How to Identify Screen Door Hardware
If you are trying to repair an existing screen door or you are preparing to install a new one, you need to know what type of hardware is involved. Typically hardware supply stores simply display an aisle full of hardware, and unless you know what you're looking for, you could wind up wasting money on hardware that won't work on your screen door. Learn to identify screen door hardware to purchase what you need with a minimum of frustration. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Identify the hinges. A hinge consists of two metal leaves (or plates) with screw holes cast in it. They are held together by a pin that is pushed through the rings cast on each plate that form a tube when pushed together. Screen door hinges also have a weather resistant coating on them, which may be as obvious as paint or you may have to consult the package for phrases like "Indoor/outdoor," "outdoor" or "all weather."
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Find the spring return, which is what pulls your screen door shut without allowing it to slam against the door frame. A spring return can be as simple as a narrow (1/2 inch at most) diameter spring about 1 foot in length with two hooks on the end (one for the door and one for the frame). More advanced spring returns are actually a form of pneumatic shock, similar to what is on a car. They have a thicker gas canister end with a narrow arm extending from it. The arm attaches to the door and can move in and out of the canister, which is anchored to the door frame.
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Pick a latch, lock and handle. All sorts of different kinds of latches, locks and handles are available for screen doors. Typically they are smaller than the ones you use on a typical door--smaller, lighter and simpler. Latches and locks on a screen door are not really designed as a means to provide security for your home but to keep the door shut in the event of strong wind. Look for the phrases "indoor/outdoor," "outdoor," or "all weather" to identify hardware that has been treated for use with a screen door.
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Note the difference between spline doors and tabbed doors. Both terms refer to the hardware used to hold the door screen in the door itself. A spline door uses a screen held in place by pushing a rubber cord (spline) into a channel over the edge of the spline. These are very common and a lot of people prefer them because they are easy to fix. A tabbed door uses screws set in tabs around the opening for the screen to hold a framed screen in place.
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Tips & Warnings
Buy twice as much door screen and spline as you need. These are not expensive items, and you will be glad to have them on hand should you need to repair or replace the screen in the future.
Match your hinge screw type to your door frame material. Don't try to use metal screws in a wood frame or your hinges will come loose quickly, and you will have to repair the door.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit lizard on screen image by Pix by Marti from Fotolia.com
