Window screens serve to protect your windows from damage and to keep dirt, dust, and bugs from getting into your home. But window screens get dirty or damaged too. In which case, you will need to know how to take a screen out of a window before you can get it cleaned, repaired, or replaced.
Before taking a screen out of your window, you must first check to see if it is in the interior or exterior of the window. Likewise, it is also essential to know the style of your window, as there are particular methods of removing a screen for each type.
Read on to learn more about how to take a screen out of a window.
How to Take a Screen Out of a Window
You must first check to see if the screen is installed in the interior or exterior of the window before taking it out. Likewise, it is also important to know the style of your window. It is important to note that there are particular methods of removing a screen for each type.
Types of Window Screens
The two types of window screens are the following:
- Interior Window Screen
- Exterior Window Screen
1. Interior Window Screen
Interior window screens are common in sliding windows. They are kept in position through the support of tension.
2. Exterior Window Screen
Common in double-hung windows, exterior window screens hang outside the window using plunger pins.
Safety Tips
When removing the screen from your window, ensure that you observe safety precautions. Some of these are the following:
- Do Not Lean on the Window
- Make Sure Nobody Else Is near You
- Do Not Climb or Stand on Furniture
- Ask Assistance from an Experienced Person
1. Do Not Lean on the Window
Do not lean on the window to prevent yourself from falling off and getting injured. The screen won’t be strong enough to hold your weight and keep you from falling.
2. Make Sure Nobody Else Is near You
Ensure that no one is standing outside right below the window to not drop the screen on them.
3. Do Not Climb or Stand on Furniture
Avoid climbing or standing on furniture to reach closer to the window screen. If you’re not tall enough to reach it, it is much safer to ask a neighbor or friend for assistance.
4. Ask Assistance from an Experienced Person
Taking a screen out of a window is not an easy task. It is possible to experience difficulty removing the screen from the window frame. It is better to call someone with experience to help you out than risk ruining the entire frame.
How to Put a Screen Back in a Window
Steps to Remove a Window Screen from an Interior and Exterior Window
New window screens usually come with a new mesh. So you won’t have to cut the old one before you take off the window. Below are the steps to remove a window screen from an interior and exterior window:
Interior Window Screen
Here are the steps on how to remove an interior window screen:
- Pull the Lift Tabs Upward
- Lift the Lower Part of the Window Screen
- Pull the Window Screen in Your Direction
1. Pull the Lift Tabs Upward
The lift tab is located at the lower side of the window screen once you have opened the slide. As you pull it, the pressure will cause the screen to move up until it is out.
2. Lift the Lower Part of the Window Screen
Hold the bottom of the screen with your right hand, and the finger lifts with your left. Then pull the screen out.
3. Pull the Window Screen in Your Direction
Hold the screen using both hands and slide the bottom part through the opening. You may tip the screen to one side to come out easier.
Exterior Window Screen
Here are the steps on how to remove an exterior window screen:
- Remove the Window Sash
- Shove the Window Screen Outward
- Take the Window Screen out Through the Opening
1. Remove the Window Sash
You should easily remove the sash if you have a modern double-hung window. Locate the plunger pin inside the window screen. Pull it inward close to the center of the window, then release it.
2. Shove the Window Screen Outward
Hold the window frame around the window screen and shove it outward. Pull down slightly to separate the screen from its position. Ensure that nobody outside is standing under the window to avoid accidents from occurring. Do not lean on the window, and make sure you stand firmly on the floor.
3. Pull the Window Screen in Your Direction
Tap the window screen to one side and take it out through the opening. Pull the screen first in your direction, then bend it so that you can move it out. Even though the window frame is solid, you can slightly bend to pull out the screen.
How to Remove Different Types of Screen from Windows
The following are the steps of removing a window screen from different styles of windows:
How to Remove Single-hung and Sliding Window Screens
The steps for removing single hung and sliding window screens include the following:
- Open the Windows Wide
- Hold the Tabs of the Window Screen
- Rotate the Window Screen
1. Open the Windows Wide
Open your window as wide as possible. Then, move the window screen to the top portion of the window.
2. Hold the Tabs of the Window Screen
Hold the tabs at the bottom part of the screen. Then, push it outward away from the frame.
3. Rotate the Window Screen
Rotate the window screen to make it come out of the frame easier.
How to Remove Casement and Full Window Screens
Casement windows differ from sliding windows in several ways. But their respective methods for removing window screens are similarly simple. The two easy steps merely include the following:
- Look for the tabs situated on both sides of the window frame
- Pull the tabs together to pop out the window screen for easy removal
The same procedure applies for taking out full-window screens which come with any window or with the window regulator. However, a flexible full-window screen brand will require you to pull both sides. Then, squeeze the screen for it to come out easily.
How to Remove Double-hung Window Screens
You can open double-hung windows at the top and the bottom. They have much in common with casement and full windows, but the securing points are different.
The steps for removing a double-hung window screen are as follows:
- Raise the Bottom Part of the Window Sash
- Hold the Bottom of the Window Screen Firmly
- Remove Window Screen
1. Raise the Bottom Part of the Window Sash
Completely raise the bottom part of the window sash to remove the window screen. Move it forward and to the middle of the two tabs. These are usually found at the bottom of every double-hung window screen. Raise the screen upward by 3 inches and take it out of the window frame.
2. Hold the Bottom of the Window Screen Firmly
Use both hands to hold the bottom of the window screen firmly. Then, move the tabs to the center. Compress the entire screen, twist to the left, then push it out of the frame. Two springs will pop out from each side of the screen to make it come out quickly.
3. Remove Window Screen
Hold the screen and turn it sideways. Then remove it for replacement.
Again, how to take a screen out a window? Check whether the screen is in the window’s interior or exterior. Also, check the type of your window. This is important since the method is different for each type.
Common Window Styles
To know how to remove the screen from the window, you must tell the specific style of your window. That way, you will determine the exact screen removal process. There are several different styles of windows, and below are a few of the most common ones.
- Single-hung Window
- Double-hung Window
- Sliding Window
- Casement Window
1. Single-hung Window
Classic Decorative Design
Single-hung windows have a classic decorative design suited for small and narrow spaces. Affordable and energy-efficient, they are not difficult to install. However, they cannot be opened outwards, which keeps them from being cleaned from inside. They also have less open area compared to other available window styles.
Movable Bottom Window Panes
A single-hung window has bottom window panes that are movable and an upper window sash that remains fixed. The lower sash can be moved up and down as preferred. Once the window is opened, the upper sash will be covered inside.
2. Double-hung Window
Perfect for Narrow Outside Spaces
The most common window style in the U.S., double-hung windows, is perfect for narrow outside spaces. They are compatible with most styles of architecture. Also, they are affordable and energy-efficient. They can be cleaned inside and out with no need to go outside.
Limited Ventilation
Depending on the material it is made from, a double-hung window isn’t highly airtight and has limited ventilation. But it has two operable window sashes, an upper sash that slides down and a lower one that slides up. This enables better ventilation when both are opened about halfway.
3. Sliding Window
Common in Bathroom or Kitchen Sink
Sliding windows are used mostly, but not exclusively, in difficult-to-reach places such as the bathroom or the window above a kitchen sink. They can be easily opened when the latch that holds the glass to the window frame is released.
Two Types of Sliding Windows
- Two-panel Slider Window
- Three-panel Slider Window
Two-panel Slider Window
The two-panel slider window consists of two window sashes that slide horizontally, one over the other. You can open this window by moving one of the panels aside. It is affordable and easy to install and maintain.
Plus, the two-panel slider window is durable, long-lasting, and energy-efficient; it offers a clear view and great ventilation, although it is not airtight.
Three-panel Slider Window
As for the three-panel slider window, it provides a panoramic view of the outside. It features a fixed middle slider and two side sliders which move aside and slide to the middle to open and close. This type of sliding window is durable and requires low maintenance.
4. Casement Window
Offers an Unobstructed View and More
A casement window offers an unobstructed view, sufficient light, and better ventilation compared to other window types. With window sashes that open both upwards and aside, casement windows hinge to the side and can be opened using a hand crank.
Doesn’t Come with Finger Lifts or Pins
They don’t come with finger lifts or pins like double-hung and sliding windows. Also, they seal effectively when closed and locked, improving energy performance.
How to Save Money on Window Replacement
Whether you’re looking to replace a window screen or the window itself, it’s only natural to look for ways to cut down costs. But you should never settle for low-quality window replacements. Here are a few ideal solutions to save money when replacing windows:
- Negotiate to Get a Better Deal
- Avoid Spending on Unnecessary Extras
- Choose Common Window Styles
- Buy Cheaper Window Materials
- Provide the Material by Yourself
1. Negotiate to Get a Better Deal
Negotiate with your chosen window replacement company for a lower price.
2. Avoid Spending on Unnecessary Extras
A window company may offer you extras such as laminated exterior glass to make your windows resistant to breakage. While that could be helpful for your window, you may not necessarily need or want it at the moment. Such offers are only optional. So think hard whether you need to have them before taking the plunge.
3. Choose Common Window Styles
It is usually cheaper to stick with a standard window style than a fancier one. Avoid curved or circular designs or very expensive bay and bow windows if you wish to save money.
4. Buy Cheaper Window Materials
There are wooden windows that may look attractive and less expensive. But quality window frames made from fiberglass or vinyl can be just as eye-catching.
5. Provide the Material by Yourself
You can do this by going through discarded building material. You may be surprised at how many old thrown-out but the otherwise fine window frames you could find. Why let perfectly usable material go to waste? Recycling is always good, and in this case, it can save you quite a lot in window replacement expenses.
Conclusion – How to Take a Screen Out of a Window
Before taking a screen out of your window, you must first check to see if it is in the interior or exterior of the window. Likewise, it is also important to know the style of your window, as there are particular methods of removing a screen for each type.
The purpose of a window screen is to protect your window. But it, too, can suffer from wear and tear due to constant exposure to grime and the elements.
As such, window screens require to be replaced every so often. Removing an old one to make way for the new is a simple procedure that is easy to learn and practice.
The methods of removing a screen may vary depending on the style and type of the window. But the steps are relatively easy to follow. It is always wise to set aside part of your budget for window maintenance. So don’t take your windows for granted. Always make sure that they are kept neat, well-protected, and pleasing to the eye.
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