Window and door screens are easy to overlook until mosquito season arrives. A small tear is enough to let insects in, and a missing screen turns an open window into an open door for bugs. The good news is that window screen repair is one of the simplest fixes around a home. Torn and missing screens are also some of the most common findings during a home inspection, especially on new homes where screens were never installed.

This guide covers why screens matter here, the signs a screen needs attention, what these findings mean in an inspection report, your repair and replacement options, screens on windows in window wells, and one safety point every family should know.

Why screens matter in Fargo-Moorhead

Our summers are short, so most of us want the windows open when the weather is nice. Screens make that possible without letting in mosquitoes and other insects. The Minnesota Department of Health lists installing and repairing screens on windows and doors as one of the ways to keep mosquitoes out of your home. The EPA gives the same advice and recommends keeping screens “bug tight.”

Screens also take a beating here. Wind, hail, pets, kids, snow sliding off roofs and years of sun can tear the mesh, bend the frame or loosen the spline that holds the mesh in place. Screens left in the window all winter can also stick or warp.

Signs a screen needs attention

Check your screens each spring before you open the windows:

Tears, holes or cuts in the mesh
Mesh pulling loose from the frame, or spline popping out of its groove
Bent, cracked or twisted frames that leave gaps at the edges
Missing screens on windows that open
Screen doors with torn mesh, missing mesh or a door that drags or won’t latch
Broken or missing tabs, clips or springs that hold the screen in place
Gaps between the screen and the window frame where insects can get past

Hold the screen up to the light. Small pinholes and gaps along the edges are easier to see that way.

What these findings mean in an inspection report

When we find a torn screen, a missing screen or a screen door that needs repair, we note it in the inspection report and recommend repair or replacement. These are maintenance items, not structural or safety defects, but they are worth fixing before bug season.

On new homes, missing screens are common because they are often delivered separately or installed last. If we find them missing during a new construction inspection, we recommend reporting it to the builder before closing. During a builder’s warranty inspection, torn screens can usually be reported to the builder for repair under the warranty.

Window screen repair options

How you fix a screen depends on the damage:

Small holes. Self-adhesive screen patches cover small holes and tears in a few minutes. They are a good short-term fix but may show.
Larger tears. Rescreening is usually the best fix. You pull out the old spline, remove the damaged mesh, lay new mesh over the frame and press new spline into the groove with a spline roller. Trim the extra mesh with a utility knife.
Damaged frames. A bent or broken frame is often not worth repairing. A new frame can be built from a kit, or the window manufacturer or a local glass and screen shop can make a replacement.
Missing screens. Note the window brand and size, usually found on a label or etched in the glass corner. The manufacturer or a window dealer can often order an exact match.

When you rescreen, choose the mesh for the job. Fiberglass mesh is common, easy to work with and doesn’t dent. Aluminum mesh is stiffer and more durable. Pet-resistant mesh is thicker and stands up better to claws. Solar screen mesh blocks some sun and heat. Match the spline size to the groove in the frame, or the mesh will not stay tight.

Many hardware stores and glass shops will rescreen frames you bring in, which is a good option if you have many screens or patio door screens that are hard to handle.

Screens on basement windows in window wells

Basement windows that sit in a window well need some extra thought. Frogs, mice, rabbits and other small animals often fall into uncovered window wells and can’t climb back out. Trying to escape, they claw and chew at the screen. When we find a torn screen on a basement window in a window well, critters trapped in the well are often the cause.

Because of this, a screen on a window inside a well is not always a good idea, especially when the well has no cover. A few options:

Add a window well cover. A cover keeps animals, leaves and snow out of the well. On an egress window, the cover must open or come off easily from the inside without tools, so it never blocks an escape in a fire.
Leave the screen off. If you rarely open that window, or the well has no cover, taking the screen off can save you from replacing it every year.
Check the well often. Look for trapped animals, leaves and debris, especially in spring and fall. Our post on signs of rodents and how to keep them out has more tips.

If you keep a screen on an egress window, make sure it can be removed quickly from the inside.

Screens do not stop falls

This is the most important point in this post. A window screen is not a safety device. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns parents never to depend on screens to keep children from falling out of windows. As Safe Kids USA put it, screens keep bugs out, not kids in.

CPSC estimates that about 3,300 children five and younger are treated in emergency rooms each year after window falls, and about eight die. To prevent window falls, CPSC recommends that families:

Install window stops so windows open no more than 4 inches
Install window guards that an adult can open quickly in an emergency
Keep furniture away from windows so children can’t climb up
Open windows from the top when possible, not the bottom

Remember that bedroom and basement egress windows must still open fully for escape in a fire. Any stops or guards on those windows need a quick release that adults can use without tools.

How to keep screens in good shape

Inspect each spring. Check every screen before you open windows for the season.
Clean gently. Wash screens with mild soap and water and a soft brush, then rinse and let them dry before reinstalling.
Store or protect them. If you remove screens for winter, label them by window and store them flat and dry.
Fix small problems early. A small hole patched now won’t become a large tear later.
Check screen doors. Adjust closers and latches so the door shuts fully.

Screens are one of many items we check during a home buyer’s inspection and our fall home checkup.

Window screen repair: common questions

Can I repair a window screen myself?

Yes, in most cases. Rescreening a standard window screen takes basic tools: new mesh, spline, a spline roller and a utility knife. Larger patio door screens are harder to keep tight and may be easier to take to a shop.

Should I repair or replace a torn screen?

If the frame is straight and solid, replacing the mesh is usually enough. If the frame is bent or broken, replace the whole screen.

Are missing screens a builder issue on a new home?

Often, yes. If screens are part of the window package, report missing or damaged screens to the builder before closing or during the warranty period.

Should a basement window in a window well have a screen?

Not always. Animals that fall into an uncovered window well often tear the screen trying to get out. A window well cover is the best fix. Without one, leaving the screen off may make more sense, as long as the window stays easy to open for escape.

Do window screens keep children from falling?

No. Screens are designed to keep insects out, not to hold weight. Use window stops or window guards with an emergency release instead.

Torn or Missing Window Screens: Repair, Replacement and Safety Tips