A window screen needs repair if the mesh is torn, sagging or pulling away from the frame, if the frame is bent, or if the screen pops out or will not sit snugly in the window. Any gap lets bugs in, and in the lakes country that matters every summer. A quick check of every screen in spring or fall shows you which ones need work.
Here is how to check your screens and what repair involves.
What are the signs a screen needs repair?
Walk around the house and look at each screen in good light. Watch for:
- Holes or tears in the mesh, even small ones.
- Sagging or loose mesh that bows in or out.
- Mesh pulling out of the groove along the frame edge.
- Bent or warped frames that no longer sit square.
- Screens that pop out of the window or rattle in the wind.
- Gaps at the corners or along the sides when installed.
- Missing or cracked spline, the rubber cord that holds the mesh in place.
How do you check screens properly?
Checking from inside the house is not enough. Small holes and loose edges are easier to spot from outside with the light behind the screen.
- Look at each screen from outside on a bright day.
- Press gently on the mesh. Healthy mesh is taut. Loose mesh gives easily.
- Check the corners and edges where mesh meets the frame.
- Make sure the screen sits snugly in the window with no gaps.
- Note which window each damaged screen came from.
What usually damages window screens?
Screens take a lot of wear in Minnesota. Common causes include:
- Wind and storms that push screens out of the frame.
- Snow and ice pressing against screens left in over winter.
- Pets pushing or scratching at the mesh.
- Kids and balls in the yard.
- Old spline that dries out and shrinks over the years.
- Removing and reinstalling screens roughly.
What does screen repair involve?
North Window Cleaning repairs screens right on site. Our screen repair service includes:
- Fresh mesh and spline
- Bent frames straightened
- Screens re-fit to the window
- Repairs handled on site, during the same visit
The goal is simple: windows that are bug-tight again.
Should you repair or replace a screen?
Most torn or sagging screens can be fixed by replacing the mesh and spline. Bent frames can often be straightened. Repairing on site means you do not have to measure, order and wait for a new screen. If a frame is badly damaged, we can talk through options when we see it.
When is the best time to fix screens?
Spring is popular, since you want screens ready before bug season and lake weather. Fall works well too, because damage from summer storms is easy to see. Pairing repair with screen cleaning, where every screen is pulled, hand-washed, dried and returned to the right window, means all your screens are done in one visit.
Frequently asked questions
Can a small hole in a screen be ignored?
Small holes tend to grow, and even a small gap lets mosquitoes and other bugs in. It is best to repair it.
Do you repair screens on site?
Yes. We re-mesh, re-spline and re-frame damaged screens right on site, during the same visit.
Can you clean screens at the same time?
Yes. We offer screen cleaning, and many homeowners book both together.
Do you serve my area?
We serve Perham and the lakes country, including Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Wadena, New York Mills and Pelican Rapids.
Request a free quote
Tell us how many screens need work on our free quote page. It takes about a minute.
More on this service: Screen Repair in Perham, MN.