Screens we repair
- Aluminum screen frames rescreened with fiberglass, aluminum or pet mesh
- Wood screen frames re-meshed with staples and new molding
- Frames squared up or rebuilt when they no longer seat in the window
- Pull tabs, springs, turn buttons and hangers replaced
- Wood and aluminum screen doors: closers, hinges, latches and rollers
- Missing screens measured and made to fit the opening
Screens on older windows
The San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District lists screening among its first defenses, telling residents to make sure “your screens are in good repair and fit properly over your windows.” A screen that sits loose in a wood sash leaves the same gap as a hole in the mesh.
With 52.3 percent of the city’s homes more than 60 years old, according to San Gabriel’s Housing Element preliminary report, many still have wood double-hung windows with wood screens that hang from hooks or slide into tracks. Those frames can be re-meshed and tightened rather than thrown out, which keeps the look of the house intact.
How a rescreen is done
Aluminum frames
The old spline is pulled, the mesh removed, and the frame checked for bent sides and cracked corners. New mesh is rolled in with fresh spline, working opposite sides to keep it flat, and trimmed clean.
Wood frames
We pry off the trim molding, remove the old staples and mesh, and stretch new mesh across the frame before stapling. The molding goes back on with small brads, and we touch up paint where the molding was lifted.
Fit check
Each screen goes back in the window it came from. We adjust springs, clips or hangers so the screen sits tight with no gap at the corners.
Not ours to do
We repair screens and screen doors. New windows, broken glass, wood window restoration, and retractable or motorized screens go to a window or screen specialist.
Photos that help
A photo of each screen in its window, the measurements if you can, and whether the frames are wood or aluminum.
Screen repair questions
Can you match the screen color on the rest of the house?
Yes. Mesh comes in charcoal, gray and bright aluminum, and frames in several finishes. We match what you have so the windows look uniform from the street.
Can you fix a torn screen on a security screen door?
We rescreen standard screen doors and replace the mesh on many security doors that use a spline or retaining strip. Perforated steel panels go to the door maker.
Can wood screen frames be saved?
Usually. Unless the wood is rotted at the joints, a wood frame can be squared, reglued and re-meshed, and it will outlast an aluminum replacement.
What mesh works best?
Standard fiberglass suits most windows. Aluminum mesh is crisper and lasts longer in sun. Pet-resistant mesh is the choice where cats or dogs press against the screen.
My screen door slams. Can that be fixed?
Yes. We replace or adjust the closer so it shuts gently, and fix the latch so it catches.
Do you make new screens for windows that have none?
Yes, for standard sliding and single-hung windows. We measure the opening and build a frame to fit.
Do screens really help with mosquitoes?
The local vector control district names well-fitted screens alongside repellent and long sleeves as its main ways to stop bites indoors.
How long does a rescreen take?
A few screens can often be done on site in one visit. For a whole house, we sometimes take the screens and return them finished.
Related guides for San Gabriel homes
- Fixing screen doors that slam, sag or will not latchHow we repair or replace screen doors, closers, latches and security door hardware on older San Gabriel homes.
- Old wood windows that stick, rattle or slam shutWhy old wood windows in San Gabriel homes stick, rattle or will not stay open, and how we free painted sashes and repair sash cords and hardware.
We’re a handyman in San Gabriel for small repairs like this one, with an upfront price by text.
This job sits in our doors, cabinets and hardware group. For other repairs, see the services overview, or start with the repair guide for San Gabriel’s older homes.