Screen Frames

      

Metal Frames-
Screening is held to metal frames with plastic or metal splines that ft into grooves (dados) in the frames.

To remove the damaged screening, find the end of the spline-usually at a corner or near one-and flick an end out of the groove with the corner of a putty knife, tip of a nail, ice pick, pocketknife. Then remove the entire spline from the groove by lifting it up and out. Flexible plastic splines sort of "unravel" out of the channel; metal splines may take some prying and coaxing. Go easy with metal; you will use them once again, so don't bend or kink them.

Once the splines are removed, the screening can be pulled off the frame.

Lay the new screening over the frame. Then, with a spline roller (with flexible spline) press the screening/spline into the groove along one short side of the frame. Do the same thing along the other short side of the frame.

Insert and roll the spline into the channel along one long side of the frame. Then lightly stretch the screening across the frame and roll in the spline along the other side of the frame. Chances are that the frame will bow slightly under stretching pressure. If so, cut and fit a length of 1X2 to go between the top and bottom inside edges of the frame. Wedge the 1X2 between these members. Now, when you stretch the screening, the 1X2 will act as a brace and prevent the frame from bowing.

Metal splines are inserted with your fingers and then tapped into position with a hammer. Use a small block of wood between the hammer and the spline as a buffer block so you don't damage the spline. Work along the short sides of the frame first and then the long sides, following the same procedures as detailed above. Before inserting these splines double-check to be sure that the splines are not bent or otherwise damaged along the edges. A sharp edge, for example, could rip the screening as the spline is tapped into position.

FRAME MAINTENANCE:
Other than an annual washing and polishing and waxing, metal screen frames need little maintenance. Wooden frames, however, often need to be painted, planed to ft openings, reinforced, or even replaced with new components or brand new frames. This is easy to do, inexpensive, and fast.

Paint-
Plan on painting screen frames every time you paint the house-5 to 8 years. Trim paint is recommended for the frames because trim paint usually is semi-glossy and dirt and grime can be cleaned more easily from it than house body (structure) paint. You can, of course, use body paint, if special color matching is necessary.

Paint all of the frame-outside, inside, and the edges. The paint not only helps prevent wood rot but also warping of the screen frames.

Reinforcement-
Over a period of time, expect the wood joints in the frames to loosen or even break apart. This is normal. You can add reinforcement to these joints with metal mending plates for sale at most home center, building material, and hardware stores. There is a large variety of sizes; prices are not prohibitive.

Mending plates go across the bad joints and are fastened to the frame with screws. The angle plates are attached to the inside or outside edges of the frame-also with screws. Pre-drill pilot holes for the screws to prevent splitting the screen frame.

Replacement-
If the frame has completely rotted out, it is easy to fabricate a new frame from top grade 1X2s or 1X3s. You can miter the frame joints and pin them together with nails or corrugated fasteners. Or, you can butt join the pieces together, also with nails and corrugated fasteners and metal angle plates screwed to the inside and/or outside of the frame. If you have the equipment, we'd recommend doweling the joints (butt) with two dowels per joint.

The screen is attached to the frame with staples or large-headed tacks and a piece of screen molding is then fastened over the screen fasteners. However, before the screen is attached, give the frames a prime and two top coats of paint to deter rot.

MAKING METAL FRAMES:
Metal screen frames can be fabricated from do-it yourself aluminum components made especially for screening. The components are pre-grooved to accept metal or plastic-type spline materials. The corners go together in miter joints, and there are 90-degree connectors that fit into the hollow aluminum components to joint the pieces.

You also can buy stock screen sizes with metal frames and some brand-name window and door manufacturers offer tailor-made screens (and storm windows) to ft their products. Or, you can contact a metal fabricator to custom ft screens and storms to your home.

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