A system and a method tension a screen having a generally rectangular shape defined by a length and a width. The screen has a profile with a shape extending the length of the screen. A rod has a channel configured to receive the shape of the profile of the screen therein. The rod has a plurality of segmented portions such that a first segmented portion of the plurality of segmented portions is separable from a second segmented portion of the plurality of segmented portions. The screen is positioned on a frame. The rod is positioned parallel to the length of the frame on two sides. A clamping mechanism tensions the screen with respect to the frame.