The 4 Major Types of Screening Spline

Foam screening spline is the more common option in the construction industry due to its flexibility and reliability. This foam structure is made up of millions of closed cells, making it very flexible and pliable. In fact, it can be easily installed in the tiniest channels to give support for your window or door screens. Screening splines come in a variety of different types, here are the four major ones:

Polyfoam

This type of foam screening spline is similar to rubber but it features small air bubbles that make it very pliable. It can be purchased in rolls or in several sizes, ranging from .160, .180, .200 and .250 of an inch. For replacing window screens using splines, a .140 is the safest size to start with. For replacing steel and aluminum splines, a .250 foam spline would be the best option. You can always contact your screening spline provider if you have any concerns.

EPDM

This spline is made from a synthetic rubber with additives to provide excellent UV resistance as it can turn brittle once exposed to sunlight. Just like other spline types, EPDM is also easy to install and it can be stretched a little more to fit your window channel. With this, you can still use it if it’s a little bit bigger for your window frame.

T-splining

This screening spline is made from extruded vinyl that comes in a T cross-section, which is where it gets its name from. It is the common option for very thin screen frames for storm doors and can securely lock the screen in place if used in the right size. 

Solid core vinyl

While a foam screening spline is pliable and can be compressed, a solid core vinyl is less flexible. It can’t be compressed into the window channel so you have to buy the exact spline size so you can install it properly and protect the screen.