Kitchen Table Fix

How to Replace a Window Screen

Re-screen a torn window screen in about 30 minutes with a roller tool, new mesh and spline, without buying a whole new frame.

By Creig Boyd Jr., maintenance technician · Updated · Reviewed by Creig Boyd Jr. on

Skill
Beginner
Time
30 to 45 minutes
Cost
$10 to $20
You will need
Screen mesh (fiberglass or aluminum) cut a few inches larger than the frame, Spline (the rubber cord) in the same thickness as the old one, Spline roller tool, Flat-head screwdriver, Utility knife or scissors, Tape measure, Clips or small clamps

A torn window screen lets bugs in and costs very little to fix, but replacing the whole frame is expensive and unnecessary. Re-screening a frame takes about 30 minutes and a small set of tools, and the second one you do will go faster than the first.

Step 1: Take the screen out safely

  1. Remove the screen by pressing in the small tabs or springs on the edge, or by lifting it out of its track. Work from the inside whenever you can.
  2. Never lean out of an upstairs window. If the screen can only be reached from outside on an upper floor, have someone help or skip this job.
  3. Lay the screen flat on a table or the floor, on a clean surface.

Step 2: Remove the old screen and spline

  1. Find the end of the spline, the rubber cord pressed into the groove around the frame.
  2. Pry it up with the screwdriver and pull it out all the way around, then lift away the old mesh.
  3. Look at the groove. If it is full of dirt, clean it out.

Step 3: Cut and place the new mesh

  1. Cut the new mesh about two inches bigger than the frame on every side.
  2. Lay it over the frame so it covers the groove, and make sure the weave is straight.
  3. Hold it in place at the corners with clips or small clamps.

Step 4: Roll in the spline

  1. Start at a corner and use the convex (rounded) wheel of the spline roller to press the mesh gently into the groove along one side. This pushes the mesh down so the spline can follow.
  2. Place the new spline in the groove, and use the concave wheel to press it in firmly. Keep the mesh even, not pulled tight.
  3. Move around the frame one side at a time. Do not stretch the mesh. If you pull it too tight, the frame will bow inward.
  4. Press the spline all the way into the groove at each corner, and make sure it sits flat.

Step 5: Trim and reinstall

  1. Trim the extra mesh by running a sharp utility knife along the outside of the spline, with the blade angled away from the screen.
  2. Check the finished screen for wrinkles and loose areas, and put it back in the window.

A quick fix for a small hole

For a hole smaller than an inch or two, you do not need to re-screen at all. A self-adhesive screen patch, sold in hardware stores, covers it in a minute. Clean the area around the hole, peel the backing, and press the patch on from both sides. A patch is a fine temporary fix, but it will show, and a screen with several holes is better re-screened.

Tips for a tight, flat screen

  • Work on a flat, clean surface, such as a table, with the frame supported all the way around so it cannot bow.
  • Fix the mesh at the corners first, then press in the long sides, so the weave stays straight.
  • Check the spline fit before you roll it all the way. If it goes in with no resistance it is too thin, and if you cannot push it in it is too thick.
  • Roll in light passes and make a second pass to seat it fully, rather than forcing it in one go.

Common mistakes

  • Pulling the mesh too tight. It bends the frame.
  • Spline that is too thick. It will not go in.
  • Letting the mesh shift. Keep it square as you roll it.
  • Cutting the mesh before the spline is in. Trim only at the end.

When it is not worth fixing

A bent or damaged frame, or a window that does not close, is a different problem. See the list below.

Stop and call a professional if…

  • You would have to lean out of an upstairs window to remove or put back the screen. Do not lean out. Ask for help or work from the inside only.
  • The frame is bent, cracked or corroded. A new mesh will not fit well, and the frame needs replacing.
  • The window itself will not close, lock or seal properly. That is a window repair, not a screen repair.
  • The screen is part of a security feature, such as a window guard, or is on a very tall window you cannot reach safely.

Would rather have someone else handle it?

If you are in Essex County, Massachusetts, PrimeFix Solutions does drywall and interior repairs, doors, locks and hardware, and small carpentry.

Ask for a free estimate (978) 417-2042

Full disclosure: PrimeFix Solutions is my own business, so I benefit if you hire them. They do not do regulated trades such as electrical, gas and most plumbing, so for those jobs call a licensed professional.

Common questions

Fiberglass or aluminum mesh?

Fiberglass is cheaper, easier to work with and will not crease, so it suits most homes. Aluminum lasts longer and is stronger, but it dents and creases and can be harder to install.

How do I know what spline size to buy?

Take a piece of the old spline to the store and match it. A thicker spline holds tighter but is harder to press in.

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