Window and door screens take a lot of abuse, from children and pets pushing them to squirrels chewing them. But lack of regular maintenance can take its toll, too. Here's a primer on care and repair.

Need to know

What kind of screens you own. The most common materials are vinyl-coated fiberglass and aluminum. Aluminum is less likely to tear or sag, but it easily dents and can corrode. Fiberglass doesn't dent or corrode; it's less expensive than aluminum and is available in several mesh varieties. Solar-screening mesh that reduces ultraviolet radiation ($125 to $215 a roll) comes in aluminum (louvered) or fiberglass (ribbed weave).

Renewable resource

Replacement aluminum and fiberglass screening, silveror charcoal-colored, is available in packaged 25-foot rolls (in 36-inch widths) for $10 or less. Many retailers will cut what you need from large rolls, which reduces the price. Standard widths are 24 to 48 inches. Other colors and greater widths can be special-ordered.

Weavers' ways

When manufacturers refer to screening as "standard weave," they mean 18-by-16, the number of strands per square inch. In the South, the weave is often tighter, to keep out tinier bugs.

Maintenance guide

Christopher Burk, product manager for Simonton Windows, suggests yearly cleaning. Remove screens from the window/door frames, following the manufacturer's instructions. Place them on a flat surface (such as the driveway) and use mild soap and water with a soft-bristle brush. Clean both sides and around the frame's interior and exterior. Rinse with lukewarm water; allow to dry before returning it to a window/door. "Never pressure-wash screens or windows, because the force of the water can damage the units," Burk says. "Also, use extreme care when cleaning aluminum mesh, since it can be dented or creased if too much pressure is placed on the screen."

Off-season issues

Though most screens can remain in windows year-round, some homeowners prefer to store them in the winter. Keep them either upright or flat, and make sure nothing sits on top of or leans against the screens, to eliminate the chance of bent frames or punctured mesh. Covering the screens with plastic or sheets will keep them clean.

Repair clinic

Patches come in packages in the standard mesh and colors for fiberglass and aluminum; cost is about $1. Experts advise that holes larger than 3 inches in diameter require replacing the entire screen. You also can make patches from screening material. Be sure that the patch is one-half-inch diameter larger than the hole, and that you clean the screening around the hole before you patch. The patch is held to the rest of the screen by loose strands of screening inserted in the mesh around the hole. Strands should be on all four sides of the patch and secured by pressing them flat.

Final frame

In metal frames, screening is held in place in channels at the edges with vinyl or rubber splines, which can be removed with a screwdriver. When the new screen is in place in the channels, the splines are returned and a tool with a wheel is rolled over them to tighten the screen and lock it in place.

Replacing screens in wood frames means removing molding that's nailed in place. Use a putty knife to pry each side of the molding, placing a wedge under the molding to lift the nail, then the molding without breaking it. Cut the screening with an extra inch on every side, then stretch it tightly in the frame and staple it every inch or so. Trim the screening, then replace the molding.
Want Alan J. Heavens' advice on a home-improvement project or purchase? E-mail him at aheavens@phillynews.com or write him at The Inquirer, Box 8263, Philadelphia, PA 19101.