Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Jun 02, 1999 10:00pm | #1

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   Hi Stitch,

   I have old wooden screens on my house, and I have to build a new one whenever one falls apart.

   I use PT 5/4's clear decking for the frame.

   I believe the frames are 3" around the top and sides and 5" at the bottom and a 3" crosspiece in the middle.

   I use an open mortise and tenon at the corners and half-laps for the crosspiece. I pin them with dowels so they'll stay in place during glue-up. Plain old yeller glue suffices.

   My windows have ledges around the inside for the screen to bear against. If you don't have them for your porch you'll have to put some in.

   The screens are attached with screen hangers on the outside and a hook-and-eye on the inside. You could probably use SS screws from the outside into the ledger strip just as well if you don't expect to be opening and closing the screen.

   I attach the screen (fiberglass) with staples and cover the staples with half-round molding, then cut away the excess screen.

   My old screens were put together with miter corners and nails, and they've held up for about sixty years, so the fancy joints probably aren't really necessary, especially if you screw the screen to the window frame.

1. 
   Guest_ | Jun 03, 1999 06:33am | #3

   *Stitch, perhaps this option may interest you: We have used removable screens made by a local storm window supplier. We can get amazingly large screen units, framed in aluminum in a variety of factory finishes. We screw the framed screen units to 5/4 or 2x ledgers as Joseph described. The dollar cost for these screen panels is small compared to the labor and materials for building traditional wooden units, and repairs are easily made. For large openings such as yours, get the screen panels WITHOUT "spreader" bars ... they won't be needed, since the perimeter screws will hold the frame/screen taut. BTW, you may install the screening from outside or inside the porch, depending upon the "look" you want.Good luck, Steve

2. 
   Stitch | Jun 03, 1999 06:33am | #2

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   Hi........I'm looking for some suggestions on building removable screens for my porch. The openings are roughly 32" x 66" and I'd like all the screens (13) to be framed & removable. The entire porch is faced with white cedar, but I don't think that would be the best material for the frame...The type of suggestions I'm looking for are 1) frame material & dimensions,2)frame construction (ie lapped corners) and 3) screen attachment methods........Based upon all the great advise I see in this discussion site, I'll bet there are some smart ways of doing this that I'm unaware of........Thanks for any help!!