The screens in your windows and doors are essential to keep bugs out and let air flow in. Unfortunately, these screens are susceptible to wear and tear, leading to unsightly gaps in your screen.

And if you’re a do-it-yourselfer, you’ll want to know exactly how that’s done. Repairing a screen in a door or window is dependent on two things: the size of the damage and the screen material.

Window and screen materials come in vinyl, fiberglass, or metal. You can easily identify the material by touch and sight.

• Vinyl and fiberglass screens – fabric-like and softer to the touch.
• Metal screens – stiff with sharp broken threads.

How to Patch Small Holes and Tears

Small holes and tears are the easiest to repair and can be done without buying new material.  

Vinyl and Fiberglass

All you will need for small holes in vinyl and fiberglass is some clear nail polish (or similar adhesive.)

1. Dab the polish (or other adhesive) over the damaged area.
2. Reapply until the hole is glued shut.

And that’s all there is to small repairs in vinyl and fiberglass screens.

Metal

For this material, you will need a silicone adhesive, a sewing needle, and a piece of extra material that you can cut from scrap or buy at a store.

1.  Apply the silicone over the hole until you’ve completely closed the gap. If this is successful, you can stop at this step.
2. If the hole is too large to seal with silicone, you will need to grab your needle and patch material.
3. Unravel a couple of metal strands from your scrap material and use them to thread your sewing needle.
4. Use this material to sew the gap shut.

Do not be afraid to apply gentle pressure when working with stubborn metal

How to Patch Large Holes and Tears

For gaps more than a couple of inches square, we’re going to need to do a real patch job.

Vinyl and Fiberglass

For this repair, we will need extra material and a silicone adhesive.

1. Cut a patch from your extra material 1 inch larger in all directions of the hole. You can easily measure this by placing your patch material over the gap before cutting.
2. Use your silicone adhesive to glue your material to the existing screen by applying it to the overlapping material.

Metal

For large holes and tears in metal screens, you will need extra material and tin snips.

1. Trim away the edges from the damaged area.
2. Cut a screen patch 1 inch larger than the gap.
3. Unravel the strands around the edges of the patch.
4. Weave the unraveled strands into the edges of the gap and bend the ends of the strands to secure them to the existing screen.

Need Help?

Are you struggling to patch your screens at home or simply finding the patches too unsightly? Then it’s time to call in the professionals.

Since 1970, Volpe Enterprises has helped people like you maintain their homes. As your leader for home repair in Bucks County, Chester County and Montgomery County, PA., we have what it takes to make your screens look like they were never damaged. Please contact us today so we can get to work.