How Long Do Window Screens Last in Florida?

A window screen is a few parts that age at different rates, and the mesh is nearly always the first to go.

• Fiberglass mesh, the standard on most homes: about 5 to 10 years in full sun here, longer in shade. It fades, then turns stiff and brittle, then splits.
• Spline, the rubber cord that holds the mesh in its groove: dries out and shrinks in the heat, and often gives out around the same time as the mesh.
• Aluminum frames: the longest-lasting part, often 15 to 20 years or more, as long as they stay straight and the corners hold.
• Clips, pull tabs and tension springs: small parts that can break or go missing at any age.

So the honest answer is that a window screen frame usually outlasts its mesh, and a sound frame can take new mesh more than once.

Sun does most of the damage in Florida, but it is not the only thing. Window screens wear out sooner when:

• They face south or west and take the strongest sun all year
• The house is near the Gulf or the bay, where salt air corrodes aluminum frames and corners
• A dog or cat pushes on them or claws at the mesh
• They are taken out and put back often, which bends frames and loosens corners
• They get hit by a pressure washer, a ladder or lawn equipment
• A storm throws debris at them or pulls them out of the window

On windows that pets use, pet-resistant mesh stands up to claws far better than standard fiberglass. Our window screen mesh options page covers each type.

These signs mean the mesh is at the end of its life, even if the window screen looks fine from the street:

• The color has gone dull or blotchy, and the view out looks hazy
• The mesh feels stiff or crackles when it is pressed lightly
• Small splits are opening along the edges, where the mesh meets the frame
• New holes keep appearing after one has been patched
• The mesh bellies out or has come loose in long sections

Worn mesh does not mean a new window screen. If the frame is sound, window rescreening puts new mesh in the frame you already have, for less than a replacement.

Replace a window screen when the frame has reached the end of its life, not just the mesh. The signs:

• The aluminum has white powder, pitting or holes in it, which is common close to salt water
• Corners have cracked or keep coming apart after being rejoined
• The frame is creased or kinked, not just slightly bowed
• The frame has twisted out of square, so there are gaps around the edges
• It has been rescreened before and the frame is now the weak part

Window screen replacement means a new frame and new mesh built to the window. If you are not sure which one yours needs, our post on whether to repair, rescreen or replace a window screen goes through each case.

In older homes the window screens are often as old as the windows. Many have been patched for years, some no longer match each other, and one or two are usually missing. One visit can cover all of it: new mesh in the frames that are sound, replacement for the ones that are not, and custom window screens for the windows that have none.

When window screens are rescreened or replaced, the mesh does not have to be the same as before. Pet-resistant mesh is much thicker than standard fiberglass and is the usual choice on windows and doors that pets use. Solar mesh is a heavier weave that also cuts the heat coming through the window, which suits the sunny side of the house. No-see-um mesh has a tighter weave for homes near water where the small biting bugs get in.

Call us if:

• The mesh is faded, brittle or tearing on several window screens
• A frame is bent, a corner keeps splitting or the aluminum is corroding
• You are not sure whether a window screen needs new mesh or a new frame
• Window screens are missing, or do not match the rest of the house
• You want tougher mesh where pets are, or solar mesh on the sunny side