Backwards screens

So bringing this up, due to a comment in a FB group.

Just this year I have had about half a dozen homes( new customers) whos screens have either been built wrong or installed wrong. For me i just like to leave things the way they are DESIGNED to look, SO I will always re install the screen the correct way when finsihing up, and inform the customer that they HAD thescreens in backwards but i recitifed this for them.

So what do I mean by saying" installed backwards", well the screen has a spline that holds the mesh in the frame… this spline should not be visable from the outside, from what I read on FB this is an unkown design feature and just optional as long as the pins or w/e fit its all good.

What is your opinion, seems it might be more of a regional thing as soon as I posted I had a friend from another state call me when he read my comment and tell me how these USA guys have no idea on common sense, and how obvious it should be to them they are doing it not entirely correctly.

I agree with you. Should not see the spline (new term for me). It always seemed like common sense for me too. However, most if not all of the security screens that are wired to the alarm system are designed this way (backwards).

Splines here are regularly facing inside.

Screens are stronger with spline facing in, even though they aren’t designed to take weight but are most likely to from the inner side.

Most brands dont offer UV resistant splines. If facing outside would rapidly deteriorate from sun. EPDM makes a UV resistant spline, many other dont offer it.

Spline faces in…

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I actually came across this on Tuesday . I saw that someone had put the tabs on the outside part of the screen and spline was facing the outside also (tabs should face inside the window) . I just think the person who re-screened , place the tabs incorrect .

Yup,

tract homes less than 30 years old out here, screens are on outside side of window, spline is out, tabs are in for a nice flush look against window frame and for homeowner to open window and to pull tabs to remove screen while inside home

warning stickers are placed on frame also facing in with tabs as well

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This is the way it is in my region, as well. Warning labels at the bottom, facing in, and the spline facing out. On ground level screens, I will ask the customer if they mind me reversing them for the sake of convenience so I can remove easily from the outside. But the rest stay with label and plungers/clips inside, spline outside.

Around here, the fiberglass mesh always gives in to the elements before the spline does.

I like spline in, but on upper floors I put spline out because tabs will then face in, so I can remove them easier from inside the house for wfp. Most screens here without any clips /pins are reversible. Some with pins/clips are, some aren’t. I have a couple of customers who asked me to put them spline out ( tabs in) on ground level because they feel that with tabs in it is harder to break into the house. I never argue with that logic…

Splines are facing out here. I should know, I repair them. Tabs, locks, pins whatever are inside.

Spline inside makes no sense to me, how would you lock them in, especially on the second floor?

It’s been awhile since I’ve cleaned glass professionally (been thinking about getting back into it), but as I recall most of the screens where I’ve worked have the splines opposite the tabs. Tabs are generally placed to be used for removing the screens from the inside - thus making it harder to take the screen out from the outside and giving the outside of the window a smoother finished surface that is seen. That means the spline is facing out. Of course some customers prefer it the other way around so what ever floats their boat. I’ll reinstall a screen with the tabs in/spline out unless there’s a good reason not to.

I’d be careful using the tabs myself. They have a tendency to come off if you use just the tabs to put a screen back in. Best to push on the opposite side of the screen where the spring clip is so you don’t have to use the tab to seat the screen and just use the tab to pull the screen in. A good screen removal tool is a must have imho. Don’t really need to use the tabs much if you do it right. Keeps from having to fix them when they pull out.