Lay the screen material in place over the groove. Press the spline into the groove to hold the screen edge in place.

A screen is a woven mesh stretched and attached to a frame at a window or door opening to keep pests out of the house and small children and household pets in the house. The most common screening materials are vinyl-coated fiberglass and aluminum. Aluminum screens are less likely to tear or sag, but they dent easily and may corrode. Fiberglass won't dent or corrode, is less expensive than aluminum, and is available in a variety of mesh types, including very fine solar-screening mesh that reduces ultraviolet radiation.

To repair a small tear in a screen:

1. Use pliers and other tools to bend the torn strands of screen fabric back to their original positions.
2. Apply model cement to the tear, spreading the cement with a small brush.
3. Use a toothpick to open as many holes as possible before they seal over with cement.

To repair a larger tear in a screen:

1. Cut a patch of similar screening (aluminum, plastic, or fiberglass) to overlap the damaged area by º inch.
2. Place the patch over the hole so that the ends of the strands fit into the mesh on the screening.
3. Attach the patch using a small sewing needle and nylon fishing line or an appropriate adhesive to secure the patch.
4. Finish dressing the patch using a toothpick or other tool to align fibers and/or remove excess glue.

To replace a screen in a metal frame:

1. Place the screen face down on a work surface.
2. Use a straight screwdriver or other pointed object to remove the spline that holds the screen in place in the frame groove.
3. Cut fiberglass screen with scissors and aluminum screen with heavy-duty shears or tin snips as needed, making sure that the replacement is at least 1 inch larger than the screen opening.
4. Stretch the new screen evenly over the opening and use duct or other tape to temporarily hold it in place.
5. Starting in a corner, press the spline into the groove with the blade of a spline roller or a straight screwdriver.
6. Continue pressing the spline into place around the perimeter of the screen.
7. Trim the end of the spline as needed.
8. Trim the edge of the fabric as needed.