At the height of summer, the only way to enjoy the evening breeze is to be seated behind window screens; otherwise mosquitoes and gnats will ruin your evening. Screens, especially on doors, are easy to rip, so it's a good idea to know how to simply repair your screens so you can continue to enjoy summer breezes.

This is an easy task, and even the "unhandiest" can manage it. With a few simple materials, you can keep your screens repaired, no matter how many times kids or dogs go crashing through them. Most of these materials are probably already laying around the house: wood putty, brad nails,household cement and screening material and a few tools such as scissors, a screen rolling tool, a razor knife, a square, a stapler, a needles pliers, and 1X2 stock to stretch the screening and 1X4 stock for wedges.

A small hole in a screen is the easiest to repair with a patch. This will work with metal and fiberglass screens, whereas plastic screens will have to be replaced. Simply measure the hole and buy a screen patch or cut a patch from a roll of screening. For a small hole, you will need a patch a half inch larger than the hole, for a large whole, make the patch an inch larger. Unravel a few strands of screening around edge of the patch and interweave them with the screening by bending either by hand or with a needle nosed screwdriver.

Replacing the entire screen is also simple, but is done differently with a metal frame than with a wooden frame.

For a metal frame, place the entire screen on a surface large enough to support it. Remove the rubber edging and set aside and remove the old screening. You can save the screening for future use as patches. Measure the required amount of screening and cut a piece from the screening roll that is a little bit larger than the opening. Using the screen rolling tools, tighten the screening into groove and replace the rubber edging, working your way slowly around the window or door. After the screening is fitted in, cut off any excess Wit the razor knife and your screen window or door is ready to be installed.

For a wooden frame, you will need to use the 1X2 stocks that is slightly wider than the frame. Cut the new screening from the replacement roll, Wit sufficient excess. Staple the screening across the top edge of the window or door, and nail the bottom cleat to a bench and install the cleats. Roll the screening over the cleats and nail in place. Insert the wedges between the cleats and the screen frame and tap them until the screening is taut. Staple the screening in place every few inches. Trim excess and countersink the brads to the screen molding and fill the holes with wood putty. then staple the whole screen into place by working from the center brace out. When you remove the wedges, the screen should remain taut. Use the screen rolling tools to replace the screen moldings and then just sit back and admire your work!