Replacing mesh window screen - with and without a good frame

[y_p_w]

So my dad asked me how to go about this. My parents' house has a few window screens that are beyond repair. They fell out and wind damaged them to the point the frames got bent over.

Is it really that difficult? I've got a few intact frames where the mesh has more or less fallen apart, ripped, etc. That seems to be simple with a cheap fiberglass replacement mesh, scissors, and maybe new rubber inserts. Some of these have the mesh replacement roller tool.

I found this video, but I'm not sure where to get the parts. The tools look like something we have other than a saw. There wasn't enough of a closeup on the frame kit for me to see what they had. I'm thinking of going to HD to have a look-see of what they might have in stock. Partly to replace the mesh on mine from an intact frame, but also to check what they might have.

 

[y_p_w]

Ok - figured that the technical term is "spline" for the rubber that wedges the mesh into the frame groove.

Found that Phifer seems to be the primary company selling parts and kits, but I need to see a bit more than just on their website.

https://www.phifer.com/screening/diy/

I suppose there are also some companies that will sell complete replacements, although my worry would be damage during shipping.

 

[Ursatdx]

I've made a few from the kits available at your local hardware or big box store.
I could probably get very good at it if I did it daily.
The ones I made turned out pretty well.

 

[y_p_w]

I've made a few from the kits available at your local hardware or big box store.
I could probably get very good at it if I did it daily.
The ones I made turned out pretty well.

What kind of kit did you use? I can see that the already-made one on my window was cut at a 45 degree angle and then joined with an internal connector of some kind. But the DIY kits seem to have right angle connectors. So they need to be cut a bit short where the square end of the connector. I've seen some corners for sale where the frame pieces are sold separately. Possibly in specific lengths that can be cut as needed.

https://www.homedepot.com/pep/Screen-Tight-5-16-in-Screen-Frame-Corner-4-Pack-BCORN516/202092304

 

[doitmyself]

Kits are available at Home Depot and I imagine any hardware store. If you are not up to building your own, lots of Ace hardwares do custom window work.
https://images.thdstatic.com/catalog/pdfImages/f5/f51a660f-e579-462c-a533-9b30fd9f3e52.pdf

 

[y_p_w]

Kits are available at Home Depot and I imagine any hardware store. If you are not up to building your own, lots of Ace hardwares do custom window work.
https://images.thdstatic.com/catalog/pdfImages/f5/f51a660f-e579-462c-a533-9b30fd9f3e52.pdf

Yeah - I went to Home Depot to see what they had. Some were kits with four straight pieces and four corners, but the sizes might not work for this application. I remember all the kits seemed to make square sizes, like 40"x40". But the packaging did note they could be trimmed. Don't recall if they included the splines, but those were available separately in bags. They had a lot of different types of mesh including aluminum and fiberglass.

The separately sold corners had instructions they just snap in and that each side should be reduced by 1-1/2" to account for the corners. They're not quite the same as the originals, which didn't use corners but something internal where they were cut diagonally. I'm thinking it might also be possible to reuse the original frame depending on how it's bent. I need to have another look at it.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I did a bunch of screens last summer. Watch some videos, the key is patience. Don't buy the cheap roller tools. I got a good metal / wood tool with two different roller ends recommended by someone here, and also one of the larger tools with the larger plastic wheel. They work well together, the thinner metal one to get things started and the larger plastic wheel to finish.

For the frame - how broke? There are places that will make completely new screened frames for what seems like a reasonable amount of money - like under $50.

 

[Lubener]

With a roller wheel tool and a utility cutter , it is easy to replace a screen often reusing the existing spline. You really don't need a kit or corner pieces to do the job.

 

[Jango]

True Value will rescreen it for a small fee.

 

[Nessism1]

What kind of kit did you use? I can see that the already-made one on my window was cut at a 45 degree angle and then joined with an internal connector of some kind. But the DIY kits seem to have right angle connectors. So they need to be cut a bit short where the square end of the connector. I've seen some corners for sale where the frame pieces are sold separately. Possibly in specific lengths that can be cut as needed.

https://www.homedepot.com/pep/Screen-Tight-5-16-in-Screen-Frame-Corner-4-Pack-BCORN516/202092304

This thread is providing me with some motivation to get busy repairing screens in the homestead. I bought Saint-Gobain screen and a window frame kit some time ago, but haven't bothered to do the job.

The square cut screen frame kits are common. For most people, a square cut is much easier to manage than an angle cut. My factory screens are square cut, using corner pieces like shown here. The kit, I bought, is the same. And actually, the broken screen I've got has broken corners. I didn't even think about just replacing those and keeping the rest of the frame. Thanks for the suggestion.

I bought everything off Amazon, but places like Home Depot are similar. I got the standard screen, but that "clear view" stuff looks interesting. My cat clawed up some of my screens, so maybe the pet screen would have been the better play?

 

[SC Maintenance]

I will mention I went with Pfifer sunscreen on the Southern facing windows. Its a tighter weave with a thicker strand thats a bit glossy. It supposedly reflects 60% more sun. Every little bit helps here. We seldom open those windows on that side - its street facing - but I imagine it will also restrict flow. They were also much harder to install in the frame - thicker, not as stretchy, etc.

 

[y_p_w]

With a roller wheel tool and a utility cutter , it is easy to replace a screen often reusing the existing spline. You really don't need a kit or corner pieces to do the job.

I wasn’t thinking that for me. But the ones from my parents’ home have completely collapsed. It might be possible to reuse the longer segments to recut into smaller ones.

 

[y_p_w]

This thread is providing me with some motivation to get busy repairing screens in the homestead. I bought Saint-Gobain screen and a window frame kit some time ago, but haven't bothered to do the job.

The square cut screen frame kits are common. For most people, a square cut is much easier to manage than an angle cut. My factory screens are square cut, using corner pieces like shown here. The kit, I bought, is the same. And actually, the broken screen I've got has broken corners. I didn't even think about just replacing those and keeping the rest of the frame. Thanks for the suggestion.

I bought everything off Amazon, but places like Home Depot are similar. I got the standard screen, but that "clear view" stuff looks interesting. My cat clawed up some of my screens, so maybe the pet screen would have been the better play?

View attachment 308370

My factory made screen with the angled cut does allow for a single spline piece to cover the entire perimeter.

 

[Nessism1]

My factory made screen with the angled cut does allow for a single spline piece to cover the entire perimeter.

My factory made screens with plastic corner pieces also accommodate a one piece spine as well. Haven't built the aftermarket screen yet, but it appears to be the same.

 

[SC Maintenance]

This is the corner on my factory screen - which you can use a single spline. I actually found it better to use 2 splines - each covering two sides. You can then do apposing sides and get the screen nice and straight to start, then finish with the two adjacent sides.

If I had to use 4 spline pieces I don't think I would car much - but each spline must go completely to the corner.

IMG_4403.webp

• SC Maintenance
• Nov 3, 2025

Screen

 

[Nessism1]

No doubt, experience and personal preference comes into play regarding installing the screen/spine. The guy in the video posted by the OP suggests that he got best results by pressing the spine into the groove, starting in the middle of the span. Can't use a one piece spine with this technique.

 

[y_p_w]

I see that some kits with the square corners come with spring clips that insert into the frame and then get wedged in by the corner. I guess that makes them more secure and easier to keep in place. But I think I'm going to need those as well as pull tabs that are wedged into the spline.

I really don't want to climb a ladder to install the window screen. The existing ones don't have pull tabs or springs which seem to make installation easier.

 

[y_p_w]

Dad took a photo of the busted screen. Looks like it was made with corners, and they just snapped after years. The repair will be a lot easier although I think springs would be helpful. The mesh isn’t perfect, but there are no tears or holes.

 

[y_p_w]

I got the standard screen corners from HD. These ones.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Screen-Tight-5-16-in-Screen-Frame-Corner-4-Pack-BCORN516/202092304

They look very different. It's a tongue that's supposed to slide into a groove, but overall it seems too big to fit. Not sure if maybe this is a different frame size. The replacement corners seem to be a bit too wide to fit. I’ve since disassembled the entire frames and trying to make one good frame and maybe make another from new parts. Just need to find frame corners that are compatible.

 

[Pew]

Can you take the part with you to the store and try to find fitting pieces there?

I've never made the frame but I did all the screens in my townhouse a couple years ago because of birds destroying the mesh. Probably took a couple hours for 11 windows. Also ran out of spline so I had to buy another package.

I bought everything off Amazon, but places like Home Depot are similar. I got the standard screen, but that "clear view" stuff looks interesting. My cat clawed up some of my screens, so maybe the pet screen would have been the better play?

I went with the sun guard one and it's a very noticeable different. Unfortunately my windows are also like 72x32 so the sunblock part doesn't work as well as I hoped but the upstairs neighbor has a patio of that blocks the sun at it's daily peak thankfully.