Torn, bent and missing window screens

Quick answer

Torn screens can be replaced in the existing frame with new screen and spline. Bent or broken frames can be rebuilt to size. Pet-resistant and solar screens are options for busy households and sunny windows.

Monterey Park hillside homes often have large windows, and screens take a beating from wind, pets and kids.

Rescreening

We remove the old spline and screen, lay new screen, roll in new spline and trim it.

Frame repair

Bent frames can sometimes be straightened. Badly bent ones are rebuilt to the same size.

Screen types

• Standard fiberglass
• Pet-resistant screen, much tougher
• Solar screen, which blocks heat on west windows

Measuring

Sliders

Sliding screen doors also need good rollers. See screen doors.

Why screens matter here

Monterey Park homes with big windows and sliding doors get lots of breeze, and screens let you use it without inviting in insects. Hillside lots near brush also mean more bugs and more wind.

Frame colors

Screen frames come in bronze, white, black and mill finish. Matching the window frames keeps the house looking tidy.

Spline size

Spline comes in different diameters. Using the right size keeps screen tight.

Screen hardware

Tension springs, pull tabs and clips hold screens in place. Replacing broken hardware keeps screens from blowing out.

Bulk orders

If several screens are torn, rescreening them in one visit is efficient.

Rescreening a frame

Most aluminum window screens can be rescreened. The old mesh is held in a groove by a rubber spline. Pull out the spline, remove the old screen, lay new mesh over the frame, and press the new spline in with a spline roller. Keep the mesh tight but not so tight that it bows the frame.

Our steps:

• Remove the screen and lay it flat
• Pull out the old spline and mesh
• Cut new mesh with a few inches of overhang
• Roll the spline into the groove, starting at a corner
• Trim the excess mesh with a sharp knife

Mesh options

Standard fiberglass mesh is easy to work with and affordable. Aluminum mesh is sturdier but dents. Pet-resistant mesh is much thicker and stands up to claws.

Solar screen mesh blocks a large share of heat and glare, which can help on west-facing windows during Monterey Park summers, though it darkens the view.

Replacing frames

Bent or broken frames are better replaced. Screen frames are made by cutting aluminum frame stock to size and joining it with corner keys. We measure the window opening and the existing screen, including the clips or tension springs that hold it in.

Missing hardware

Screens fall out when the pull tabs, tension springs or clips break. Those small parts are easy to replace. Sliding window screens need the right spring clips or plungers to stay put.

Sliding screen doors

Patio screen doors use rollers similar to sliding glass doors. If the screen door drags, the rollers may be worn or the track dirty. See sliding glass doors that drag.

Care

Clean screens with a soft brush and mild soapy water once or twice a year. Store removable screens indoors if you take them down. Window treatments are covered in blinds and curtain rods on wide windows.

Measuring for a new screen

Measure the screen opening from the outside, side to side and top to bottom, at the channel where the screen sits. Many windows hold screens with spring plungers on one side, so the screen has to be slightly shorter than the opening to compress the springs.

Note whether the window slides or the screen fits inside or outside. If you still have an old screen, measure it. Bringing a bent screen frame to a shop gives an exact size.

Screen doors

Hinged screen doors on older homes often sag, drag or have torn mesh. Replacing hinges, tightening the frame corners, and rescreening can bring them back. A closer adjusted to shut the door gently stops slamming.

Security screen doors with steel frames are heavier and need solid hinges and anchoring into framing.

Why screens matter here

Mosquitoes are active much of the year in the San Gabriel Valley, and screened windows let you open the house up on cool evenings. Torn or missing screens also invite pests. If the window itself sticks or the screen door drags, the rollers or track are the usual cause; see sliding glass doors that drag.

When to replace a full set

If many screens are torn, bent or faded, a full set of new screens costs less per screen than one at a time, and colors will match. Frame colors include white, bronze, almond and silver; match the window frames. Retractable screens on French doors and patio doors roll into a housing when not in use, which keeps the view clear.

They need a flat surface to mount and careful measuring, since openings in older homes are rarely square.

Rescreening tips

Spline comes in different diameters; match the old one. Fiberglass mesh is forgiving for a first try. Work on a large flat surface and use clamps or weights to keep the frame from bowing inward.

Sun damage

Fiberglass mesh on south- and west-facing windows fades and gets brittle faster. Replacing it with a UV-stable or solar mesh lasts longer in our sun.

Pet damage

Cats and dogs push and claw at screens near sofas and beds. Pet-resistant mesh on those few windows, or a low guard, saves rescreening every year.

What our visit involves

We rescreen, rebuild frames and replace missing screens. See window screens.

Screen jobs on the north side often end with dumplings at Mama Lu's.

Want us to handle it?

Call or text (626) 684-3505, Mon–Sat, 8:30 AM–7 PM. Send a photo and we will give you an upfront quote.

Call or text (626) 684-3505