 2-by-4s around each corner of the door and secure them to the plywood using 2-1/2 inch wood screws and an electric drill with a driver bit installed. The 2-by-4s will ensure that the door frame stays square while the old screen is removed and the new one is installed.

Step 4:
Pry out the spline that holds the old screen into the frame using a standard screwdriver and starting at a corner. Pull out the entire spline from around the door using a combination of the screwdriver and your hand. Pull off the old screen from the frame once all the spline has been removed.

Step 5:
Place the new screen evenly over the frame. When you purchase the screen ensure that it is 3 to 4 inches larger on all sides than the door frame.

Step 6:
Press the new spline over the screen and into the channel in the door frame, thus trapping the screen in the channel. Ensure that the spline has no slack in it as you work it into the channel around the frame. Use a spline tool to insert the spline into the channel. Also ensure that the screen lays flat and doesn't wrinkle.

Step 7:
Cut off the excess screen from around the frame using a utility knife. Reinstall the door by inserting the top into the track at the top of the door frame, then set the bottom in place.