DIY Security Screen Door

If you have an old screen door that you would like to fix or replace, you can easily make DIY security screen door your weekend project. All you will need are a few common tools, the materials to build the door, and a little bit of time to get the job done.

Materials

The materials that you need to replace a security screen door are: a pencil, hammer, screwdriver, casing nails, screws, tape measure, safety glasses, hacksaw, and a screen door unit.

To get started, you will first want to remove the old screen door (if there is one already there) and put it up on a sawhorse. Make sure that you put towels or cardboard in between so the sawhorses do not rub against the door.

Getting Started

If your door does not already have a z-channel, you will want to cut it to the proper size and make sure that it aligns to the door. Once that is completed, you can attach it to the door with a couple of screws.

You may have to pre-drill for this step. The z-channel should be 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch down from the top of the door. This makes it so that the screen door will not slam against the frame.

Make sure that when you are cutting your screen door that you wear safety glasses. This should be done every time you are cut metal with a hacksaw.

Next, you will want to drill the holes for the sweep at the bottom of the door. You can slide it into position, but do not attach it until the door is attached to the frame again and you can adjust it to suit the threshold of the door.

Getting Assistance

For this next step, you will need another hand. You and someone else will need to lift the door into place on the door frame so you can drill starter holes in the side of the door. Then you will install the screws. Now you are able to install the rest of the track along with the top piece and the z-bar.

Once you have moved on to the handle of the door, you will want to use at template in order to see where you need to pre-drill the holes. You will then place the handle and latch on their respective sides and drill the screws into the holes.

The strike plate comes next. Make sure to line this up before you put it on. All that is left is to pop the screen into place and you have just replaced your screen door.

Repairing An Old Screen Door

If you need to repair the old door instead of installing a new one, you will have to pay attention to your particular problem. If it’s holes in the screen, you can get the door re-screened. If you just want a different color door, you can take it off any paint it. Use the proper kind of paint to avoid peeling.