How to Repair a Window Screen in Hammond

Written by Big Easy Windows

How Do You Repair a Window Screen?

Quick Answer: To repair a window screen, take it out of the window, pry out the rubber spline that holds the mesh, lay new mesh across the frame, press the spline back into its channel with a spline roller, and trim off the extra mesh with a utility knife. It goes quickly once you’ve done one. In Hammond, where open windows and porches mean screens see plenty of use and humid summers mean plenty of bugs, it’s one of the most useful small repairs a homeowner can learn.

We swap a lot of screens during window installs, and the most common problem we see isn’t the mesh. It’s a spline that dried out and let the mesh pull loose at one corner. Fix that early and the rest of the screen keeps working.

What Do You Need to Rescreen a Window?

The shopping list is short:

• Screen mesh. Fiberglass is the easiest to work with and forgiving of mistakes. Aluminum is stiffer and holds a crease. Pet-resistant and solar meshes are heavier and take more force to roll in.
• Spline. The rubber cord that locks the mesh into the frame channel. Match the diameter to the old piece.
• A spline roller. Usually double-ended, with a convex wheel to crease the mesh and a concave wheel to push the spline home.
• A utility knife with a fresh blade, plus a flat screwdriver or awl to pull the old spline.

Choosing the mesh matters more than people think. Our guide to solar and insect screens compares the options by exposure, so you don’t put a dark solar mesh on the one window you like to look out of.

What Are the Steps to Replace Screen Mesh?

• Remove the screen and lay it flat. A table or clean floor works. Note which side faces out.
• Pull the old spline. Hook one end with a screwdriver and peel it out of the channel all the way around.
• Clean the channel. Brush out dirt and old bits of rubber so the new spline seats evenly.
• Lay the new mesh. Cut it an inch or two larger than the frame on every side. Line up the weave with the frame edges.
• Crease and roll. Start on one long side. Use the convex wheel to push the mesh into the channel, then the concave wheel to roll the spline in over it. Do the opposite side next, keeping light tension so the mesh stays flat without bowing the frame.
• Finish the corners. Push the spline into each corner with a screwdriver instead of the roller.
• Trim. Run the knife along the outside edge of the spline, angled away from the screen and cutting away from your other hand.

If the frame bows inward after you finish, the mesh is too tight. Pull the spline on one side and ease the tension, then roll it again.

When Should You Patch, Rescreen, or Replace the Frame?

• Patch a small hole away from the edges. Adhesive or hook-in patch kits work on fiberglass and aluminum mesh.
• Rescreen when the mesh is torn, sagging, or brittle, or when the spline has failed along a side.
• Replace the frame when it’s bent, the corners are cracked, or the channel is crushed. New mesh in a warped frame won’t seal against the window, and bugs find the gap.

If the window itself is the real problem, such as a sash that won’t close tightly against the screen, that’s a window repair. Our guide to window replacement vs repair helps sort out which one you’re facing, and our window repair cost guide covers what repairs typically run.

Do Hardware Stores Repair Window Screens?

Some do. A number of local hardware stores offer window and door screen repair at the counter, but the equipment and staff vary from store to store, and plenty of stores only sell the mesh and spline. Call your nearest Hammond-area hardware store before you load up the car, and ask whether they rescreen in house, how long it takes, and what they charge for your size.

Other hardware stores and local glass shops may offer the same service. If you have a lot of screens, or odd sizes, a shop rebuild can be faster than doing them one at a time at home.

What Matters About Screens in Hammond Homes?

Hammond sits in Tangipahoa Parish, and a few local habits keep screens in good shape here:

• Clean them in spring. Pollen coats screens and cuts airflow. A rinse and mild soap once or twice a year keeps them clear.
• Keep them tight in summer. Humid evenings mean mosquitoes, and a loose corner is all they need. Our post on sealing windows against bugs and pests covers the gaps around the frame too.
• Store them before a storm. Screens aren’t storm protection. Take them down and store them flat, labeled by window, ahead of a serious wind event so they don’t tear or become debris.
• Keep bedroom screens removable from inside. A screen on a bedroom window shouldn’t block an escape route. Our post on egress window requirements in Louisiana explains why.

For the rest of the exterior routine, see our window maintenance tips.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rescreen without a spline roller?

You can try with a flat screwdriver, but a roller is inexpensive and does a much neater job.

Fiberglass or aluminum mesh?

Fiberglass is easier to install and won’t dent. Aluminum is more rigid. Both keep insects out.

Can I fix a small hole without rescreening?

Yes, if the hole is small and away from the edges. A patch kit covers it in a few minutes. Once tears spread or the mesh turns brittle, a full rescreen is the better use of your time.

Why does my screen keep popping out of the window?

Usually the frame is bent or the tension springs and clips are worn. A frame that no longer fits snugly needs to be straightened or replaced, since new mesh won’t fix the fit.

How long does a rescreen last?

It depends on sun exposure and use. Check the spline and corners once a year.

Need New Screens in Hammond?

If you’re replacing windows, we can fit new screens at the same time, and we’ll tell you honestly when a window just needs a repair. See window repair in Hammond or our Hammond service area page. To book a visit, request an estimate online or call (504) 384-8165.