Doors & windows

Repair a torn window screen

A small hole in a window screen can be patched in a few minutes with a self-adhesive patch. For a big tear, replacing the mesh in the frame is an easy job with a spline roller, a roll of screen and new spline, the rubber cord that holds the mesh in place. Fiberglass screen is the easiest to work with. It's forgiving, doesn't crease the way aluminum does, and is the kind most hardware stores stock.

A spline roller pressing new screen mesh and spline into the channel of an aluminum screen frame
New spline rolled into the channel holds new mesh tight.
Quick answerPress a patch over a small hole. For a big tear, pull out the spline, lay new mesh over the frame, roll new spline into the groove and trim the edges.
Worth checking firstMeasure the hole. Anything smaller than a couple of inches can take a self-adhesive patch in a few minutes. Bigger tears mean rescreening, and for that you'll need to know the spline size, so bring a piece of the old spline to the store.

Good to knowRenter-friendlySpring checklist

Mike TurnerWritten and reviewed byMike TurnerUpdated Sources and safety notes
Easy10 min to patch; 30–45 min to rescreen$5–20
Window screen with torn mesh and a close-up of the frame showing mesh and rubber spline pressed into the groove with a roller and trimmed with a knife
How a screen is held in: the torn mesh (1) is held by spline in a groove (2). Roll the new spline in (3) and trim the extra (4).

How a screen is held in

Window screens are mesh held in a frame by spline pressed into a groove around the edge. That's why rescreening comes down to pulling the old spline out, laying new mesh over the frame, and rolling new spline in to hold it tight.

Check the spline size before you buy. It comes in several diameters, and the new one has to match the groove for the mesh to stay put.

How screens get damaged

Pets and kids

Claws and hands push through the mesh.

Sun and age

Fiberglass mesh gets brittle over the years.

Handling

Screens get dropped or bent when they're taken in and out.

Old spline

Spline shrinks and hardens, and the mesh sags.

Patch or rescreen?
DamageFixTime
A pinhole or tiny tearA dab of clear nail polish or glueA few minutes
A hole smaller than a coinAdhesive screen patchAbout 5–10 minutes
A big tear, or sagging meshNew mesh and spline30–45 minutes
A bent or broken frameNew frame, or a screen shopVaries
Don't bow the frameClamp or weight the frame before rolling in the spline, and don't stretch the mesh drum-tight. Aluminum frames bow inward easily, and then the screen won't fit the window.

Patch or rescreen, step by step

0 of 5 done
  1. Patch a small holeFor a hole smaller than a coin, trim loose strands so the area lies flat, then press a self-adhesive screen patch over it.
    Self-adhesive patch pressed over a small hole in window screen mesh
  2. Pull out the old splineFor a bigger tear, lay the frame flat. Pry up one end of the spline with a screwdriver or awl and pull it out of the groove all the way around. Remove the old mesh.
    Screwdriver prying the rubber spline out of the frame groove
  3. Lay the new meshCut new mesh an inch or two larger than the frame on every side and lay it over the frame. Clamp or weight the frame so it can't bow in while you work, and trim a small square out of each corner of the mesh so it doesn't bunch.
    New screen mesh laid over the frame with extra on every side and the frame weighted down
  4. Roll in the splineStarting at a corner, use the roller to press the spline over the mesh into the groove, one side at a time. Keep the mesh snug, but not so tight that the frame bows. At the corners, push the spline in with a flat screwdriver rather than cutting it.
    Something went wrong?
    • The spline won't stay in the groove It may be the wrong size. Take a piece of the old spline to the store to match it.
    Spline roller pressing the rubber spline and mesh into the frame groove
  5. Trim the edgesRun a sharp utility knife along the outside of the spline, angled away from the screen, to trim the extra mesh. Put the screen back in the window.
    Something went wrong?
    • The frame bowed inward Pull the spline on the long sides, straighten the frame and roll it back in with less tension.
    Utility knife trimming extra mesh along the outside edge of the spline, angled away from the screen

Watch it done

How to Repair a Window ScreenBy Ace Hardware on YouTube. Their method may vary a little from ours.
Watch on YouTube
How you'll know it's fixed
  • The patch or new mesh lies flat with no loose strands
  • The mesh is snug with no sagging
  • The frame is straight, not bowed inward
  • The spline sits fully in the groove all the way around

Mesh sagging? Pull the spline on that side and roll it in again.

If the mesh sags or the frame bows

If the mesh sags, pull out the spline along that side, snug the mesh by hand, and roll the spline back in.

If the frame bowed inward, pull the spline on the long sides, straighten the frame, and roll it back in with less tension.

Match the splineTake a short piece of the old spline to the store to match its diameter. Too thin and the mesh pulls loose; too thick and it won't go into the groove.
Have it done ifThe frame is bent or broken at a corner, or it's an unusual screen, like a retractable or custom wood screen. Many hardware stores rescreen for a small fee.

What a pro typically charges (a rough estimate; prices vary by area): Hardware stores and screen shops often rescreen a standard window screen for about $20–$50.

Find window screen repair near you

Something else going on?

Window screen questions

What kind of screen mesh should I buy?

Fiberglass is the most common and the easiest to work with. Pet-resistant mesh is tougher if you have cats or dogs; aluminum is stiffer and harder to install.

How do I find the right spline size?

Measure the old spline's diameter, or take a piece to the store. Sizes differ by small fractions of an inch, so matching matters.

Can I fix a tiny hole with glue?

A tiny hole in fiberglass mesh can be sealed with a dab of clear nail polish or glue, which stops it growing.

Does this work for a screen door?

Yes. Screen doors use the same mesh and spline in a bigger frame, so a helper to hold the mesh is useful.

How do I rescreen a window?

Pull out the old spline, lay new mesh over the frame, roll new spline into the groove and trim the edges.

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A helpful next stepReplace a broken window paneClean up safely, remove the old glass and glazing putty, measure and cut or order new glass, set it with glazier's points, and finish with fresh glazing compound and paint.