How to Replace a Storm Door Screen Insert So You Can Let the Breeze in and Keep the Bugs Out

If you’re working with a screen-only door, start by removing it from the door frame. To do this, disconnect the door closer, if present, by pushing up on the pins that attach it to both the door and the jamb. With the closer out of the way, remove the screws that connect the door to the door jamb. If there’s someone around who can help you, that’ll make things quicker. With the screws out and the door loose, carefully move the door to your flat work surface. 

If your door has a screen insert, just remove the insert—no need to waste time and energy taking the entire door off the frame.

Use a flathead screwdriver to pry up the spline—the black vinyl tubing—along the edges of the screen. The spline is what holds the screen in place, so removing it will help you pull the screen loose.

With the old spline and screen out of the way, use a damp rag to clean the grooves of the door. (You might even want to wipe down the whole door while you’re at it!). Dirt, dust, and debris all collect in the nooks and crannies of your storm door, and it’s not often that you have access to these tough-to-reach places. 

Cleaning out these grooves will also make installing the new screen and spline easier. Just make sure everything is dry before moving on and installing the new screen.

Unroll your new screen over your door. If necessary, use scissors to cut the screen so it overhangs the door’s grooves by a couple of inches in each direction. Having some excess screen on each side will make installing the screen—and pulling it flat and taut—much easier. 

Use the spline roller to gently push the new spline over the screen and into the groove along a long edge of your door, working from bottom to top. Don’t push the spline fully into place yet—you want to be able to easily remove it and adjust the screen later on if needed. 

Repeat this process along the top of the door, the other long edge, and the bottom of the door. Make sure you pull the screen taut before gently pushing the spline into the grooves. When you get to the final corner of the door, cut the excess spline with a utility knife. Make sure the screen lays flat and taut across the door, then use the spline roller to push the spline fully into place.

With the new screen installed, you can use a sharp utility knife to cut the excess screen from the perimeter of the grooves. It should look nice and neat after this step.

Lastly, you can install your storm door by screwing it back into the frame. Again, if you have a friend or family member present, this step will be a little easier and quicker with an extra set of hands. Don’t forget to reinstall the storm door closer so your door closes securely but doesn’t slam.