Materials you'll need:

· Stock size screen door with fittings
· Spare aluminium mesh or
shelf adhesive flyscreen patch
· Waterproof glue
· Wedge of piece of wood
· Stop beading
· Nails
· Screen door closer

Tools you'll need:

· Hammer
· Screwdriver
· Drill

Screen doors come in two basic types: stock size and custom made. Stock size doors are made to fit a standard opening of 204Omm x 820mm (6'8" x 2’8”). They usually include hinges already installed and a plastic latch set. A metal latch set with slide lock can replace the plastic latch set for more strength and security. The handyman fixes the door in place. A custom made door, as the name implies, is measured, specially made to fit a certain opening, and installed. On request, manufacturers come to your home, measure the opening, make the door and install it. You can save money by installing a stock size door yourself but this is not possible if your doorway is an unusual size. A screen door is installed in similar fashion to a hinged door, without the need to trim the door to fit. The main difference is that the screen door opens outwards to prevent the doors colliding in use. The hinge position is taken from inside, facing the door. The door is usually designed so it can be installed to open right or left. Since the door's main job is to screen out flies and insects, it must fit snugly. If the door is slightly out of true you may need to fit a stop bead around the frame to get a good fit. Stop beading is timber sold specially for the purpose, often in packs ready cut to fit around the top and sides of the doorway. If beading is required on one side only it is nailed to the architrave on the lock side, so the screen door butts snugly against the beading when closed.

Today, screen doors are made from strong, durable materials such as aluminium, sometimes finished in an anodised colour. Fibreglass or aluminium is often used for the mesh. The door may also have a wrought metal grill, which is decorative, or designed to keep out intruders, or perhaps both.

Replacing screen mesh.
If you find you have to replace the mesh, pull out the beading, cut new mesh to size and stretch over door. Replace beading with aid of a wooden wedge.

Care and maintenance.
Rust is rarely a problem with modern screen doors but sometimes a hole can be made in the mesh. To repair, straighten any bent wire ends and flatten the metal, making the hole as small as possible. Insert a dab of waterproof glue (the kind which dries clear) and the hole will hardly be noticeable.

For large holes. cut a patch of aluminium mesh slightly bigger than the hole, unravel four or five strands on each side and bend the ends of the wire at right angles. Place the patch over the hole so the ends of the wire push through the mesh and then bend them inwards on the other side of the wire. If a really strong patch is required, waterproof glue can be used to fix the patch in place.

Self-adhesive patches are available for repairs to fibreglass mesh.

Fitting a screen door closer.
A typical pneumatic screen door closer can be installed on the inside of the door opposite the hinge. First hold the bracket against the side jamb between 12 and 25mm from the door and at least 20mm from the frame head. Screw to side jamb. The pneumatic cylinder has a groove mark that is placed on the rod exactly at the end of the cylinder and held in position with a hold-open washer supplied. The connecting pin is then placed in the jamb bracket. Next close the screen door and engage latch then connect door bracket to closer by placing tongue fitting in corresponding slot. The door bracket is then placed on the door in a level position and the screw hole marked. Drill a hole in the centre of the slot and screw bracket to door. Test the closer and adjust if necessary by turning the speed regulator screw. When satisfied, place the second screw in position and tighten both screws.