Screen Door

[RVDad]

Has anyone had to replace the screen or screen door on their RV? Our dog was left alone in the RV for a couple hours and we came back to a shredded screen. Just looking for the best way to fix this.

Thanks

[chuckster57]

If the frame is still intact, replacing the screen material is a walk in the park. You can choose a different color for the fabric if you want. Material and the spline tool are sold at most hardware stores.

[NH_Bulldog]

As a proactive measure, we bought and installed a wire mesh screen guard for the lower section of screen. We have two English Bulldogs and they get pretty excited when visitors stop by (at home I installed lexan panels on the lower sections). They never really try to push trough, but do paw at them a little. So far, the mesh screen guard is working pretty well.

[Pull Toy]

The extra advantage of Lexan lowers is the cool air stays in better when the door is open. We use the door latch door as a pass thru, and the Scchnausers can still look out

Good Luck,

[MarkEHansen]

Another thing I learned about having a dog in the trailer, is don't leave them with any miniblinds down. They really want to be able to see out every single window :)

[jsb5717]

If the frame is still intact, replacing the screen material is a walk in the park. You can choose a different color for the fabric if you want. Material and the spline tool are sold at most hardware stores.

Do yourself a favor and also get the screen spline roller tool. The hardware store folks will know what it is.

Edit: Sorry, I see that was also mentioned. Easy DIY fix.

[RVDad]

So, if I repair the screen, is there something that would help protect it in the future?

[wobly]

Yes, plexiglass on the lower portion. I had to do it for our dogs, too.

[NH_Bulldog]

So, if I repair the screen, is there something that would help protect it in the future?

We bought a wire mesh screen from Amazon but plexiglass or lexan would be good too. I did mesh because I wanted a visual barrier as well as screen protection.

[Ken / Claudia]

I have done plexiglass lower panels now on 2 RVs to keep the screen in place and dog inside. Only down side I found is lack of air ventilation since half of the screen door is blocked. If needed I just unscrew the panel and remove it. Dog see out and appears ok with that.

[Wyldfire]

Rescreen with Pet Screen from Home depot. Won't need a protector. I put it on our patio door screen and have had it has endured multiple encounters with 80b pound labs running at full speed. Also cats climbing. Still looks new 10 years later.

[GMcKenzie]

I have done plexiglass lower panels now on 2 RVs to keep the screen in place and dog inside. Only down side I found is lack of air ventilation since half of the screen door is blocked. If needed I just unscrew the panel and remove it. Dog see out and appears ok with that.

I put mine on with velcro, so it's easy to remove. Our dogs can't see out, but I'm okay with that (plus they climb on the back of the chairs to see out anyway).

[jsmith948]

Our 100# Yellow Lab is pretty laid back - doesn't go nuts when someone walks by with their dog. However, if he sees a squirrel, or a cat - Katy bar the door - there is no way that aluminum screen door or the plastic latch is going to keep him inside. We normally just keep the outer door closed.
Our upcoming trip to the coast will have us staying at a SP without hook ups. We plan on placing a "slide to expand" baby gate across the inside of the doorway to keep him from pushing the screen open.

[GMcKenzie]

Our 100# Yellow Lab is pretty laid back - doesn't go nuts when someone walks by with their dog. However, if he sees a squirrel, or a cat - Katy bar the door - there is no way that aluminum screen door or the plastic latch is going to keep him inside. We normally just keep the outer door closed.
Our upcoming trip to the coast will have us staying at a SP without hook ups. We plan on placing a "slide to expand" baby gate across the inside of the doorway to keep him from pushing the screen open.

Chipmunks are an issue with one of ours (Terrier) but that's why her not seeing out isn't a problem for me :)

[Kandm25]

Oh boy right? We returned to destroyed pleated shades. On the bright side we replaced them with black out shades. But for home I purchased online dog proof screen. It is strong and flexible, and the nails haven't torn the slider doors again. I will search for a receipt for the link. Sadly the gsp who ate blinds can open the door.
Karen
K2500
19' Cougar

[Challenger2003]

Another option is to take the screen door to a local ACE hardware. The stores in our area do screen replacement. We just had our bottom panel done for $12 which included new screen, spline, and labor. Done in 20 minutes. No need to buy the tools.

[travelin texans]

Replaced all the screen in ours with smoke tinted Lexan. We don't have a dog but wanted to leave the door open & still run the heat or air, looked & worked great.
Also for not much more than $12 you could buy the material & the tool & do it yourself in about 20 minutes every time the dog tears it up.

[cliff]

Take it to Ace Hardware and have them replace the screen. They do it almost for the cost of the screen and have the frame tool to keep the door square.

[GeekSquadOfUn]

Replaced all the screen in ours with smoke tinted Lexan. We don't have a dog but wanted to leave the door open & still run the heat or air, looked & worked great.
Also for not much more than $12 you could buy the material & the tool & do it yourself in about 20 minutes every time the dog tears it up.
Was that really expensive ? the Lexan, would love to do that. I tried the Lowes hard plastic (Plexiglass???) , but, for the life of me could not cut it straight and it looked awful...

[JRTJH]

Was that really expensive ? the Lexan, would love to do that. I tried the Lowes hard plastic (Plexiglass???) , but, for the life of me could not cut it straight and it looked awful...

I installed clear lexan in our screen door when we bought the Cougar (6 years ago). So far it's still working well. We prefer to have the "solid door" open for additional light and to move in/out of the trailer without having to slam it shut. I bought a couple of appropriately sized sheets of 1/8" lexan, marked them carefully, cut them with the table saw (fine tooth blade) and then used a sanding block to clean/smooth the rough edge left from the molten lexan. The hardest part was cutting the two top curves to fit the top of the door. That was some "go slow with a band saw and don't push the plastic"....

If you decide to do it, leave the protective plastic in place until after the lexan is installed in the door.

[RVDad]

I greatly appreciate everyone's input on this. I decided to just get a roll of the pet screen and install it. It seems to be really strong and I think it will work as a replacement.

[chuckster57]

Was that really expensive ? the Lexan, would love to do that. I tried the Lowes hard plastic (Plexiglass???) , but, for the life of me could not cut it straight and it looked awful...

I know your full time, when we install lexan/plastic, a table saw is your friend. Know anybody?

[larryflew]

+ 1 for the lexan. We made upper and lowers. The lower stays on most of the time for the dogs and the upper when it's a bit too cool to want the cold air coming in. Fits inside the rails except for one side which we use white electrical tape for. Goes on and off about 4 times before needing to use new tape. We do 5 month winters away and so far a roll of tape lasted 3 years and has some left.

[Ken / Claudia]

I tried putting in the heavy screen I got for the house patio door. That works in the house, but was too thick to fit into the RV screen door spine. If done again I will use velcro instead of screwing the clear plexiglass to the door.

[Old Mustanger]

Sasha and Sam happily go into their kennels when we have to leave them alone in the trailer (they also sleep in them at night so there is no wandering around at night or putting cold noses in our face in the morning). I do put a screen guard on but I really doubt that the door latch would hold back 80 and 50 lb Huskies if they saw a squirrel. :hide:

[Wyldfire]

I tried putting in the heavy screen I got for the house patio door. That works in the house, but was too thick to fit into the RV screen door spine. If done again I will use velcro instead of screwing the clear plexiglass to the door.

You just get spline one size smaller.

[Ken / Claudia]

Sorry, about my explanation. The slot in the RV door is too small to force HD screen into it and seat the material into the slot. I have that tool that pushes the beading into the slot as I repair/replace the screens on my homes. The factory light wt. screen will work.

[UsTwo]

I installed clear lexan in our screen door when we bought the Cougar We prefer to have the "solid door" open for additional light and to move in/out of the trailer without having to slam it shut. I bought a couple of appropriately sized sheets of 1/8" lexan, marked them carefully, cut them with the table saw (fine tooth blade) and then used a sanding block to clean/smooth the rough edge left from the molten lexan. The hardest part was cutting the two top curves to fit the top of the door. That was some "go slow with a band saw and don't push the plastic"....

If you decide to do it, leave the protective plastic in place until after the lexan is installed in the door.

Pretty much the same for me as above..but instead of table saw I used a dremel.

[papachaz]

So, if I repair the screen, is there something that would help protect it in the future?

I went to home depot and bought some nice looking metal mesh and cut to fit and installed over the lower screens on the doors. we have a dog and toddler size grand sons....

I painted the inside to match the door, left it gold for the outside as it matches the camper

https://i.imgur.com/wA2PYTo.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/PRbENR0.jpg

[BrentB]

I went to home depot and bought some nice looking metal mesh and cut to fit and installed over the lower screens on the doors. we have a dog and toddler size grand sons....

I painted the inside to match the door, left it gold for the outside as it matches the camper

https://i.imgur.com/wA2PYTo.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/PRbENR0.jpgVery nice!

[travelin texans]

Was that really expensive ? the Lexan, would love to do that. I tried the Lowes hard plastic (Plexiglass???) , but, for the life of me could not cut it straight and it looked awful...
I made a template for the top with the curves, bought the Lexan at a glass shop & had them cut that piece, cut the bottom myself with a Dremel. The screen door had a couple slots all the way around so I took the door apart, slid the plastic in the slot with some silicone to seal it & adhere to the door.
This was 5-6 years ago & if I recall the Lexan with them cutting the curves was just under $100, I furnished the labor.

[GMcKenzie]

I went to home depot and bought some nice looking metal mesh and cut to fit and installed over the lower screens on the doors. we have a dog and toddler size grand sons....

I painted the inside to match the door, left it gold for the outside as it matches the camper



That does look nice and would keep the airflow while protecting the doors.