I walked through my screen door

[BlueHouse]

I have a screen door for my sliding-glass door.  I walked into it.  I kicked the bottom and punched the middle simultaneously.  Now the bottom is very weakened with a tear where the screen meets the metal frame.  And in the horizontal middle of the door, where the handle to move the sliding door attaches to the screen, the screen is ripped. 

I can't use a hole repair kit because the holes are directly up against either metal or plastic.  I saw screen repair tape that looked like a good idea, but the reviews are not promising.  Any suggestions on a cheap fix?  I don't really care if it looks ugly (within reason)

[thedigitalone]

We replaced our sliding door screens last summer with wire screens vs. nylon to keep the cats from getting out by scratching their way through the screen material. It's pretty easy to do as long as you have a large flat area in which to work, I'd be surprised if it took more than 20 minutes your first time, there are a number of youtube videos if needed.

A new screen, the spline tool and the replacement spline should be under $25 at your local mega-box home hardware store.

As a bonus you'll have enough screen material to do several door/windows if needed.

[nereo]

[Carless]

Yeah, my dad had to do this when all the plastic corners of  the removable screens for the windows started cracking with age.  The screens would collapse when taken out which was irritating.  He got a set of new corners off the internet, reused the screen (which won't work for you) and then shoved the gasket back in with a blunt ended spatula.  Mom was not amused at the appropriation of her tools, but it worked quite well and he rapidly got it down to a speedy method.  So you may not even need the special tool.

[BlueHouse]

Thanks. Looks like a trip to Home Depot is in order for the weekend.

[NeonPegasus]

My local hardware store will rescreen doors for about the cost of that repair kit. Check with a smaller mom and pop type place.

[CptCool]

I would probably take it to a hardware store too.

Otherwise, if it's the same as a window screen, it only takes about 15min to repair and less than $15 in materials including the 1 time cost of a spline rolling tool. You just buy a roll of screen material and "spline" (spline is the rubber-like stuff which is what keeps the screen in place), measure/cut the screen, then use a spline roller to roll the spline into the outside tracks which keeps the screen in place. Cut off any excess screen material with and you're all done!

[BlueHouse]

My local hardware store will rescreen doors for about the cost of that repair kit. Check with a smaller mom and pop type place.

Oh good!  We have the best local hardware store in the world just a few blocks away.  I'll bet they'll do it fairly inexpensively. 
Thank you for the tip!

[LifeHappens]

I have done the same. In my defense, I was REALLY pissed at a squirrel who was stealing my cherry tomatoes.

DIY-ing screens is most cost effective when you are doing lots of doors and windows. You end up buying a whole role of screen, 100' of spline, and it helps a bunch to buy the special tool for working with the spline. For just one, yeah, let the hardware store do it.

[lthenderson]

I take mine to a local glass replacement shop. They replace screens too cheaply in my opinion. I think I paid about $35 for the last one I had replaced.

[BudgetSlasher]

I've replace the screen in many windows since we moved in.

Here is what you need:

This tool (or similar): http://www.homedepot.com/p/Screen-Spline-Plastic-Tool-654/205619545

Window screen (there are different types and hole sizes): http://www.homedepot.com/p/Phifer-36-in-x-25-ft-BetterVue-Insect-Screen-3030802/203193957

and spline (the size may vary based upon your window frame): http://www.homedepot.com/p/Phifer-0-125-in-x-100-ft-Black-Spline-3033396/100391170

OR for cheaper with enough screen to do a couple windows or a door there is: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Prime-Line-Fiberglass-Screening-Kit-with-Rolling-Tool-P-7515/100192123

Doing one door it might be less expensive to take it to a window place locally (but the kit above is only ~11 bucks), but if you have to do a dozen like I did then the scale tilts the other way.

There are plenty of youtube videos that can show you how to do the work; it is honestly very easy, I did a screen door at a time when I did not have the use of one of my thumbs and it came out perfectly.

[Goldielocks]

At a rental we had, i tore a 2" hole when the motorcycle I was parking (newbie) fell over and the handle caught it.

It was about 1/2 inch from the edge... but -- i just took a needle and black thread and darned it like a sock.   Was not overly noticeable and the landlord did not deduct for it even through they were especially picky about the place on our departure.   

If it was my own screen door and I was especially cheap -- i think I would try the same, but wrap the thread AROUND the frame, maybe, to anchor it where it is too close?

Of course, I would try that because it is likely I will rip 3 new holes before the end of summer, and I want to wait until it is ruined before spending for the replacement screen  (of which I, too, seem to have an extra 50 feet of, why do they only sell in such large rolls?)

[BlueHouse]

My local hardware store will rescreen doors for about the cost of that repair kit. Check with a smaller mom and pop type place.

Oh good!  We have the best local hardware store in the world just a few blocks away.  I'll bet they'll do it fairly inexpensively. 
Thank you for the tip!

How do you know they are the best?

A beloved hardware store that had been in the same spot for about almost 100 years (until it was gutted by fire 2 years ago).  Named best in DC for I don't know how many years.