Painted Window Screen

metal channel framing
screen
screen spline roller
spline
corner pieces
exterior latex house paint: mid blue, dark blue, mid green, light green, brown, black, red, yellow and white
hacksaw
screwdriver
utility knife
yardstick or tape measure
blue painter's tape
pencil or marker
white chalk
variety of brushes*
toothpick
spray polyurethane sealer
*Choose brushes used for house painting, artist brushes and inexpensive chip brushes. Practical sizes: 1/4" for outlining, 1/2" for details, 1" for clouds, 2" flat for large areas.

Making the Screen

1. Measure the window for the outside dimensions of the screen.

2. Mark the outside edge of the metal framing with a pencil and cut the framing to size with a hacksaw (figure A).

3. Connect the four sides with a angle piece in each corner (figure B). These are available as kits.

4. Cut a screen piece a few inches larger than the frame on all sides.

5. With the channel side up, lay the screen over the frame.

6. If using a metal screen, bend the screen into the channel with the convex side of the screen spline roller.

8. Continue around all sides pulling gently on the screen to maintain tension as you run the spline.

9. Trim the edge to fit with a utility knife. Tamp in the end of spline with a screwdriver.

10. Trim off excess screen by running a utility knife along the outside edge of the spline channel (figure D).