How to Install a Screen Door

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Replacing a door with a screen door is an easy home improvement project. The tools required are few and the materials are inexpensive.

Installing any new screen door will require opening up the existing frame, trimming the bottom track to accommodate the thicker door, then fastening the clean lines of your sleek new screen into place inside the opening. Once installed, your summertime breeze-catching accessory will allow fresh air in while keeping out pesky insects and other pests.

Cut old track

A typical wood or steel interior jamb track works best for suspending a screen door. Mark where you want to install the top of your new screen door so that it sits flush on top of the door jamb. Use a level to ensure it is even, then measure down at an angle to where the bottom will be placed. This will create a slight slope for water drainage. Most screen doors come with an automatic door closer. This accessory ensures the screen door will lock automatically. A door stop can be used in cases where there is a need to keep the door open. Once you've drawn your line, cut out this section of the track using a hacksaw. Be careful not to damage the wall while cutting by protecting the surface with cardboard or masking tape on both sides of the track. You can use these old pieces as guides for cutting your new screen door mounting bracket since they are usually shaped like L's and cut right at their centre points where they intersect each other.

Clean door jamb tracks

If your current tracks are dirty or have paint all over them, clean them up by removing the hanging hardware that is riveted to the ends. These are only held on with a few small screws or sometimes wire, so remove everything and take them outside for some good scrubbing. Use a wire brush to get the dirt out of hard-to-reach corners, then wipe down with lacquer thinner before reattaching your new tracks.

Cut brackets

The mounting brackets you get with your screen door kit should be cut to length using a hacksaw. To determine the correct size, measure from the unfinished end down to the centre line of the track where it will meet at a point. Measure up at an angle from this point, and that is how long they need to be. Cutting in this manner ensures that when you have them installed, the screen door will sit in its frame sag-free and in a perfectly aligned channel, allowing it to slide up and down with ease.

Mount brackets

When measuring where to place your brackets on the inside jamb track (the side nearest to the wall), put them about 1/4 inch above the line you drew in step one. This will allow enough room so that when your screen door is set in place, it will sit flush with the track and not leave a gap between it and the jamb. Draw your lines on both ends of where to place each bracket. Then, drill screw holes. It's a good idea to make pilot holes if the surface is very hard. Securely fasten the brackets in place, take the track and set it back into place. Make sure that your screws or pop rivets are drilled in far enough so that they don't poke through to the outside when you put your screen door up.

Mount brackets on outside track

Now it's time to cut and mount your top and bottom brackets on the outside jamb track. The measurements should be taken from the line you drew in step one, not the inside track. Depending on how wide your door is should determine how many brackets you will need; there should be about 30cm between each bracket for a standard size screen door. On the jamb, carve out the space for the striker plate. Fasten it with two screws. Do the same with the outside handle. Drill pilot holes, and use the screws provided to fit the door handle onto the door's surface. Once cut and fastened in place, let's get that screen door into its new resting place.

Installing the screen door

Take your screen door out of its packaging and grab your rubber mallet. If you don't already have one, they can be purchased for about $15 at any hardware store. Take the tension spring (the part that attaches to your door handle) and attach it to the bottom of the screen at one end. Pull out about 10cm of hanging wire, then feed it into the groove on each side until you get right down to where the handle is. Then pull straight up with a firm tug so that all of this wire is now housed inside the track.

Take the top of your screen door and line it up with the mounting brackets. You want to make sure they are even so that they will close properly without binding or rubbing anywhere. Set them down so that their tops meet flush with where you set your inside track, then give it a few whacks on either side using your mallet until you hear a 'click' and can't push it up any further. If you are installing a security screen door, you might want to get professional help.

Setting the screen door

Now that your screen door is securely fastened in place, you can take off those scraps of wood or masking tape you used as guides for cutting your wire screen or flyscreen. Cut it to size right over the top of the track, then use your pliers to bend the wire ends down on either side.

Ensure that you leave enough room at the sides when you do this so it doesn't bind up when fully opened. If there are any sharp edges, use a file to smooth them out before rolling your screen up. Otherwise, they will snag and cause damage to your new screen.

Once you've done that, give the door a few test runs and be sure there isn't any rubbing or catching anywhere. If it does catch, check to make sure everything is lined up correctly and your brackets aren't crooked.

Finishing up

Now that your screen door is looking good as new, you can take your time to make sure it will continue looking this way for a very long time. Using a light oil or silicone spray, lubricate the rollers on both sides so that they run smoothly without binding up. This will also prevent any rust from building up in the future. Once you've done that, you can add a high-quality weatherstrip to your threshold in order to keep out drafts and moisture from coming inside when the door is closed. This will also make sure your top and bottom screens don't get damaged from constantly rubbing against one another when opening or closing the screen door.

How do you install a metal screen door frame?

If you have never installed a screen door before, it would be wise to get someone to help you so that the door is properly attached. Without this and not following all instructions, the door may fall off or fall apart under stress or heavy use.

Here's what to do:

Measure across the threshold of your doorway with measuring tape and cut two pieces of wood out using a saw at this width. Measure along the top track on your inside wall where you want to mount your top bracket and mark it with a pencil. Mark, each end of this line using a measuring tape, then measure down from the ceiling how far up it goes plus one inch (25mm). You will need two long screws on each end to close the track in place.

Get your screen door out of its package, grab your rubber mallet and stand the screen upright. If you have a tension spring, attach it to one side using wire to form a handle where your thumb will be when holding it. To hold the other side in place while you insert it into the track, slide under one edge at a time so you can put pressure on the sides without any wires sliding off to get in the way. You should have about 30cm between each bracket for a standard size screen door.

Once cut and fastened in place, you should be able to slide the door in place, and it will hold itself up. When you are ready to attach your bottom track, use two screws to secure it in place at either end through the bottom edge of your threshold. The screen door should now fit tightly against both sides without gaps or catching when opening or closing the door.

Once that is done, measure along where you want your hinges mounted on both sides of the frame, then mark them with a pencil. Make sure there is enough room for the screen door handle beside each hinge hole. Otherwise, one side will have no handle when closed. Use a drill or jigsaw to cut holes wide enough so that they can't slip out. While using screws, screw each hinge into place firmly. You can then attach your screen door to the hinges that you just mounted.

Your door should swing smoothly without catching or sagging when in motion. This will ensure that each time you open and close the screen door, it will work perfectly, so be careful to do everything correctly when installing it. If at any stage during installation something doesn't seem right or the track catches while sliding it into place, don't force it in case there are parts incorrectly positioned. Please make sure the tops of both tracks at both ends are exactly in line with one another before continuing very slowly. Otherwise, you could break or crack them, which would mean having to install brand new ones.

How do you hang a hinged screen door?

Before you can hang your screen door, you need to select a wide enough location to be able to open and close it freely. It's not a good idea to put it in place with obstacles such as furniture or walls because the user might damage them by accident.

The best locations for installing the hinged screen doors are beside any exterior doors, so you don't have to duck under them when coming and going. This means neither side of your doorway will interfere with the opening and closing of the screen door, making it easy for everyone, including those who aren't very tall or who find low ceilings difficult to work with. Once this has been done, measure from the floor up along the wall using tape and mark where each screw is inserted.

Make sure you don't use screws that are too long, or they might puncture or tear the screen. If your door is very heavy, it's best to put one screw on each side of the track instead of just one where it will be more secure and less likely to fall off when in motion.

It would be best to fit the bottom into place by sliding under both ends until you can push it up into place at about shoulder height for more stability. To fasten it securely in place, pull the handle up, so your door is level with it and slide one side of the bottom across to where you measured before marking where to drill. Use pencil or chalk to mark two holes, then use screws that are about 40cm long to secure both sides firmly without damaging them. A secure screen door is just one line in home security. For more information on staying safe at home, take a look at the Australian Government's YourHome website.