Screening in a Porch - Do It Yourself

If insects are bugging you when you sit outside on your porch or patio, you might consider screening in that area so you can enjoy the cool, nighttime air without the hassle.

It’s a great do it yourself project.
First of all, choose Screen Tight, a revolutionary porch screening system designed to eliminate the old cumbersome method of staples, nails, wooden lattice and paint.
Screen Tight provides the maintenance free qualities of vinyl with the proven method of spline screening that adapts to wooden frame porches.


Before you put up the Screen Tight system, you need to frame out your porch. This is a basic carpentry project that’s easily accomplished by an average do it yourselfer.
Since the frame is not weight bearing, you can space the studs out as near or as far as you want depending upon the look you want for your patio.
First measure the length and width of your patio.
Then buy 2X4 lumber and cut it to those measurements to create a top and bottom plate.
Use a Bosch Hammer Drill with a masonry bit to drill through the wood into the concrete.
Use Tap-Con’s to attach the bottom plate to the concrete slab. Tap-Con’s are screws especially made for concrete. They have special threads that actually dig into the concrete to hold whatever you’re mounting in place forever.
Once the bottom plate is on, use an Impulse Nailer from Paslode to attach the top plate to the ceiling joists.
Once the plates are nailed in place, cut your studs to length and place accordingly.
Once the studs are in place, add a chair rail or mid-rail about 36” up from the floor. This is so that you don’t have larger than 6”X6” areas of screen. If you have that much area, chances are you screen will sag and it won’t look good.
Once this is done, you can begin installing Screen Tight.


First install tracks to the studs. The tracks come in two sizes to fit standard two by four framing or four by four, so they come in widths of 1.5” to 3.5”.
Cut the tracks to length with pruning shears or tin snips to fit the studs.
Precision isn’t crucial and there is no need to miter the corners.
Screw or nail the channels over the studs.
Once the channel’s are in place, you’re ready to put in the screen.
Fiberglass screen is recommended with the Screen Tight system.
Start at the top of the channel. Hold the screen and the spline (rubber tubing material that is rolled down into the channel to hold the screening material in place and pull it taut) taut in one hand, and roll the spline into the track (channel) with the other.
After installing the spline in the two sides, continue with the mid-rail.

Make short relief cuts as you go.
Trim the excess screen using a utility knife or Screen Tight’s efficient multi-purpose roller knife.
Once the spline is rolled and the screen is tight, it’s time to add the vinyl trim caps.
Tap the trim caps into place using a non-marring rubber mallet. Start at one end and work toward the other. Avoid sliding the cap.
Cut the trim caps in place with pruning shears. The butt joint should align with those of the underlying framing member.
Screen Tight’s unique system is easily adapted to most screen porches. The base component attaches to wood framing with 1” wood or sheet rock screws. Make sure to put a screw in each slot. Fastener should be snug but not so tight that the base strip bends.
Put a screw no less than 4” from the end of each base component. The excess screen is cut and removed, allowing cap to snap into base.

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