As summer approaches, torn or sagging window screens (amido) become impossible to ignore. Bugs getting in, mesh that’s gone baggy and uneven — if that sounds familiar, you might be thinking “I probably need to call someone for this.”
Actually, re-screening a window is a job you can absolutely do at home once you know the trick to it. It doesn’t require any special skill, and with the right tools you can finish one panel in about 30 minutes.
This article walks through the basic steps for anyone taking this on for the first time.
The Overall Process
The job breaks down into four main steps:
- Remove the old rubber spline and mesh
- Fit the new mesh onto the frame
- Press the spline into the groove with a roller to lock the mesh in place
- Trim off the excess mesh to finish
Let’s go through each step.
▶︎ Buy the tools you need for re-screening here
1. Remove the Old Spline and Mesh
Amido frames have a groove running around all four edges, where a thin rubber cord called a “spline” holds the mesh in place.
Start by lifting one end of the spline with a flathead screwdriver, then pull it out by hand all the way around. Once the spline is off, the mesh comes loose — remove the old mesh at this point too.
2. Fit the New Mesh Onto the Frame
Once the frame is bare, lay the new mesh over it with some extra overhang on all sides. Clipping the corners lightly with clamps to hold the mesh in place makes the next step much easier.
This is also a good time to check that the weave of the mesh is running straight along the frame — if it’s crooked when you lock it in, you’ll end up with a wavy, uneven finish.
3. Press the Spline Into the Groove With a Roller
This is the most important step in the whole process.
Lay the new spline over the mesh (following the groove) and use a special two-sided roller tool to press both the spline and mesh down into the groove together.
First, press one corner firmly into place with your finger or the tip of the roller to anchor it, then work outward along each edge, rolling the spline into the groove as you go. Moving the roller steadily from one end to the other gets a clean, straight result.
Tip: Pulling the mesh gently taut as you press the spline in gives you a nice, tight finish. But if you pull too hard, the mesh weave can distort — aim for just a light tension. Pulling with the same amount of tension on all four sides gives you an even finish without sagging.
4. Trim the Excess Mesh
Once the spline is pressed in on all four sides, trim off the excess mesh hanging past the frame with a specialty cutter.
5. Reinstall the Screen
Put the finished screen back onto its window track and the job is complete. Check that it slides smoothly and that the mesh isn’t sagging anywhere — if everything looks good, you’re done.
Wrap-Up
Re-screening an amido comes down to four steps: ① remove the old spline and mesh → ② fit the new mesh → ③ press the spline into the groove with a roller → ④ trim off the excess. Once you understand these four steps, even a first attempt should turn out fine.
It might take 30 minutes to an hour the first time while you’re still getting the hang of it, but it goes faster with practice.
In the next article, I go into more detail on how to choose the right tools and materials for this job — worth checking out if you’re about to give this a try yourself.
▶︎ Buy the tools you need for re-screening here
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