Window screen repair: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering window screen repair

Window screen repair is a precise fit job where the spline depth, the mesh tension and the frame square decide whether the screen fits and keeps bugs out. Your win is fast turnaround, a clean fit and a clear record of which screen belongs in which window.

What customers ask

  • Can you fix a torn screen without replacing the whole thing?
  • Will the new mesh stand up to my pet?
  • Can you straighten the frame or does it need replacing?
  • Will the screen fit back into the window with no gaps?
  • How long will the repair take?
  • Can you match the color and mesh type I already have?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask how many screens need work, the frame type, the mesh they have, and whether there are pets or kids that push on screens.
  • Bring a sample of each mesh type and spline size to the visit, and show how the spline sits in the channel.
  • Measure each screen and check the frame for square and corner condition on the site visit, photographing any damaged corners before you take them down.
  • Put each screen, the mesh type, the spline size and any frame or hardware repair in the quote as separate lines.
  • Label each screen with its window location when it comes off, and show the homeowner the labels before you leave.
  • Test-fit each screen in its opening before you finish, and adjust the spline or frame until it seats cleanly.
  • Send a closeout note listing the screens repaired, the mesh and spline used, and any screens that need a new frame later.

What to put on your profile

  • Photos of repaired screens that show the new mesh, the square corners and the spline line
  • Mesh types you install, including pet-resistant and solar mesh
  • Frame types you repair, such as aluminum and fiberglass
  • Service area and whether you pick up and return screens or work on-site

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a screen door closer and latch check if the screen door is sagging or not closing.
  • Suggest a window track and roller check for sliding windows whose screens are catching or jumping.
  • Recommend a screen replacement plan for the windows where the screens are old and the mesh is brittle.

Licenses and permits

Window screen repair is commonly done by window, screen or general home service companies, and it does not usually require a special license. Check your state and local licensing requirements to confirm what applies where you work.

Questions

Do I need insurance for screen repair?

Carrying general liability insurance is wise, since you are handling window frames and screens in the customer's home. Show the certificate when customers ask.

How do I handle a screen that is too damaged to repair?

Tell the homeowner what is wrong, show the photos, and quote a replacement screen as a separate line. Do not take a screen that cannot be repaired and charge a repair line for it.

Should I offer to replace the spline on every screen?

Offer it when the spline is loose, cracked or shrunk. Explain that a loose spline is the reason a screen sags and lets bugs in, and quote it by screen.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

Edit history

More windows and doors guides for pros

Start here

About this guide

Get window screen repair requests

Customers pick you by name. Signup is free, and you pay only for leads you accept.

Join as a pro
Sign up free