It’s one of those jobs that you never get around to doing until Summer hits and your house is starting to fill with mosquitoes and flies.
Flyscreens primary role is to let the breeze in and keep the bugs out, but over time when they are subjected to UV rays, or maybe even the family cat, they can disintegrate or get tears and rips and need replacing. Read more to find out how to replace a flyscreen.
What do you need?
Your local hardware store will have all the items you need for your flyscreen replacement. We’ve provided a list of basic tools, but before buying, see if your hardware store sells a flyscreen replacement kit, this will make things a little easier for you.
- A sharp Stanley style knife
- · A flyscreen spline roller
- · A flat blade screwdriver
- · Flyscreen replacement mesh
- · Flyscreen replacement spline (If yours is weathered and needs replacing)
Replacing your mesh
Give your window and flyscreen a quick brush or wipe down, then remove your flyscreen and find the ends of the spline cord. Use a screwdriver to pry the spline cord from the small channel in the back of the flyscreen and lift to remove, also remove the old mesh.
Lay your new mesh over the flyscreen. You want to ensure that you have at least 100mm overlap the entire way around the screen. Now is also an ideal time to ensure your frame is square, do this by measuring corner to corner diagonally. If the measurement is the same, then your frame is square, if it’s slightly out, use a hammer to gently tap the corners until it is square.
Using your roller, push your new (or old) spline into the channel on one corner. Work your way up one side, then the next, until all sides are completed. You want to make sure that you don’t put too much tension on the flyscreen as this will make the frame bow. Take your time doing this, you don’t want to damage your new mesh, or split your spline. A screwdriver may also help getting it into place.
If you are using a new spline, trim it at the corner you started from to ensure it has a neat finish.
Using a knife, trim the excess mesh, ensure you are careful. Refit your flyscreen and your home DIY job is complete!
How Houspect Can Help
If you are looking at new property in South Australia, you may benefit from a pre-purchase building inspection.
Houspect also offers renovation inspections and new home inspections.