How to Make Solar Shades With Mesh Window Screens
Some rooms in your house may seem to get terribly hot and almost unbearable at times because of the window treatments. Solar shades with mesh window screens help to keep the sun out during those warm summer months. The mesh from the solar shades helps block out the heavy sunrays. You can learn how to make solar shades with mesh window screens to make your house cooler on those hot summer days.
Things you’ll need:
- Solar screen kit
- Measuring tape
- Spline roller
- Utility knife
- Flat-head screwdriver
- Hacksaw
- File
- Measure the window frame that will be holding the solar shades. Measure the length and height of the window with a measuring tape and write down those numbers.
- Measure the corner clips width for the solar screen windows. The clips general sizes are between 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch. Double the measurement for the clips and subtract it the measurement of the window frame. This is the length that you need to cut for your frame, including the corner clips measurements. For instance if your window clips are 1/2 inch and the window is 40 inches, the frame should be cut for 39 inches (1/2 inch x 2=1 inch: 40 inches -1 inch = 39).
- Cut the solar screen frame sides down to the correct measurement size. The four pieces that you should have for the frame are: the left and right side, and the top and bottom. To get the best cut use a hacksaw with a metal cutting blade. Use a file to sand down and smooth the edges of the frame.
- Use the corner clips to connect and assemble the frame together. Ensure that the frame fits in the window properly by placing it in the window.
- Lay the solar screen down on a flat surface. Make sure to have the channel on the back and that the frame pointing directly up. Take the mesh window screen and unroll it over the frame. Leave about one inch over overlap for each side of the frame.
- Press the rounded spline at the corner of the screen into channel using a flat-head screwdriver. Use the spline roller to continue pressing the spline around the edge of the frame until it is in place.
- Trim away any extra mesh and spline with a utility knife.