The good news is that small holes in a screen can be easily repaired. If you have saved some old screening, great! If not, go to the hardware store and buy a small piece. If you do not use all of the screening be sure to roll the left over piece and save it. Now measure the hole you would like to repair. Cut the patch 1 inch in diameter larger then the hole. Remove the strands from all four sides of the patch for a distance of ½ inch on each side. Bend the remaining ends forward on all four sides. Insert the strands into the screen so that the patch covers the hole. On the side where the strands are sticking through the screen fold the strands over toward the center of the patch. For aluminum screening that is all you need to do. If you are patching a plastic screen you may need a small amount of glue to hold the strands in place.
           
For larger holes replacement is probably your best option. If the screen is in an old wood frame the process is simple.

1.         Remove the old screening and clean the frame. If it needs painting, then this is a good time to do that.

2.         It is important to stretch the new screening tight.

3.         Cut the new screening 1 inch wider and 1 inch longer then the frame.

4.         Staple the screening across the top edge of the frame.

5.         Take a 1 X 1 piece of wood that is longer then the bottom of the screen and place it at the bottom of the frame. Tack the bottom of the screen to the 1 X 1 piece of wood and roll the wood up across the back of the screen tightening the screen evenly across the bottom. When the screen is as tight as you can make it, without endangering the screen, staple the screen across the bottom. Repeat this process for the sides of the screen.

The process is different for an aluminum frame screen.

1.         Being careful not to kink the old frame, remove the splining (strips of rubber) that are holding the old screen in place. For replacement purposes vinyl is a better product.

2.         Use a square and make sure that the frame is in good shape. If the frame has warped you will need to square it again following the manufacturers directions.

3.         Cut the replacement screening to the manufacturers directions.

4.         Force the edges of the screening into the channels on the top and side of the screen using a screen/spline installation tool. Be use it is the right size for the frame.

5.         Cut the screening to fit the two remaining sides. Use the outside of the channel as your cutting guide. Cut off any excess screening,

Kits are available at most hardware stores for installing the screening and splining. They are not expensive and make the job very easy.

Painting wooden screen frames.

1.         Use the same color paint as the window frame.

2.         Paint lightly so that the screen will fit back into the frame will fit back into the window.

3.         Do not paint the screening.