How to fix the screen door

Repairing a Screen Door at a Glance

• Tools & Materials: Replacement screen, spline, spline roller, needle-nose pliers, utility knife
• Step 1: Remove screen
• Step 2: Remove spline
• Step 3: Clean doorframe
• Step 4: Position new mesh
• Step 5: Insert spline
• Step 6: Trim extra mesh
• Step 7: Replace screen

Dogs and screen doors are a notoriously bad mix. As a matter of fact, screen doors and anything with paws or claws (we’re looking at you, cat) seem to be a bad combination. If your four-legged friend has a vendetta against your screen door and has left the mesh screen torn or holey, you’ll want to repair it quickly.

This May Also Interest You: Let Your Doggy Do Its Own Thing: Install a Dog Door

Follow the steps below to repair your screen door — hopefully in time to keep out swarms of mosquitos, gnats and flies.

Gather Supplies

Before delving into how to fix a screen door, a trip to the hardware store to get the supplies you need is in order. Be sure to pick up:

• Replacement screen. Be aware that there are two types to choose from — fiberglass and wire — and that screens usually come in black, charcoal or white. For homes with pets, fiberglass is the best option because it is heavy-duty by design and more pet-friendly. Replacement screen material is generally sold in rolls.
• Spline and spline roller. The spline is the flexible, tube-like material that runs around the perimeter of the screen to hold it in position in the frame. It is generally made from rubber or soft plastic. The spline roller helps you push the spline into the groove in the door frame to install the screen.
• Needle-nose pliers
• Utility knife

How Do You Fix Screen Door Mesh?

You don’t have to be a DIY pro to fix a screen door. A little planning and forethought, plus the supplies mentioned above, are all that’s required. Fixing the mesh screen in your screen door takes less than 30 minutes. To repair your door, Bob Vila says to:

1. Remove the screen from the door.
2. Pry the screen’s existing spline from the groove in the door frame using the screwdriver or needle-nose pliers. Be extra careful removing the spline; you don’t want to bend the groove’s metal edges because this can cause the new screen and new spline to fail to seat correctly. Set the removed spline and the ripped screen to the side for disposal.
3. Clean the door frame thoroughly using a mild cleanser and wet cloth.
4. Unroll the new fiberglass or wire mesh screen over your door frame, being sure to allow overlap on each edge.
5. Starting at a corner, use the spline roller to gently insert the spline (and screen beneath it) into the groove in the door frame. Check to see that the screen mesh goes in evenly as you work the spline into the groove. If it doesn't, simply pull it out, reseat the mesh on your door frame and give it another try. If you're struggling to get the mesh in the door frame evenly, consider using small clamps on each corner of the screen to hold the mesh in place.
6. Using the utility knife, trim away any excess mesh material.
7. Replace the screen in the frame.

More Related Articles:

Can a Retractable Screen Door Be Repaired?

If your door is a retractable, rolling or sliding screen door, the repair steps mentioned above are the same with minimal exceptions. In the first step, you will lift the screen up from its spot in the door, carefully slide it over the bottom edge of the frame to clear the frame’s lip. Then, tilt the door, removing it from the bottom. When you’re finished with repairs, simply reverse the process you used to remove the door to put it back into its place in the frame.

How Do You Fix a Broken Screen Door?

If your actual door is broken (not just the screen), a little extra work is required. For example, if your sliding screen door is not sliding like it should, its tracks may be warped. In this case, use a hammer to pound them back into place. Or, you can buy new tracks and install them per the manufacturer’s instructions. The rollers on the door may also be to blame if the door isn't sliding smoothly or is sticking. Clean the rolling mechanism, then replace the rollers on the frame. New ones are generally available from the manufacturer.

Prevent Future Damage

Now, you understand how to fix a screen door — a skill that you’ll turn to over and over again as a pet owner. But do you really want to? There are some steps you can take to prevent future screen damage from your well-meaning but destructive pet:

• Applying a scratch-deterrent solution to discourage your dog or cat from pawing at the screen
• Keeping your pet’s nails trimmed to limit damage
• Installing a doggy door so that your dog doesn’t need to scratch on your screen door to let you know he wants out

CANADIAN TIRE® and the CANADIAN TIRE Triangle Design are registered trade-marks of Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited.

±Was price reflects the last national regular price this product was sold for.

**Online prices and sale effective dates may differ from those in-store and may vary by region. Dealers may sell for less.

Financing available is “Equal payments, no interest” for 24 months (unless otherwise stated) and is only available on request, on approved credit and on purchases of $150 (unless otherwise stated) or more (Gift Cards excluded) made with your Triangle credit card at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark’s, L’Équipeur, Atmosphere, Sports Rousseau, Hockey Experts, L’Entrepôt du Hockey and participating Sports Experts. Interest does not accrue during the period of the plan. However, if we do not receive the full minimum due on a statement within 59 days of the date of that statement, or any event of default (other than a payment default) occurs under your Cardmember Agreement, all special payment plans on your account will terminate and (i) you will then be charged interest on the balances outstanding on such plans at the applicable regular annual rate from the day after the date of your next statement, and (ii) the balances outstanding will form part of the balance due on that statement. There is no administration fee charged for entering into a special payments plan. Each month during an equal payments plan you are required to pay in full by the due date that month’s equal payments plan instalment. Any unpaid portion not received by the due date will no longer form part of the equal payments plan and interest will accrue on that amount from the day after the date of your next statement at the applicable regular annual rate. Offer subject to change without notice.

Additional information for residents of Quebec only: The regular annual rate for persons applying for the Triangle Mastercard and the Triangle World Elite Mastercard is 22.99% for cash transactions and related fees and 19.99% for all other charges. Some applicants may receive a higher or lower regular annual rate depending on a credit evaluation. The minimum payment is the sum of (a) the greater of: (i) interest and fees shown on your statement + $10; or (ii) 5% of the New Balance, excluding amounts on special payment plans, (b) any balance over your credit limit, (c) any amounts past due not included in (b) above, and (d) the amount of any equal payments plan instalments then due. Balances under $10 are due in full. For residents of Quebec, the period between the statement date and the due date for payment is 26 days. The billing period covered by each statement can be from 28-33 days. The Triangle Mastercard and the Triangle World Elite Mastercard do not have an annual fee. Examples of borrowing costs (rounded to the nearest cent) assuming that all charges are purchases bearing interest at the regular annual rate of 19.99%, a 30 day month, no charges made on special payment plans and no other fees, additional payments or other changes are:

ƒ Additional Information for the Triangle Mastercard: 
 

† In the form of electronic Canadian Tire Money® (CT Money®). You cannot collect paper Canadian Tire Money on bonus offers. Any bonus multiplier is based on the base rate of collecting CT Money. Not all items sold at Canadian Tire earn CT Money. The offered rate is exclusive of any bonus or promotional offers or redemption transactions. CT Money is collected on the pre-tax. Bonus CT Money collected from online orders will be applied to the member’s Triangle Rewards™ account within 5 weeks of the purchase date. Terms and Conditions apply. Visit https://triangle.canadiantire.ca/en.html for more information.

®/TM Unless otherwise noted, all trademarks are owned by Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited and are used under licence. 

®/TM Mastercard and World Mastercard are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. 

®/TMMark’s is a registered trademark of Mark’s Work Warehouse Ltd, used under licence.

®/TMSport Chek is a registered trademark of FGL Sports Ltd, used under licence.

◊Pricing, selection, and availability of store clearance items are determined by each store. Items may be display models or not exactly as shown and may not be available in all stores. Quantities may be limited. Contact your store for more information. We reserve the right to limit quantities. Sorry no rainchecks (excluding Quebec). Applicable on select styles/size.

‡‡Shipping fees apply. Shipping fees and delivery times vary depending on location, size and weight of the item(s) and is only available within the province of the Canadian Tire retail location (“Store”) from which the item(s) was purchased. Bulk items will only be delivered within a 100km radius of the Store. Not available in Recontre East, NL. Conditions and restrictions apply. Visit https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/customer-service/ship-to-home.html for more information.

5No purchase necessary. Contest sponsored by Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited. Contest commences July 1, 2022 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (“EDT”) and ends on July 31, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Only open to legal residents of Canada who are registered members in the Triangle Rewards program prior to entering the contest, and at the time any prize is awarded. You must also have been registered as a member for a minimum of 24 hours before an entry can be received, have an email on file, not opted-out of marketing and have reached the age of majority in your province/territory of residence at time of entry. To enter the Contest, the Entrant must make a qualifying purchase at a Canadian Tire store location or online at canadiantire.ca during the Contest Period. 11,100 daily prizes to be won with draws throughout the Contest Period and 10 grand prizes. ARV of all prizes $400,000. The odds of winning a prize depends upon the number of eligible entries received for the applicable draw. Each entry qualifies for the Daily Draw applicable to that entry date as well as for the Grand Prize Draw. Correct answer to mathematical skill testing question required. Additional conditions and restrictions apply. For complete contest rules and no purchase entry information, visit https://www.canadiantire.ca/summerofthecenturycontest.

8The Triangle Rewards Program is owned and operated by Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited. TriangleTM credit cards are issued by Canadian Tire Bank. Rewards are in the form of electronic Canadian Tire Money® (CT Money®). To collect bonus CT Money you must present a Triangle Rewards card/key fob, or use any approved Cardless method, at time of purchase or pay with a Triangle credit card. You cannot collect paper Canadian Tire Money on bonus offers. Any bonus multiplier is based on the rate of collecting CT Money (0.4%) and will be added to whatever the Member would otherwise collect, without the bonus. Example: On a $100 (pre-tax) purchase with 25X bonus multiplier a Member would earn a bonus $10 in CT Money (25 x 0.4% x 100). The 35X for Triangle credit card customers consists of the 10X everyday plus a 25X bonus. Not all items sold at Canadian Tire are eligible to earn CT Money or to be redeemed for. Conditions apply. Visit triangle.com for full program rules and Partner location information. The offered rate is exclusive of any bonus or promotional offers or redemption transactions. CT Money is collected on the pre-tax amount of the purchase. Bonus CT Money is collected from online orders will be applied to the Member’s Triangle Rewards Account within five weeks of the purchase date. No rainchecks. Online transactions must be fulfilled by the store during the offer period to qualify.

† In the form of electronic Canadian Tire Money® (CT Money®). You cannot collect paper Canadian Tire Money on bonus offers. Any bonus multiplier is based on the base rate of collecting CT Money. Not all items sold at Canadian Tire earn CT Money. The offered rate is exclusive of any bonus or promotional offers or redemption transactions. CT Money is collected on the pre-tax. Bonus CT Money collected from online orders will be applied to the member’s Triangle Rewards™ account within 5 weeks of the purchase date. Terms and Conditions apply. Visit https://triangle.canadiantire.ca/en.html for more information.

®/TM Unless otherwise noted, all trademarks are owned by Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited and are used under licence.