Repairs
Window Screens: Repair, Replacement and Florida Bug Season
Torn, sagging or missing window screens let in more than mosquitoes. What screen materials hold up in Florida, and when a frame needs replacing.
Window screens are the kind of repair people put off for years, right up until the first cool evening in fall when they want the windows open and remember that half of them have holes. In Central Florida, a screen also does a lot more than keep bugs out. It cuts glare, blocks a bit of heat and keeps lizards and palmetto bugs on the correct side of the glass.
How screens fail here
- Sun. UV breaks down standard fiberglass mesh. After enough summers it gets brittle and tears at a touch.
- Pets and kids. Cats climb them, dogs push through them, and children lean on them.
- Pressure washing. Screens hit with a pressure washer blow out at the spline. This is one of the most common ways we see whole houses' worth of screens ruined at once.
- Corroded frames. Aluminum frames pit and the corners loosen, especially on lakefront homes. A frame that no longer holds its shape will not stay in the window.
- Lost hardware. Spring clips, pull tabs and tension pins go missing, and the screen falls out in the first storm.
Rescreen or replace the frame
If the frame is straight and the corners are tight, rescreening is the answer. The old spline is pulled, new mesh is rolled in with a new spline and trimmed. If the frame is bent, badly corroded or the corner keys have failed, a new frame is built to size. Odd-size windows in older homes almost always need custom frames, which is a small job for a crew with the right stock.
Choosing mesh
- Standard fiberglass is inexpensive and the default. It is also the first to fail in the sun.
- Aluminum mesh lasts longer but dents and shows every ding.
- Pet-resistant screen is a heavier vinyl-coated polyester. It costs more and is worth it on any door or window a dog or cat can reach.
- Solar screen blocks a large share of the sun's heat and glare. On a west-facing window in Lakeland it makes a real difference to the room and to the AC bill, at the cost of a darker view.
- No-see-um mesh has a tighter weave for the tiny biting midges that come with lakes and evenings. Airflow drops slightly.
Fit and hardware
A screen that fits properly sits flush in its channel with the mesh drum-tight and no gap at the corners. Loose or wavy mesh is not just cosmetic; it lets insects in around the edge and flaps in the wind until it tears. The small hardware matters too. Missing spring clips or pull tabs are why screens end up in the flower bed after a thunderstorm, and they are cheap to replace while the screen is out. For screens that are supposed to stay in year-round, we make sure they seat fully so the window can still lock.
The other screens on the house
While we are at it, sliding screen doors usually need new rollers and a new spline, and a lanai enclosure often has a few loose panels. Our guide to rescreening a lanai covers what that larger job involves. Bathroom and kitchen windows that have been painted shut also come up, and freeing them is part of the same visit.
A note on the windows themselves
When we pull screens, we look at the window. Failed sash locks, broken balances that will not hold a window open, cracked glazing and rotted wood sills get noticed. Fixing those at the same time saves a second trip. If the windows are single-pane aluminum from the 1970s or 80s, it may be time to think about replacement, which we cover in our window replacement guide.
What it costs in Polk County
Rescreening a standard window is one of the least expensive repairs we do, and doing a whole house at once is far more economical per screen than one at a time. Custom frames, pet screen and solar screen cost more per window. Get an exact figure with a free estimate, and we will note any window repairs we spot at the same time.
Inventive Home Improvement handles screens as part of our handyman services and door and window work in Winter Haven, Lake Wales and throughout Polk County. Call (863) 633-5499.
Frequently asked questions
How long do window screens last in Florida?
Standard fiberglass mesh often becomes brittle within several years of full sun. Pet-resistant and aluminum mesh last longer. Frames last decades unless they corrode or get bent.
Can you make screens for odd-size windows?
Yes. Frames are cut and assembled to the exact opening, which is common in older Lakeland and Bartow homes with non-standard windows.
Is solar screen worth it?
On west and south-facing windows that make a room hot in the afternoon, yes. It noticeably cuts heat and glare. The view is darker, so most people use it selectively rather than on every window.
Will pressure washing damage my screens?
Very often. The spray blows the mesh out of the spline channel. Remove screens before pressure washing, or use low pressure and keep the wand well away.
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