How to Build a Screen Door

By: Joseph Truini, This Old House magazine

Shopping List

Supplies You Will Need

1. SCREEN DOOR KIT
comes in standard widths - 32, 34, and 36 inches - but custom sizes are also available

2. HINGES
three spring-loaded, surface-mounted types

3. LATCHSET
surface-mounted type made for screen doors

4. WOOD SHIMS
to hold door in the opening while installing hardware

5. EXTERIOR-GRADE WOOD GLUE

6. FIBERGLASS INSECT SCREEN
piece 36 inches by 7 feet is enough for most doors

7. RUBBER SPLINE

8. SANDPAPER
120-grit to sand dowels flush; finer grits to prepare door for finishing

9. 3/4-INCH-LONG BRADS
for attaching the frame molding

10. EXTERIOR-GRADE PAINT, STAIN, AND/OR VARNISH
polyurethane or marine spar varnish

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Tools List
Tools You Will Need
- Pipe or bar clamps,
  for assembling door; you’ll need six, each longer than door is wide
- Spline roller,
  to install rubber spline that holds screen taut
- Utility knife,
  for trimming excess screen
- Drill/driver
- 1/4-inch-diameter drill bit,
  for boring dowel holes
- 9/16-inch spade bit,
  for drilling latchset spindle hole
- Phillips-head screwdriver
- Sharp chisel,
  to trim tenons, if necessary, to fit into mortises
- Hand plane,
  to trim door to fit opening
- Hammer
Close

Photo: Kolin Smith

7. Install the Screens and Hardware

Open the door and slip the screen inserts into place, then secure each with wooden turn buttons mounted to the back side of the door.

Install a no-mortise latchset centered on the door's middle rail. Line the latch case up to the edge of the rail on the inside of the door, then mark the spindle location. Drill a 9?16-inch-diameter hole at this mark.
Hold the latch case on the door, thread the lever's spindle through the hole, then screw the case down.

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