Screen storm door removing plastic window

by Kris
(Deltona FL)

I have a swinging screen door that has a square section screened on the outside and a double hung (up down) sliding window with plastic instead of screen material inside that square section attached from the back of the door.The double hung window seems to be an insert that fits in the square screen door that is held in by screws but when I take the screws out one corner is loose and will push out but the other three sides are stuck. I'm guessing the insert that holds the window in may be glued in some way. Any ideas on how to get that window frame out so I can replace the plastic material?

Quite often storm doors have foam rubber behind the plastic frames that allow you to pull the window to the left or right and get enough space for the window to pop out of the frame.

With old doors this foam rubber gets very hard and brittle and it becomes really difficult to compress it enough to remove the glass

Would be really good if you could post a digital picture because that might give more clues as to how it comes apart.

Removing screen frame from storm door

I have to repair the screen in the lower part of my door. I have removed the glass sliding pane, now how do I remove the fixed lower unit without breaking the upper glass pane.

Cheers

Push up on the upper glass until it moves about 1/2 inch up into the door frame, then pull the bottom of the glass out a little toward you. Pull down on the glass and it should slide out.

If the glass has been there for many years, it can be tricky. Just be patient and work it loose gently.

Once the upper glass is out the screen just slides up from the bottom and can be removed

How do I get an old grey aluminum door window frame apart if it doesn't have screws?

by Lew
(Syracuse, NY. USA)

I have a question about taking an old aluminum window frame apart. I have looked on 3 to 4 dozen websites and can't find the answer.

My window frame is one of two that are in an old screen door. The bottom third of the door is a metal panel.

The frame does not have any screws in the corners. It does have four dots on every corner. I thought I have heard that I should drill out the four dots on the top right and bottom left corners and then I will be able to slide the frame apart?

Once apart and I replace the glass, how will it go back together?

Any help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!

Hi Lew;

The dots are made when the factory uses a metal punch to lock the frames together. You are right about carefully drilling out all the dots. The frame will come apart.

When you reassemble the frame after replacing the glass, just use a pointed metal punch and a hammer and make new dents, just deep enough to make the frame grab into the corner.

You need to punch the corners on a hard surface, and be careful not to strike too hard, or the new glass may break.

Oversized Screen door Catch or Latch?

by Andrew
(Sudbury, Canada)

I have had a very difficult search for an oversized screen door catch or latch that will fit our camp/cottage door. Regular screen doors are about an inch thick or so, ours is closer to 2 inches and so the stardard sized, spring mounted catch that helps keep the door closed will not work as the arms or fingers on the thing do not go around the door.

I'm interested in some direction to a manufacturer that may specialize in this type of hardware.

Thanks for your direction, love your website.

Andrew

Storm door wind damage

by Debbie
(Michigan, USA)

the wind blew open my brand new storm door yesterday. now it wont close. the bottom of the door now seems to come out about an inch to far to close.

Hi Debbie;

Have someone hold the door open near the top of the door. Then push gently on the bottom of the door to see if it you can straighten it.

With luck the it should be possible to make the door close properly again.

Sometimes when the door gets blown open the corners break. If the door feels loose when you try to straighten it, then a corner may be broken.

If there is a broken corner, the store you bought the door at may be able to tell you if the manufacturer has spare parts.

Storm door missing its door sweep

by Wendy
(USA)

We bought a screen door at Menards a few years ago. The bottom white piece has broke, leaving about a 3 in gap for cold air, mice, bugs, etc to get in. On the outside is a gold piece that is ok. I am thinking this white piece slid up under the gold piece and came around and screwed to the inside. I have tried to look on the internet and cannot find the piece. No where on the door does it tell me the brand. All I have is 3AXG 200 36x80 WHN 8175 to go by. When I go to Menards they tell me they don't sell screen parts and I have to go online.

Hi Wendy;

It sounds like the piece you are talking about is the doorsweep that keeps the bottom of the door sealed.

Storm doors come in different thicknesses, from 1" thick to 2-1/2" inches thick. You need to know how thick your door is to get a door sweep that fits.

Once you know the thickness of the door, check with your local door suppliers, not the big box stores. They might be willing to sell you a door sweep that fits.

Lowes and Home Depot have door sweeps that might fit. At least you return one of theirs if it does not.