How to Replace a Screen in a Wood Frame

Repair Holes or Install a Brand-New Screen in a Few Simple Steps

By
Bob Formisano
Bob Formisano
Bob Formisano is a licensed architect and builder with nearly 40 years of experience building new homes and restoring older homes. One of his specialties is repairing old systems dating back to the 1920s, including galvanized water pipes, knob-and-tube wiring, and more. His home repair articles for The Spruce span more than 10 years.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 12/11/22
Reviewed by
Johnathan Brewer
Johnathan Brewer
Reviewed by Johnathan Brewer
Johnathan C. Brewer II is a licensed general contractor specializing in kitchen, bath remodels, and general construction with two decades of professional experience.
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board
House screen door
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In This Article
Project Overview
  • Total Time: 1 hr, 30 mins
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
  • Estimated Cost: $10 to $20

In older homes, insect screens in wooden frames often cover windows and screen doors. Replacing those screens can be challenging when torn, worn, or popping out of the frame. You can take them to a hardware store and have them rescreened, or buy a roll of screen mesh and repair the window or screen door yourself. Replacing a screen is a straightforward task a beginner can accomplish: remove the old screen and reattach the new screen to the frame. Continue reading for the step-by-step instructions.

Replacing Screen Fabric

All window screens used to be made of metal fabric, but today it's more common to use screens made of fiberglass mesh, which is more durable and easier to install than metal screens.

The cost to replace screens costs between $130 to $470, averaging about $300, according to HomeAdvisor. Pre-assembled models can cost as little as $35 each; meanwhile, customized screens can cost $1,000 for solar or security screens.

The best way to measure the new screen you need is to remove and measure the old one. Measure the width along the top of the frame and the width along the bottom. Also, measure the height along the left side and the right side. Use the smaller width and height measurements if the widths or heights are different.

Wood-framed window screens and screen doors are constructed by stretching a piece of screen fabric over the opening, stapling it in place, trimming it to size, then covering the cut edges of the screen with thin pieces of screen molding nailed to the wooden frame. The big challenge is to get the fabric taut and smooth over the opening; unless you do, the fabric will sag and billow.

Tip

Before replacing the screen, be sure to assess the rest of the window or door. Make any necessary repairs to the frame door before installing the new screen.

There are several ways to stretch and attach screening, but the approach described here is sometimes known as the "cleat-and-wedge" method. It uses a 1-inch by 2-inch cleat temporarily attached to a work surface.

The window or door frame is laid flat on the work surface next to the cleat, and the screen fabric is loosely laid over the opening and stapled down at one end to the bottom of the window opening and the other end to the cleat. Then, wedges are driven into the gap between the window frame and the cleat. This pushes the frame away from the cleat, thereby stretching the screen fabric taut. The screen can then be stapled onto the frame for a perfect fit.

If your wood window frame uses retaining spline instead of staples to fasten the screen to the frame, then use the same technique to repair an aluminum frame screen door.

How to Repair Small Holes or Tears in Screens

Most screens are made of fiberglass or vinyl mesh. If you have a tiny hole or small tear in the screen, seal the hole or rip by dabbing clear nail polish over the spot until it is glued closed. For a larger rip or tear, get a fiberglass window screen patch kit or cut a piece of matching screen material about 1 inch larger than the hole. Use transparent silicone to glue the patch on top of the hole in the screen.

For a small hole in a metal window screen, use a bead of clear silicone adhesive to plug a hole or small tear. You will need a metal screen patch repair kit for a more significant tear. It usually requires sewing the patch onto the torn spot.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Chisel or flat-head screwdriver
  • Tape measure
  • Utility knife
  • Circular saw
  • Utility stapler
  • Pencil
  • Hammer
  • Brad nailer (optional)
  • Putty knife
  • Nail set

Materials

  • Replacement screen fabric
  • 1x2 lumber
  • 1x4 lumber
  • Screws
  • Screen molding (if necessary)
  • Brads or small finish nails
  • Wood putty

Instructions

How to Replace a Screen in a Wood Frame

  1. Remove Screen Molding and Screen Fabric

    Replacing screen material in a wood-framed window and door requires that you first remove trim molding in order to expose the staples or nails that hold the screen fabric.

    Using a flat-blade screwdriver or wood chisel, carefully separate the screen molding from around the frame opening. Take care not to break the molding while prying it off. Pull out the brads from the molding if you plan to reuse it.

    Use the flat-blade screwdriver to pry the staples up that fasten the screen material to the frame, then remove the old screen material.

  2. Cut the Cleats and Screen Fabric

    Cut two pieces of 1x2 lumber about 4 inches longer than the width of the frame. Nail one of these cleats down to a large flat work surface, such as a work bench.

    Lay the wooden screen frame onto the work surface next to the cleat, so the top edge is parallel to the cleat, about 3 inches away. Cut a piece of screen fabric about 2 inches wide than the screen opening and about 12 inches longer.

  3. Position the Screen Fabric

    Staple the screen fabric along the bottom of the frame opening, spacing the staples every 2 inches. Work from the center outward along the opening, and make sure the screen fabric is stretched tight along the bottom edge.

    Extend the other end of the screen fabric over the opening and over the cleat that is nailed to the work surface. Position the second cleat over the first cleat, sandwiching the screen fabric between them. Screw the second cleat to the first cleat in a manner that tightly grips the screen fabric.

  4. Cut Tightening Wedges

    Next, make a simple wedges to stretch the screen fabric. Using a piece of 1x4 equal in length to the cleats, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner. Cut along this line, creating two equal wedges.

    Insert the wedges into the space between the cleat and the top of the screen frame from both sides.

  5. Stretch the Screen

    With the 1x4 wedges positioned in the gap between the top of the frame and the cleat, tap them together from both sides. This will force the frame away from the cleats, stretching and tightening the screen fabric. Tap on the wedges until the screen fabric is smooth and taut, but be wary of applying so much force that the fabric tears away from the staples anchoring it at the bottom.

  6. Fasten and Trim the Screen Fabric

    Attach the screen fabric to the frame with staples spaced every 2 inches along the full perimeter of the opening. Use a sharp utility knife to trim away the excess screen material to within 1/2 inch of the staples.

    Reattach the screen molding with small finishing nails or brads. If the old molding is in poor condition, this is a good time to cut and install new screen molding. If any screen fabric is extending beyond the molding, you can carefully trim it off with a utility knife.

    To prevent rusting of the nails, countersink the nails and putty over them. If desired, you can also repaint the frame at this time.

FAQ
  • How do I know what window screen to buy?

    Get a screen based on your needs. If you need a pet or child-resistant screen, it's more expensive and durable but has lower visibility. If you live in an area with no-see-ums or tiny gnats, opt for a smaller mesh size (20 by 20) to keep bugs out. Vinyl and fiberglass are best for areas with high moisture, like coastal areas. Metal screen is more prone to oxidation and more challenging to repair but offers the most increased visibility.

  • How much does it cost to get a screen installed?

    Screen installation averages about $300 nationally, according to HomeAdvisor. Replacing a pre-assembled screen costs about $15 to $20 per screen. If the frame is in good condition and you need new screening, it costs $20 to $30 in labor costs. If you need to build and install a whole new screen, it can cost up to $50 per screen.

  • Are window screens standard sizes?

    Window screen frames come in three standard sizes 5/16-inch, 3/8-inch, or 7/16-inch. The standard sizes for prefabricated mesh screens are 18 inches by 14 inches, 18 inches by 18 inches, and 20 inches by 20 inches. Depending on the manufacturer, hundreds of pre-cut “standard” sizes exist.