Doors and Windows - No screens! Make them? Buy them?

My "new" house has no screens on most windows. Windows are aluminum frame/single slider.

The only time I've 1/2 heartedly looked into it was at the big box stores. All they seem to carry are the "make them yourself" screens.

Is it worth the effort compared to the cost of buying (or trying to find) ready-made screens for what seem to be standard window sizes?

I've got 3 different sizes w/ one size (8 in sun room) missing all together. The birds sure love flying around in that room...


I'm thinking a quick repair or rescreening would make sense of the "kits" but there is no hardware at all for most of the windows.

I went through tthe same situation with my home. I couldnt find anyplace that had screens for my windows. I looked at having them made, but it was too expensive. I ended up doing it myself. I started by going here: http://www.hansenscreen.com/ and reading through their info. I went to Home Depot and Lowes to look for all the pieces I needed (Lowes had more) and proceeded to build my screens. It really wasnt that hard to do, and I have the satisfaction of knowing I did it, and I can easily repair them. I also saved a good bit by doing it myself. Its a fun project.

Stavs

I did come across one site that stocks "standard sizes" for H-R Windows. I have a few of them on an out building and they look identical to what's on the house.

But the sun room seem to be an odd size screen being shorter than their smallest.

I guess I'll give making those little ones a whirl and see how that goes.

Thanks for the input. I didn't really want to get stuck with a 2 week project - glad to hear it's not too bad of a task.

Thanks for the great link too!

I've been dragging on finishing my screens. I've turned this into a year long project. I have about 22 windows to make screens for, and I got lazy. If you do build them, here's a measuring tip.

The little corner pieces that you use to connect each piece of aluminum is a half inch. Make sure you subract an inch from the length of aluminum you cut, and l=maybe another quarter inch for the side spring.

I would also recommend that you do a few test screens so you figure out how to do it right. My first screen looked bad, the second was acceptable, all the rest are great. You also want to make sure the screen material is on straight and parralel to the frame. The screens I did build lasted through summer, fall and winter, and have held their shape perfectly. If you have any questions let me know.

Stavs

If you look at the "Ads by Google" under your initial post and click on "Buy New Window Screens, you will find that it will cost you $14 per kit or $18 assembled plus shipping. If you look locally for a glass shop or window dealer you can probably get the screens made for $20 - $25. It's not worth the effort to make them.

Hi, The hardest part of making screens is to get the correct measurement. Most Homes have just a couple sizes, if one has a screen with a good fit use it as a template. Get a spline tool.When you install the material on to the frame don't make it to tight or you may warp the frame.
You may want to check out a glass shop for materials.
Frame material, screen material, corners, spline and tabs (like handles) and possibly springs. The frames come in different colors, silver, bronze, white and other colors.Screen material comes in grey and charcol. Screen frame also comes in different sizes 5/16 3/8 7/16/ 1/2.
Good Luck Woodbutcher

If you look at the "Ads by Google" under your initial post and click on "Buy New Window Screens, you will find that it will cost you $14 per kit or $18 assembled plus shipping. If you look locally for a glass shop or window dealer you can probably get the screens made for $20 - $25. It's not worth the effort to make them.

That's the place that I mentioned having the HR screens. So I'll be good to go with all the standard house screens but these little sunroom screens seem to be elusive.

The 2 or 3 screens that I have on the house seem to be a pretty "flimsy" mesh and easy to rip. The birds seem to be very dumb, out here, when it comes to flying into a window. I'll replace those to keep a uniform appearance. The extra few bucks make replacement seem a better choice for those, all things considered.

So I hit Lowes for the supplies. I figured I would start with a simple task of replacing a ripped screen; keeping the existing frame.

Pulled it, cleaned it, layed it out (in an unorthodox makeshift manner) and BAM! A nice clean, "new" screen.

Piece of cake rolling in the fibermesh; after going back and getting the right size spline for the existing frames.

Now I'm a little more jazzed up about knocking out the little screens. Shouldn't be too bad of a job.

I picked up some 1/4" wood and I'll make a fixture for the rest of the job. This could be a fun, do it when you're bored type of job!

Lowes doesn't seem to have a large selection of pulls & springs. Some of the house screens use the bale type. I guess I could order online if I can't find a good shop out here for them.

Thanks for the input along the way.

Glad to hear it worked out for you! Like you said, its a good "I'm bored" project. I actually have my fiance doing them too!

Stavs

Hi, I just can't let this go!
Repairing screens is an I'm bored project and STAVS HAS HIS FIANCE DOING SCREENS?
Good Luck Woodbutcher

Hi, I just can't let this go!
Repairing screens is an I'm bored project and STAVS HAS HIS FIANCE DOING SCREENS?
Good Luck Woodbutcher
The key is pacing yourself! :D

I've only done the one screen so far but the "hardest" part, in retrospect, was the window maintanance. The ton of desert dirt in and around the window frame, the seal & brush on the bottom of the window, lubing up the slides, etc.

Having that one nice & "clean" looking window will motivate me to do the others (I hope) and being a new owner, I should be cleaning/checking all that stuff anyway.

It won't make "Best of Show" (first one, no fixture & I know where my mistakes were) but it's acceptable & looks a lot better than the old, ripped, saggy & well faded one. And it was a lot easier than the old tin-snipped-metal patch-weaved in like when I was a kid!

The next ones will include making frames but after working with the existing one, I think I have a better feel for it all.

Thats great! Practice makes perfect holds thrue when it comes to these things.

Yes, I too have had to do the screens myself...I too made the keasurement mistake on the 1st one...but to do about 10 screens...it cost me $30 in materials and the spline roller tool, and I had screen left over for other windows. It was the difference in price that motivated me. I did not use springs, I will check this out---that's probably why I had such a hard time getting them in!!! HA!! I just used those premade corner thingys...Now that I know, I will use springs for the rest of them!!! And I will use the extra cash for gas!!! Catia

when i moved in last august, i knew i needed screens causeI'm cheap and wanted to avoid AC as much as possible. plus with the breeze we get on this hill, its great cooling on the days is less than 85 out there.

so I checked out making them myself and having someone else do them. It was about $350 to have someone make them for 20 screens of various sizes. I could buy the kits at home depot fot something like $12 each without the screeni material.

12x20= $240 plus screan material (whatever that costs).

I let the guy do it cause it was easier and not too much more expensive (weird cause I'm a cheapskate and tend to do everything myself). plus, it was better stuff where the corners were 45's instead of ther plastic coner pieces that make of the corners in the kits you buy

I did not know they sold screen kits. You can just buy a roll of screen in any wideness and thickness you desire, and it is really cheap by the roll. The 45 corners are also for sale in 4 packs for about $1.97. Spline is dirt cheap, and the roller tool is too. I would never spend $240 on screen kits, no wonder you paid someone else. Anytime they make a DIY "kit" it's gonna cost you more, you are paying for not having to ask where to find the individual pieces...and the fact that they put it all in the same box. If you are already at the store...just walk the extra few feet and save yourself the cash!!!

I had bought one of those screen kits. Real nice (I guess) if they fit your needs, as far as pre-measured sizes. My kit still sits on the shelf.

After running out a 84" roll, I DID end up buying a 25' roll of screen and a bunch more frame lengths. This has actually gotten to be a little fun.

I also ended up buying one of those $99 belt/disc combo sanders (I could use it anyway) and it's breezy now.

I just quick-cut a little long with a hacksaw, run the edges true and to size on the disc sander and slap it all together.

A lot nicer than trying to get a sized and squared edge with the hacksaw and a file. Cleaner edges - better assembly. A couple of pieces of 1/4x3" cut to size for the long side popped in in the middle to prevent bowing and it's all good so far.

I'll have to tack the 1/4x3 in place (learned that here) for the bigger screens but my sunroom is done and nice and breezy.

if you've got any local aluminum companies, they can generally make them to your specifications. there are 2 companies right near me that specialize in nothing but aluminum products (storm doors, screens, sheet stock). that's probably your best bet short of just making them yourself.