If the frame is straight, solid and still fits the window snugly, you can usually repair the screen by replacing the mesh, a process called re-screening. If the frame is bent, cracked, corroded or missing parts, or the screen no longer fits the window, replacing it with a new screen is the better choice. Small holes can sometimes be patched, but a patch is a quick fix rather than a lasting one.
Screens take a beating in Fresno and Clovis. Summer sun breaks down the mesh, wind and dust wear on it, and pets, kids and lawn equipment poke holes in it. Here’s how to size up your screens, decide what they need, and know when it’s worth calling someone.
Start with the frame
The frame is what decides whether a screen can be saved. Remove the screen if you can safely do it from the ground or from inside the house, and lay it on a flat surface. Then check:
- Does the frame lie flat, or does it twist or rock when you set it down?
- Are the corners tight, or are the corner pieces cracked or loose?
- Is the frame bent, dented or kinked anywhere along its length?
- Does it still fit snugly in the window without gaps along the edges?
- Are the pull tabs, springs or clips still there and working?
If the frame passes, the mesh is usually the only thing that needs attention. If it fails one or more of these checks, it’s often a candidate for replacement.
When repairing (re-screening) makes sense
Re-screening means removing the old mesh and the rubber spline that holds it in the frame’s channel, then installing fresh mesh and new spline. It’s the right call when:
- The mesh is torn, has holes or is sagging, but the frame is in good shape
- The mesh has faded, gone brittle or turned chalky from years of Valley sun
- You want to switch to a different mesh, like pet-resistant or sun-control, without changing the frame
- Several screens have worn mesh and you want them all to match
Re-screening keeps your existing frames, so the screens fit exactly the way they always have. It’s also a good chance to make all of your screens look uniform, since fresh mesh next to old, faded mesh tends to stand out from the street.
What about patch kits?
Small adhesive or wire patches can cover a tiny hole and keep bugs out for a while. They work fine as a temporary fix, but they’re noticeable up close and don’t help mesh that’s brittle or sagging. If a screen has more than one or two small holes, re-screening is usually the better long-term answer.
When replacing makes more sense
Sometimes the frame itself is the problem. Aluminum frames can bend when a screen is pried out the wrong way, stepped on or caught by the wind. Corners crack, and older frames can corrode. A screen that no longer fits tightly leaves gaps where bugs sneak in, and it may rattle or fall out on a windy day.
Replacing a screen also makes sense when a window is missing one entirely, which is common in older homes, rentals and houses that have changed hands a few times. A properly measured new screen fits the opening cleanly and makes that whole side of the house look more finished.
Before you remove your screens, number each one with a small piece of painter’s tape on the frame and put a matching number on the window. Screens that look identical often aren’t, and putting each one back in its own window saves a lot of frustration.
Choosing the right mesh
When you re-screen or replace, you get to pick the mesh. Each option has its own trade-offs:
- Fiberglass: the most common choice, flexible, easy to work with and won’t dent
- Aluminum: stiffer and sturdy, but it can dent or crease if it gets bumped
- Pet-resistant: a heavier, tougher mesh made to stand up to claws and paws
- Sun-control or solar screen: a denser mesh that helps cut sun and glare on hot, west-facing windows
For most Central Valley homes, standard fiberglass works well. If you have dogs or cats that like to lean on screens, pet-resistant mesh is worth considering for screen doors and low windows. On windows that get blasted by afternoon sun, a sun-control mesh can help keep rooms more comfortable, though it does make the view a little darker.
DIY or call a pro?
Re-screening a single, ground-floor screen is a reasonable DIY project if you have a flat work surface, a spline roller and some patience. The tricky part is getting the mesh tight and even without bowing the frame inward. Many homeowners find the first one takes longer than expected, and it may take a second try to get it looking right.
It’s worth calling a pro when you have a lot of screens to do, when screens are on a second story, when frames need to be replaced, or when you want everything to match. Removing and reinstalling upstairs screens means working at height, and that’s a job best left to a licensed and insured crew with the right equipment.
It also helps to think about timing. If your windows are due for a cleaning, that’s a natural moment to deal with screens, since they come off anyway and you’ll see every tear and bent corner up close. Clean screens also make a bigger difference than most people expect. Dust and pollen build up in the mesh over a dry Valley summer, and a screen that’s simply dirty can look gray and worn even when it’s in perfectly good shape, so a good washing sometimes reveals that a screen doesn’t need repair at all.
Need help? Call Ducky’s
Ducky’s Exterior Cleaning re-screens existing frames with new mesh, replaces bent or damaged frames, and installs new screens for homes in Fresno, Clovis and across the Central Valley. We can bundle screen work with a window cleaning so everything gets done in one visit. Call (559) 492-0155 and tell us how many screens need work for a free estimate. We’re open 7 days a week, 5am to 10pm, and our work is backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.