Please pardon mismatched pages as we do a little renovating of our own.

Ouch! How did that mosquito get in here? You need a screen repair and quick

Window screen repair is about as forefront in your mind as ash content in your dogs food right? Well, screens happen to keep out all of those pesky little insects that bite, irritate and basically annoy us. So having a good, solid screen is important. Most screens can develop a small hole or tear from any number of things, kid's fingers, branches or even a good size bug. The problem is that those holes get bigger and eventually get big enough to let in bugs. If you're getting flying bugs in your home, you may have a hole in a screen that you need to repair. Let's get that repair done now.

Before you begin you need to decide if you want to repair or replace the screen. A small decision on your part.

If you want to repair it then you'll need a screen repair patch kit, available at most hardware stores. Around $5 or so.

If you're going to replace it then you'll need screening (comes in a roll), spline (the rubber rope that keeps it in place)and a spline tool. All in all about $10-$20. Keep in mind that you'll have enough spline and screen to fix more than one screen and the tool is yours forever or until you lose it. Replacing the screen is more work but you do get a more finished look and you probably won't ever have to do it again. If you patch it instead, you should get a few more years of use but you'll always notice the patch when you look at it. It'll "bug" you until you break down and replace the screen.

---

Here are the steps to your screen repair.

1. Locate the culprit screen

2. Remove the screen and close that window

3. Lay the screen on a flat surface or stand in an out of the way place.

4. Open the patch, the one you bought earlier, follow the directions per the package.

5. Replace the screen into the window.

6. Voila! No more bug bites from that hole.

---

If you're going to replace the screen, you'll need the above mentioned tools. Here are the steps and it takes less than an hour to do.

1. Take out the screen and close the window.

2. Use a flat screwdriver or your awl and remove the old spline and screen. Trash 'em.

3. Open the new screen and measure out enough to cover the frame with a few inches extra on all sides. Cut what you need and roll up the extra for another job later.

4. Lay the new screen over the frame.

5. Open the spline package and measure out enough to go completely around the frame but do not cut it yet.

6. Insert the end of the spline into a corner of the frame over the new screen. Using your hand and fingers, push the spline into the frame for a few inches at a time until you have one side of the frame done.

7. Now use your spline tool and drive it deep into the slot of your frame. Once one side is done, check to make sure that the screen is still in the correct position. You want the screen to be tight but not too tight, just enough to bounce a quarter on.

8. Continue to do this on each side until all of the spline is in. When that's done you can cut the spline off of the spool.

9. Now, using your utility knife, trim off all the extra screen as close to the spline as you can get. Be Careful! The knife should be very sharp.

10. When you're done trimming, replace the screen into the window.

You're done!

See how easy that screen repair was. This technique also works on patio door screens. The only difference is the size and quality of the screen. Doors usually need a heavier screen because of the constant contact or dogs or kids or whatever!

Now you can be confident that when you open your windows to let that beautiful fresh air into your home, you won't get bugged!