Replacing Screens:
If you just need to replace a screen with the standard material, any large hardware or building supply store will sell you a kit for ten or fifteen dollars, including screening, plastic spline, and the spline roller tool needed to force it into the groove in the frame.
It has been said that the size of the spline is critical and unique to the LD and that not just any spline will work. A source for the proper-size spline is Pelland Enterprises.
Got a cat?
If you're concerned about your cat clawing holes in your screens, you can replace the screens with a product called Pet Screen. It's a heavy-duty screening that is impervious to cat claws. You can DIY or have them installed - cost for seven windows and one door was $520, according to one LD owner who recently had them installed.
Screen rattles:
Here is the factory-recommended solution:
"It is very easy to accidentally install the screen on the wrong portion of the track. When you install the screens open the window all the way first and install the screen about in the middle
of the open window. This way you can clearly see that its in the track top and bottom.
During production, we generally pinch a couple of areas along the bottom of the screen frames to take some of the play out of their frame making them fit tighter. This is just one of hundreds of things we do to help eliminate rattles. If you look on the very bottom of the removed screen frame you may notice a few areas that seem to be indented or pinched together. They should be some what spaced out evenly. The idea is to pinch the screen frame to narrow the opening so that it is just about the same width as the plastic track it slides on. If you do not notice any indented areas you can add them.
Select three or four evenly spaced spots on the bottom side of the frame starting in from the ends a few inches. Using a pair of channel lock pliers simply squeeze the very edge of the screen lip until it is closed slightly. It will bend very easy with a good pair of channel locks. We place a small flat piece of wood on the interior finished side so it doesn't get scratched or dented by the pliers. It may take a few tries to get the exact spacing. This is crucial to make it fits as tight as possible on the track it rides on. Do not over do it or the screen won't fit properly back on the track creating other problems. If the vertical end of the screen is loose where it slides over the vertical window frame you can add a couple of pinch spots there as well. Again do not over do it or the screen will not close properly."
- Go to your local friendly picture framer (one who uses metal frames on watercolors) and ask to see some, "Spring Clips". These are 1/4 inch wide and about two to three inches long pieces of metal in a shallow curved "W" shape about 5/16" or so high. They are used to hold watercolors, mats, glass and backing in metal frames.
Contributor: Richard, Andy Baird, Stephany Smith. Susan Fain
Revised 12 Jul 2012
