Hiya Chuck!
You know those problems you've had with flying insects? Well, here's a little story for you:
I've had a most productive day. I spent it putting up window screens, and building three large frames for the englased balcony.
Background: there are no window or door screens in Sweden. I've never ever seen a screen in a private home, or anywhere else for that matter. It's possible they have them in restaurant kitchens, but I don't think so. Maybe up north, where there are a lot of mosquitos, although when I was there in my younger days I never saw any screens as far as I remember.
Anyway, when I started travelling to America, I realised screens are more or less compulsory, in EVERY home. All kinds of smart solutions for screen doors and windows. Such a practical and wonderful thing, to keep bugs and all sorts of flying insects out of the house.
So, I've been pondering for a while if it's possible to put screens up on my windows that aren't built for it. In America, the window screens I've seen have their own frame, attached somehow to the frame of the glass pane. I couldn't figure out how that could be done on my windows, but a couple of days ago I had a guy from a window company come and take a look.
He told me it would be quite difficult and expensive if the company were to do it.
But - he was extremely kind and helpful, and told me I could do it myself in a much simpler way, and showed me how.
His solution involved duct tape and screening material. Simple. He also gave me an idea how I could build frames for big screens to put up in the grooves where the large windows on the balcony slide.
So, I went to the building suppliers and bought screen material and splines. No duct tape needed, since the screening comes with velcro tape. Very handy. It involved quite some calculationg regarding the length of the splines, 13 m altogether! I also had to saw them into the right lengths before I could get them into the car. Luckily, the store was equipped with a saw and a sawbuck. Also luckily, I know my way around a toolbox.
And - all the material I bought came to less than a tenth of what it would have cost me to have them made by the window company!!!
So, today I put the velcro tape up on my window frames, and up went the screens!
It was a bit more tricky to build the big frames, 70 x 150 cm. Three of them. I had to do it on the wooden table on the balcony, and since I don't have the proper equipment, I had to be creative. The process involved a flower pot to keep the damned splines in place while I nailed them. It also involved a kitchen roll holder with a square base to help me get the angles right!
I didn't have the right length of nails, so they were a bit too long. Which resulted in my nailing the whole thing to the table a couple of times...
and, in my attempt to yank it loose, I toppled the flower pot -- not only once...
Anyway, let's just say my balcony table isn't as pristine and unblemished as it used to be....
But -- I got the frames finished, all three of them! And the screen attached to one of them, then I ran out of velcro, so have to get some more tomorrow. Then it should be easy enough to put the screen up, and then I'm finished!!!!
I'm extremely proud of myself!!!
Topic: Cellar Scribblings (Read 12957367 times)