What the job involves
A window screen is a light aluminum frame with mesh held in place by a rubber spline. Most repairs are re-screening: taking the frame, stripping off the old mesh and spline, and installing fresh material pulled tight and rolled into the groove.
When we take the screens off, we also look at the frames and the window tracks they sit in. A frame that is bowed or has a loose corner will let the mesh go slack again soon after, so we correct that first.
- Mesh condition: tears, sun rot, and loose edges
- Frame corners and whether the frame is straight
- Springs, tabs, or clips that hold the screen in the window
- Track condition where the screen sits
Why it matters in Arizona
Sun is the main enemy. The mesh on west and south windows can get chalky and brittle in just a few seasons, and it tears at the slightest touch. Dust also clogs mesh over time, which cuts airflow and makes the screen look gray.
Monsoon winds loosen screens that are held with worn tabs, and hail or flying debris can punch holes in them. Many people also remove screens in summer to let in more light and cut dust, then find them damaged in storage. We can refit those too.
If you are not sure whether a screen is worth saving, bring one by or have us look at it during an estimate. A quick flex of the frame and a press on the mesh tells us most of what we need to know, and we will say so if a new frame would serve you better than another round of patching.
How a visit goes
You can leave screens with us or we can remove them on site. We check the frames, then replace the mesh and spline. For standard mesh, we pull it flat, roll in the spline, and trim the excess with a sharp blade. We test the fit in the window opening before moving on.
If you want solar screening, which blocks a portion of the sun on hot windows, we can install that in place of regular mesh. It makes the glass view slightly darker but reduces heat gain, and it is popular on west-facing windows.
What affects the cost
The number of screens is the main driver, since each one takes similar handling. Mesh type matters too: standard fiberglass costs less than solar or pet-resistant types.
Custom-sized or damaged frames add cost, and so does reaching second-story windows. Doing a whole house at once is usually more efficient than one at a time. Estimates are free and the price you get is upfront.
When it needs a specialist
If the window itself is the problem, such as a cracked pane, failed seal, or a frame that does not close, that is a window repair or replacement job, and it may need a glazier. We can screen the work out for you and tell you what we see. Escape-window requirements for bedrooms also matter, so we do not modify a screen in a way that makes the window harder to open.
“Nathan did a great job of cutting and finishing the exterior wood beams on my home. He remove the rotted wood and sealed and painted and they look so much better. He worked in the blazing sun without complaint, nice guy and talented craftsman. Highly...”