Question on Anderson Window Screens

[KRB52]

I work in a small, local hardware store. One of my jobs is doing window screen repair/replacement. If you have ever seen the Anderson Window screens, they have a metal spline that holds them in. Normally, when I remove them, they end up bending up, so I toss them and replace the original with .250 rubber spline. This late in the season, the boss doesn't want to order another roll of spline and I'm out. I have tried to carefully remove the original metal spline, with so-so results. They seem to have a "springiness" built into them to hold them in place.

Does anyone have any experience or ideas on:

1) removing the metal spline so that it doesn't bend/twist out of shape?
2) reinstalling same to the screen?

I've thought about construting a jig to use to straighten any that bend, but have not gotten to that yet. Using new material is not an option, since our wholesaler does not stock anything like this and we won't buy from Anderson (just because, not anything against them.)

Thoughts, ideas, opinions?

 

[fourjeepin]

That rubber spline isn't expensive. Seems like it would be cheaper than trying to salvage the original metal spline.

I'm not familiar with the Anderson screens, but am in the process of building screens for my house. Built the three for the kitchen last weekend. Cut the frames for the bedroom windows, but haven't put them together yet. 77h x 30 something. VERY tall.

 

[KRB52]

The roll of .250 is about $150 and there is 250 feet on the roll. The owner would rather spend that on items he knows will sell in the next week or so as compared to sitting on it until spring.

fourjeepin: yeah, that is a tall window to screen. Unless you are using heavy aluminum framing material, those are going to be tough to get tight without hourglassing, unless you use a middle brace.

 

[sselander]

How about going to another store and getting a small roll?

I like how Andersen does not recommend rescreening, typical.

"Andersen recommends performing routine insect screen care and maintenance once a year. If, after visual inspection of your insect screen, you discover the insect screen frame or mesh is damaged, a replacement insect screen is required.

We do not recommend rescreening your Andersen® window insect screens. The insect screen cloth is held into the insect screen frame using an aluminum spline. Once the aluminum insect screen spline is removed, it cannot be re-inserted. For this reason, we do not offer replacement window insect screen mesh or insect screen spline.

Please handle your Andersen® window insect screen with care and never force an insect screen into a tight opening. Bending or bowing of the insect screen may occur if excessive or constant pressure is applied to the insect screen frame. If you encounter difficulty installing your insect screen into your Andersen® window, please contact us for assistance. "

http://help.andersenwindows.com/

Can Andersen® window insect screens be rescreened? Article ID: 2712

 

[Blue XJ]

I would just go to another hardware store that has it in stock and buy how ever much spline you need. I think I paid $8 for enough to do a couple of my screens.

 

[RECox286]

Occasionally a screen frame needs a new plastic corner due to

the assy being blown out of an upstairs window, and the screening

is still in good shape. When I get one like that into the shop, I

carefully pry out the single spline that I need to remove and insert

the broken corner, and then carefully put the spline back into its'

slot. It takes a bit of doing, but can be done successfully, again

if one takes the time required. If the screen simply needs to be

re screened, then I don't even attempt to save the aluminum spline,

and it goes straight to the scrap pile, to be replaced with rubber.

It just doesn't make sense to do else wise. At the end of the season,

if I run out of a size of spline, and I get a frame to re screen, I simply

rely on a place like big box to supply a small package of spline, and

charge it to the job, or the frame stays in the "spring pile" for when

we have our spring supplies in stock.

 

[KRB52]

"We do not recommend rescreening your Andersen® window insect screens. The insect screen cloth is held into the insect screen frame using an aluminum spline. Once the aluminum insect screen spline is removed, it cannot be re-inserted. For this reason, we do not offer replacement window insect screen mesh or insect screen spline."

Interesting that they feel that way. I guess it's a good excuse to sell more screens. I'm glad my customers haven't read that from Anderson; any given year I must do close to 100 Anderson screens alone, in addition to all of the other types we get in.

Thank you all for your input; it looks like I will be doing some "pioneering" on this until spring or I can sneak an order in.