A patio door is a great way to bring the spaciousness of the outdoors into your home. And with its sliding screen, you can enjoy fresh air without inviting in a variety of airborne pests. As for routine maintenance, there's little more to do than keep the track and rollers clean. That is, until someone accidentally tears the screen.Most modern screen doors consist of a lightweight aluminum frame across which fiberglass screening material is stretched. While fiberglass is an economical choice, it doesn't take much to punch a hole in it. The good news is that a damaged screen is easy to replace and you'll find all the materials you need at your local hardware store.Before your shopping trip, slide the door back and forth and check for broken parts. If the door doesn't slide easily, vacuum all dirt from the track and try again. If it's still sticky, add new rollers to your shopping list. To remove the door from the frame, simply lift it up and pull the bottom edge away from the track.When you replace a damaged screen, there are two things you need to become familiar with, fast.

After the screen itself, the most important material is the spline--the narrow rubber tubing that locks the screen in a groove around the frame. Spline comes in various diameters--with some sizes differing in diameter by only 1/64 in.--and matching your new spline to the old is important. Then, you'll need a spline-installation tool. This pizza-cutter-like device has a roller at each end. The convex end forms the screen in the groove, and the concave end presses the spline in place.What to BuyWhile almost all home centers and most hardware stores stock rescreening supplies and universal door hardware, doors from some larger manufacturers may require specific replacement parts. Anderson, for example, sells replacement hardware for its doors at The Home Depot. However, if your door is from a smaller, regional company, generic parts will most likely work. If you're replacing your door's rollers, bring an original along so that you can find the right match.Buy enough screen to overlap the doorframe by about 2 in. on each edge.

You'll also need a new spline (which holds the screen in its groove) if the existing one is brittle or breaks, and a spline-installation toolRemoving the ScreenA sliding screen is supported on rollers that ride in a track. Lift it until the rollers clear the track. Then, pull the bottom out and lower the door until it clears the top edge of the frame.front door handles upvcStep 1: Remove the Handlebarn door sliding track uk Remove the door handle to provide unobstructed access to the screen. interior wood doors vancouver bcIf the handle is damaged, this is a good time to replace it.outdoor gas fire pit walmart

Step 2: Use an Awl It's common to find a separate length of spline on each side of the frame. Use an awl or pick to catch the end of a piece and pry it up. Try not to damage the spline--if it's not broken or brittle it can be reused.Step 3: Remove the Spline Grab the screen spline with your hand and gently pull upward to remove it. Repeat the process for the other spline segments.garage door opener evaluationStep 4: Remove the Rollersandersen a series patio door cost To remove the rollers, carefully pry them from the edge of the door with a screwdriver. windows and doors ocala flOn some doors, you may have to depress a spring clip to release each assembly.Step 5: Installing New Spline If you're installing new spline, use scissors or a knife to cut it to lengths that fit in the frame grooves.

Make sure that the diameter of the new spline is the same as that of the old material.Step 6: Align Replacement Screen Lay the replacement screen over the doorframe. Align one edge of the screen with the outside edge of the door to ensure that the screen is square to the frame.Step 7: Convex Roller Beginning at one corner, use the convex roller on the spline-installation tool to press the screen into the groove on a long edge of the doorframe.Step 8: Concave Roller Use the concave roller on the tool to press the spline into the groove. Apply gentle pressure and angle the tool slightly toward the outside of the frame to avoid tearing the screen.Step 9: Pull it Tight Step 10: Trim the Excess After installing all of the spline, use a sharp utility knife to trim the excess screen. Position the knife tip at the junction of the spline and outside edge of the spline groove.Step 11: Install New Rollers Slide the new roller assembly into the opening in the edge of the door and engage the clips that hold the roller in place.

Step 12: Replace the Panel Replace the screen panel in the door track and check that it closes evenly against the jamb. If it doesn't, correct the roller positions by turning the adjustment screws.Step 13: Secure Replacement Latch If the door latch is broken, buy a replacement and secure it to the jamb with a screw.Of all the components of a home that most people pay close attention to, the shower door is probably pretty low on the list. However, because this particular component plays an important role not just in your day-to-day life, but in the longevity of many of the materials surrounding it, a broken shower door is definitely worth paying attention to. The ease with which this unique fixture can be repaired or replaced will be highly dependent on its style and dimensions. Here are a few things to consider before, during, and after the project. Some companies who specialize in these fixtures have a simple form to make measuring even more effective. Good Candidates for Shower Door Repair

No matter what style of door your shower has, it is often the nature of the damage that determines whether a repair is possible. Cracked glass or plastic can often be replaced and doors with difficult sliding action or hinged doors that do not close properly may also be good candidates for repair. Doors with severely bent frames and those that are failing in more than one area due to old age, however, may never see full function in the future. This, of course, makes replacement the more practical solution. While pre-packaged kits have certainly come a long way in making shower door installation more DIY-friendly, proper sizing and careful measuring before you buy can save you a lot of hassle later. In many cases, companies who offer shower doors and enclosures will offer homeowners very specific instructions on what to measure and how to measure it, which makes the job much easier. In fact, some companies who specialize in these fixtures have a simple form to make measuring even more effective;

just pick out the door or enclosure you want from a series of diagrams, make the measurements indicated, and record them in the appropriate spaces on the form. Your replacement door or enclosure is then crafted to fit those measurements exactly. Calling for a Shower Door Service Though some homeowners are happy to tackle this job themselves, many will leave shower door installation and repair to the professionals. The professional you choose for this task, however, is just as important as the dimensions of the shower or tub when it comes to ensuring a good fit and long-lasting operation. If you are simply calling for repair, a handyman service is the perfect choice. Not only can these professionals replace rollers, repair broken glass, and fix hinges, they can perform minor plumbing, carpentry, and electrical repairs around the entire house. What this means for you: A fast and effective solution for many different annoyances on any part of your property--all for one single (and often very reasonable) price.

If your job is more involved (replacing large components in a custom shower enclosure, for example), you'll need to call someone who specializes in this specific kind of work. Remember: Talking to at least three different contractors and getting quotes from each is one of the most effective paths to finding excellent service at a good price. As is the case with most home components, buying a shower door can range in cost from very modest to extremely expensive. Your local home improvement center is likely to offer several different models of plain sliding shower doors for between $200 and $500 (not including installation cost). Full enclosures will start at about $1,000, and custom work can get extremely expensive. It is important to realize, though, that a more expensive door or enclosure does not necessarily mean a more durable product. Here, again, a good contractor can be an incredible asset, as he or she will have seen the brands and models available in action and will have firsthand knowledge of which pieces tend to lose function/appearances quickly and which will perform well and look great for years to come.