Puka be gone
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Video: Learn to repair your torn screen |
By Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Live in Hawai'i for any length of time and you're probably going to live in a home with screens on the windows. But the price for fresh, bug-free trade winds is the inevitable screen repair job.
A lot of homeowners consider this a daunting task and will seek a professional to do a job that really isn't too difficult, said James Cates, president of Kailua Screen Shop.
"It's something they can do themselves," said the 57-year-old Cates, who has been repairing screens since 1969. "It is just more time-consuming, and getting the feel for it."
The job requires only a few simple hand tools — and who couldn't use more hand tools?
YOU'LL NEED:
Cates prefers charcoal black fiberglass screen fabric, which is available at any hardware store.
"The reason we use a black fabric is because it looks clear from the inside when you look out," he said. "The gray fabric will reflect the light and make things on the outside appear fuzzy." However, Cates notes, "This fabric itself does not give you any sun protection. It is your standard insect window screen."
If the spline is no longer elastic, it will need to be replaced, Cates said. But not all spline is created equal. After you've removed the rubber, save a short length so you can match it with the correct size, he said.
No matter how well you prepare the grooves that hold the spline, fitting the new cloth to an old frame may result in slight imperfections — small "bubbles" — at the edge of the frame, Cates said. Not to worry, the screen will still work, he said.
Screens are damaged in all sorts of ways, including the ravages of rats and mice. Rodent damage requires extra preparation.
"We tell customers the best thing to do is put on a temporary patch and catch the varmint first, then disinfect the area," Cates said. "They will follow their own scent to get in and out of the house again. You want to make sure you catch them."
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| Repair your torn screen 1st: Inspect your screen. Your ability to make a repair depends on the condition of the grooves that allow the rubber spline to hold the fiberglass screen cloth in place. If the grooves are too corroded, the spline will not fit snugly, and the jagged edges of the aluminum could cut the fabric. You'll need a brand new frame if this is the case. 2nd: Remove the old screen, clean it. Use an ice pick to pry away the rubber spline at one end, and gently pull the rest away from the fame. The old fiberglass cloth can then be removed. Save the spline for reuse if it's still elastic. You can use the pick, or a similar small tool, to carefully clean debris and corrosion from the grooves. Caution: Keep your free hand behind the pick, because if it slips, you could stab yourself. "You want to clean (the grooves) because the rubber goes down into that and expands," Cates said. "If the screen just gets rolled in and goes straight down in it, any pressure against it will push it right out." 3rd: Install your new screen. Use your roller to press the spline into the groove. Hold the screen in place to prevent bubbles in the fabric where it meets the frame. At the corners, use your screwdriver to set the spline in place. When you reach the third and fourth legs of the frame, put tension on the fabric at the corner, pulling it away at a 45-degree angle in order to keep it stretched for the last two legs. But don't pull it too tight — you could bow the frame. "When we get to the third and fourth side, sometimes we push the screen fabric in gently so it is in place, and then we hold pressure on the screen fabric as we roll it down," Cates said. "That is a technique you just have to get the feel for." 4th: Trim the fabric. With a sharp utility knife, cut away the excess fiberglass screen cloth. It will be easier if you hold the side with the excess material and pull it taught while cutting. |
Reach Mike Gordon at mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com.
