Get matched with top screen repair technicians in Santa Fe, NM

If your winter looks like heavy snow, freezing rain, or frigid temperatures, taking your screens out for the season can be a great way to avoid mesh damage or bent frames. Ice can build up and put pressure on the screen, especially in older or aluminum frames. Removing them also lets in more natural light during those shorter winter days and makes it easier to keep your windows clean. In warmer climates, it’s less about protection and more about preference. Some homeowners like the clearer view while others leave them in for convenience. Either way works—it depends on your setup and what you value more.

A 12-foot-by-12-foot porch is a 144-square-foot porch. It costs about $5 to $7 per square foot to add a screen. So, you’ll likely pay between $700 and $1,000 to screen in your porch, depending on the type of screen you choose. If you’re starting from scratch, building a new 12-foot-by-12-foot screened-in porch will cost about $6,400 to $18,300.

If you only need a small repair for your window screen, it’s likely more cost-effective to repair rather than replace it. However, if you have to make the same repairs to a hole in the screen, for example, then it may be worth replacing the screen altogether. On the other hand, if the cost to make repairs to the screens or frames exceeds 50% of the cost to replace, you may want to consider replacing the window screens in question.

Most window screens in residential homes are designed to be removed from the inside, especially with double-hung, single-hung, and casement styles. That said, some setups require exterior removal. Older homes or custom installs may have exterior clips or brackets, and sunscreens are almost always mounted on the outside. Before removing your window screen, look at how it is held in place.