If you notice a small hole or tear in a screen, patching it before it grows larger will prevent you from having to replace it. To glue a patch over a small hole in a fiberglass screen, cut a small patch from extra screen. Use epoxy or acetone-type glue and layer the glue until the tear is filled.
For a tear in metal screen fabric, cut a patch of metal screening that is larger than the tear. Unravel the sides, bend the end wires at a right angle, and push them through. Then bend them flat to hold the patch.
You can also remove a damaged screen and take it to a glass dealer for repair. Or, you can repair it yourself—this is especially easy to do with an aluminum-frame screen:
1) Pry out the vinyl splines that hold the fabric (use a screwdriver or chisel) and pull out the old screen fabric.
2) Cut new fiberglass screen mesh large enough to extend to the outer edges of the frame and lay it over the frame.
(3) Using a spline roller, force the fabric into the empty channel along one side of the frame.
4) Lock it in place by pushing the spline back into the channel with the concave wheel of the roller.
5) Pull the screen fabric taut and repeat along the other sides.
6) Trim off the excess fabric, using a utility knife.
