How to replace a window screen in 4 steps

Lesley Rotchford Contributing Writer

Lesley Rotchford is a contributing writer at USA TODAY Homefront. Lesley has held senior editorial positions at Cosmopolitan, Allure and Women’s Health. She also wrote for InStyle, Self, Redbook, Forbes and Delish. When she is not creating content, she is creating beautiful spaces. She has an interior design and gardening business based in Connecticut and renovated her circa 1846 farmhouse. Living in an antique home, Lesley has extensive experience tackling home repair projects — from replacing doors and windows to sanding and painting walls. Lesley is a Colgate University graduate living outside of New York City. She is heavily involved in her community, where she is president of a gardening club, a college essay editor and a house committee member at her country club.

Updated Jul. 1, 2024

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Key points

Replacing a window screen is an inexpensive do-it-yourself job that takes about an hour.
Screen replacement usually costs under $100.
If the damage is minimal, you can prolong the life of your screen with a patch job instead.

Replacing window screens is a straightforward do-it-yourself (DIY) job you can easily take on. All you do is remove the old screen, measure and cut the new one, place the new screen in the frame and then trim the excess screen mesh.

If you need a new window, consider purchasing it from any of the three companies below or read our review of the best window brands.

If your screen rips or is so old it’s starting to fray or fade, you’ll want to replace it immediately. This is especially true during warm weather months when windows and doors are flung open, and bugs (and even birds) are tempted to fly in.

“It will only take you about an hour to complete the project, and the average DIY screen replacement usually costs under $100,” said Wilson Reyes, owner of WR Handyman and Remodeling, which services Fairfield County, Connecticut.

It will only take you about an hour to complete the project, and the average DIY screen replacement usually costs under $100.

Wilson Reyes

Gather the right tools and materials

Window screen repair requires a modest and simple toolset. You likely already have some tools, such as scissors, lying around the house. Others, such as spline material, are readily available at most hardware stores or online.

Gather the following items, none of which are especially complicated or hard to use:

Flathead screwdriver: This will be used to pry the old screen out of the window frame.
Screen roller: A screen roller is a textured wheel that nudges a screen into the grooves of the frame.
Scissors: You’ll need these on hand to cut the new mesh to fit into your frame.
Spline: Screen spline is a type of vinyl cording that helps the screen fit snugly into the frame.
Screening: There are a few types of screening to choose from, and they’re sold in rolls.
Clamps: These can be used to keep the mesh in place while you install it.
Brick: This is optional, but can help you test if the new screen is taut enough.
Utility knife: This type of fixed-blade knife is used to trim excess mesh.
Tape: Tape will help keep the frame in place while you insert the new screening. Any heavy-duty tape will do.

Types of screens

Not all window screens are alike, so it’s important to understand their pros and cons and choose the best screen for your project. Generally, you’ll have to choose between greater durability and easier installation — unless you have pets. If any of your home’s inhabitants have four paws, aluminum and fiberglass screens are no match for their claws and teeth.

Aluminum: Aluminum screens are durable and resistant to UV rays and high temperatures, but they’re prone to denting and oxidation and more complex to install. Aluminum retains any bends or creases, so you only have one shot to get it right when pressing it into the frame.
Fiberglass: “Fiberglass screening looks better and is flexible and easier to install,” says Reyes. It’s also more affordable than other types of screening. It won’t dent, wrinkle or crease, but it’s thin and more likely to tear than aluminum. Plus, UV rays can cause fading over time.
Pet Screens: If you have a dog or cat, consider pet screens for your screen doors and any windows the pet can reach. They are made of vinyl-coated polyester and are much stronger than fiberglass or aluminum screening, ensuring that your pet won’t claw or scratch through it. The downside: pet screens don’t let in as much light.

Replace your window screen in 4 easy steps

First, find a flat work surface. This could be a work table, kitchen table or outdoor dining table. In a pinch, you could also use the floor. Remove the metal frame from your window and place it on your workstation, channel side facing up, “and tape the corners to your table to prevent it from shifting around while you work,” suggested Reyes.

Step 1: Remove the damaged screen from the frame

Pop the metal frame out of the window. Screens are held into metal frames by screen spline, which are pieces of vinyl cording laid into a groove around the screen’s perimeter.

“To release the old, torn screen, pry the spline out of the groove with a flat-head screwdriver, starting in the top left corner,” said Reyes.

Once you get the spline loose in one corner, you should be able to pull the rest off by hand. If not, use the screwdriver to continue prying it out of the groove. Once the spline is fully removed, toss out the old screen, but hold onto the spline. You’re going to want a sample when shopping for a new roll of spline.

Splines come in different sizes, so measure the old spline so you know what size to order, or bring it to your local hardware store to help you eyeball the size you need. Alternatively, you could show the piece of old spline to a store associate and they can confirm the proper replacement. You’ll also want to choose a spline color that matches your frame.

Step 2: Measure and cut the new screen

Next, unroll the mesh screening until you have a piece that covers the window frame completely, leaving about two inches of extra material on all sides. Grab your scissors and cut the piece away from the roll, so you have a piece of mesh slightly bigger than your window frame.

Snip the corners at 45-degree angles to prevent the mesh bunching. Pull the screen as taut as possible over the frame, and secure it to your table with clamps.

Step 3: Push the screen and spline into the frame groove

Here’s the trickiest part. Take your screen roller and use the grooved side to nudge the screen into the channel of the metal frame. Then unwind the new spline and push the spline into the channel with the screen roller, too. The spline will keep the screen in place. Do this on two sides.

Before securing the last two sides, place a brick in the middle of the screen to determine if the screen is taut enough. If the screen can support the weight of the brick without sagging or buckling, you are in good shape and can push the remaining sides of the spline into the grooves.

Note: If you don’t have a brick handy, you can use any 4-pound object instead. The idea is to ensure the screen can support its weight, and a standard brick weighs 4.4 pounds.

Step 4: Trim the excess screen mesh

Now that your screen has been securely placed in the frame, it’s time to cut away the excess screen mesh. Using a utility knife, trim the extra screen material along the new spline — just be careful not to cut the spline with the edge of the knife as you go.

Now that your screen has been successfully repaired, place the screen back into your window.

How to repair window screens

If your screen has only a very small hole, you can avoid replacing the whole screen by doing a patch job instead. This is a much cheaper, easier and faster option — but it won’t look as good as replacing the whole screen. Here are four different patch methods to choose from:

Traditional screen patches

The most traditional type of patch looks like a piece of mesh with raw, bent-back edges. These are simple to install:

Smooth and trim the edges of your hole.
Cut the patch down to size so it’s slightly larger than your tear.
Insert the wire strands into your screening and bend them back.

But they aren’t the best choice. These patches only work for aluminum screens, and they aren’t particularly durable.

Screen repair tape

Mesh tape is available in rolls you can cut down to size or precut patches. It comes in a variety of colors to match your existing screen and can be used on either fiberglass or aluminum screening. All you have to do is place the tape over the tear (the piece should be slightly larger than the size of the hole), peel off the backing and stick it on.

Heat-activated sticker patch

This is another type of adhesive screen patch that comes in a roll. Cut it down to size like you would with screen repair tape. Place the patch over the hole and activate the glue with hot air from a heat gun or a hairdryer.

Clear nail polish

Clear nail polish is often used to quickly fix tears in tights and pantyhose. It can be used to repair holes in window screens, too — if the holes are tiny (under 1/8-inch diameter). The nail polish will bond to the screen and close the hole with no visible residue left over.

With a small paintbrush, paint the clear polish over the hole, ensuring you cover the whole area. Let it dry (or use a hair dryer to speed up the process), and then apply a second coat.

What’s next?

As you can see, replacing your window screens isn’t difficult or expensive — and it is a good DIY project for beginners. Still, it’s not a job you want to take on every year. To protect your newly replaced screens and keep them in good condition, follow these guidelines:

Wash your screens: Washing your screens once per year will prolong their life, said Reyes. To wash the window screens, mix dish soap with warm water to make a gentle cleaning solution, wash the screens with a clean rag (a sponge could get caught in the mesh), rinse thoroughly and dry the screens with a clean rag.
Trim trees and shrubs: Maintain shrubs to prevent branches from brushing against your screens. Branches that hang close to your windows can not only slice or puncture the screens but also serve as a convenient bridge for insects and other wildlife to enter your home.
Look for leaks: Gaps between your screens and your frames allow water to seep in. This accumulating moisture can cause rot and mold, damaging the screens and your window.

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