How to screen a screen-less window?
May 15, 2007 8:49 PM Subscribe
The windows in my apartment are rather old-fashioned. It's spring, and I know the bugs will come soon. How would I go about screening the windows to prevent bugs from entering my apartment?
I love these windows. They're big and have multiple square panes. The best picture I have of my windows is at this url. As you can see, the window on the left and the window on the right can both be opened by the cranks on the bottom. The middle panes are set.
The problem is the way they are designed. They crank outward, but there is no room for me to place in a standard screen window. The only solution I can think of is duct-taping screen onto the windows, but I was hoping for something a little better. How can I screen these windows in time for summer bugs?
I love these windows. They're big and have multiple square panes. The best picture I have of my windows is at this url. As you can see, the window on the left and the window on the right can both be opened by the cranks on the bottom. The middle panes are set.
The problem is the way they are designed. They crank outward, but there is no room for me to place in a standard screen window. The only solution I can think of is duct-taping screen onto the windows, but I was hoping for something a little better. How can I screen these windows in time for summer bugs?
This may work. The biggest width is 55", is that to small for your window. They have a few other options on the site that may work for you too.
There are lots of stores that sell expandable/adjustable screens as well, although they're meant to work with double hung windows. But they're cheap, only $5-10 at the Wal-mart or hardware store. You could try to rig something up with them.
posted by saffry at 9:26 PM on May 15, 2007
There are lots of stores that sell expandable/adjustable screens as well, although they're meant to work with double hung windows. But they're cheap, only $5-10 at the Wal-mart or hardware store. You could try to rig something up with them.
posted by saffry at 9:26 PM on May 15, 2007
These are casement windows. Factory screens usually go on this type of window from the inside and are often held in place by turn clips. What you'd want to do is get aluminum framed screens made1 that clear all latches and cranks and then mount four appropriately offset turn clips to the window frame to hold the screen in place. Often there will be a fitted hole in the screen to accommodate the latch.
If the frames are steel instead of wood or aluminum you could epoxy rare earth magnets to the screens to hold them in place.
[1] Aluminum screens aren't all that hard to make yourself as long as you can cut a 45.
posted by Mitheral at 9:28 PM on May 15, 2007
If the frames are steel instead of wood or aluminum you could epoxy rare earth magnets to the screens to hold them in place.
[1] Aluminum screens aren't all that hard to make yourself as long as you can cut a 45.
posted by Mitheral at 9:28 PM on May 15, 2007
akka, if you want to get out cheap then I would go with longsleeves suggestion of nylon screen (on a roll), cut to size. Instead of duct tape I would use double sided tape, again cut to size.
3M makes a really tough double sided tape which is easy to trim with scissors and with a little time and some careful measuring you could probably get a neat fit.
I like your windows, btw...
posted by wfrgms at 1:58 AM on May 16, 2007
3M makes a really tough double sided tape which is easy to trim with scissors and with a little time and some careful measuring you could probably get a neat fit.
I like your windows, btw...
posted by wfrgms at 1:58 AM on May 16, 2007
i don't really have any solutions, but those expandable screens are shit. at least the ones we've had.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 7:04 AM on May 16, 2007
posted by misanthropicsarah at 7:04 AM on May 16, 2007
Ooh, great windows. Please don't replace them. Metal casement windows are one of the most endangered species of historic fenestration. By virtue of their material and the fact that they are constantly exposed to the elements, deterioration is a given, and it is almost impossible to get replacement parts or even new metal windows.
For a short term fix, I like the nylon screening + double stick tape idea (wrap black electrical tape or similar around the cut edges of the screen for a more finished look). For the long term, get someone to come out to your place and measure your windows and make custom screens. The important thing is to make sure they do not conflict with the lock and crank.
posted by Rock Steady at 7:08 AM on May 16, 2007
For a short term fix, I like the nylon screening + double stick tape idea (wrap black electrical tape or similar around the cut edges of the screen for a more finished look). For the long term, get someone to come out to your place and measure your windows and make custom screens. The important thing is to make sure they do not conflict with the lock and crank.
posted by Rock Steady at 7:08 AM on May 16, 2007
I use the velcro and fine netting tactic. I live near a marsh so the swarms are huge in the summer evenings.
However, they always seem to get through somewhere. This year I'll do the velcro thing and then duct-tape around the edges where possible.
posted by lemonfridge at 8:37 AM on May 16, 2007
However, they always seem to get through somewhere. This year I'll do the velcro thing and then duct-tape around the edges where possible.
posted by lemonfridge at 8:37 AM on May 16, 2007
i have a friend who has a back door that swings outward so she couldn't put in a screen door. her solution was to nail up nylon screening (the nails are very discreet) and—here is the important part—she weighted the bottom of the screen (i believe with magnets but i supposed something like fishing weights will do as well) so that the screen stayed hanging down flat. this would be a good idea if you are not interested in taping that screen completely around your window.
posted by violetk at 11:20 AM on May 16, 2007
posted by violetk at 11:20 AM on May 16, 2007
sorry, i forgot to add that she is a designer so the way she has done it is very clean and neat looking. you don't really see the nails, and the weights keep the screen flat down. aesthetically, it looks great compared to seeing a screen duct-taped around a window. it's an inexpensive solution that doesn't look ghetto.
posted by violetk at 11:23 AM on May 16, 2007
posted by violetk at 11:23 AM on May 16, 2007
oh, and (heh) looking at your windows, you could just try that technique on the two side windows that open out while leaving the middle section unscreened so that you have unfettered sunlight coming in.
posted by violetk at 11:25 AM on May 16, 2007
posted by violetk at 11:25 AM on May 16, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
Or, duct tape and nylon screens on rolls would be worth a try, I suppose. Duct tape in the bathroom and on your car's rear window are as ok as you are ok with it.
Ask if your city has matching grants.
posted by longsleeves at 9:11 PM on May 15, 2007