How to Make a Screen Door Out of a Solid Door

Remove any moldings from panels you will be cutting out if your door has panels. Drill a large hole in the corner of each area to be removed from the door. Set a drywall saw within the hole, and cut out each section of the door, whether a panel from a panel door or a large square section from a solid door, switching to a larger saw when convenient. Use a tape measure to measure the panels.

Cut out sections of the screen that are exactly 1 inch wider than the opening, both horizontally and vertically. Staple the screen around the panel opening, spacing the staples every 2 inches around the opening.

Position a 1/2-inch trim board around the edge of the panel. Open the door all the way so that the door can brace against the wall, or have an assistant hold it firmly in place to brace for the hammering. Attach the trim board to the door with 1-inch trim nails, hammering the nails into the trim boards and through into the door. Stagger the trim boards so that each trim board butts into one of the adjacent trim boards to make a square frame without any angled cuts.

Sand the trim boards and the entire door behind them. Wipe the sanded areas down to remove all sawdust. Apply a coat of paint that matches the exterior of the house or the trim boards and that follows the line of the wood grain. Allow the first coat to dry for three hours. Apply another coat of paint, using a small brush, if necessary, to get paint into the cracks of the trim board. Continue to apply coats of paint until you achieve the desired color on the door..

Apply a coat of sealant, following the same brushstroke direction as the paint application. Let the sealant coat dry for two hours. Apply another coat of sealant, repeating the process until three coats have been added. Let the sealant dry overnight before using the door.