Services
Custom window screens
A-Affordable Screen makes new window screens to measure for any window in your Reno-Sparks home, whether the old screen is missing, bent beyond saving or never came with the window. We measure on site and give you a free quote before anything is built.
Updated · A-Affordable Screen, Sparks
When you need a new screen, not a repair
Insect screens let you open a window without letting bugs, leaves and blowing debris in. Over time a screen may get bent, pick up small holes and cuts, or fade and discolor. Many of those screens can be saved with new mesh through rescreening. A new screen is the answer when there is nothing left to save.
- The screen is missing, which is common in homes that changed hands or had windows replaced
- The frame is bent, twisted or cracked at the corners
- The screen was cut down or pieced together and no longer fits snugly
- You want every window to match after years of one-off replacements
- You want a different mesh, such as pet-resistant mesh
Made to fit your window
Window screens are not one size. Two windows that look the same can differ by a fraction of an inch, and older homes often have openings that were never standard. We measure each window opening on site, note how the screen mounts, and build the frame to that size so it sits flat and closes the gaps insects use to get in. If you want a rough count first, our guide on how to measure window screens shows where to put the tape.
A window screen frame is typically cut from metal frame stock and joined with corner keys, then filled with the mesh you choose and locked in place with spline in the frame groove. The hardware that holds the screen in the window, such as tension springs, pull tabs or retainer clips, is matched to the way your window is made.
What we note at each window
- Width and height of the opening, checked at more than one point
- How the screen mounts: a channel, tension springs, pull tabs or clips
- Whether it goes in from inside the house or from outside
- The frame color that best matches the window and trim
- Anything in the way, such as shrubs, security bars or a window well
Choosing the mesh
You have two mesh choices, and many homes mix them: standard fiberglass insect mesh on most windows and pet-resistant mesh where the cat sits. We bring samples so you can compare them in your own light. For hot glass that stays shut in summer, solar screens are a separate product.
| Mesh | Strength | Visibility and airflow | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard fiberglass (typically an 18 by 16 weave) | Flexible and will not dent, but can tear if pushed or clawed | Good view and airflow | Most windows |
| Pet-resistant (typically vinyl-coated polyester) | Much tougher against claws and paws | Thicker strands, so a little less clear | Low windows and doors that pets reach, see pet screens |
Weaves and grades vary by maker, so these are typical figures. Our guide to screen mesh types goes deeper.
Homes of every age
Reno-Sparks has a wide spread of housing ages, and the screen work changes with it. Census figures show that central Sparks ZIP 89431 has a median build year of 1973, with 69 percent of homes built before 1980. Many of those windows still have original-era screens, or none at all, and their openings are often not a stock size.
At the other end, ZIP 89521 in South Reno has 76 percent of its homes built since 2000, and Spanish Springs has a median build year of 2002. Newer homes tend to have larger windows and patio doors, and screens that came with the house are reaching the age where sun and wind start to show. Either way, each opening is measured, so the new screen fits the window you have.
Why screens wear out faster here
The Reno-Sparks valley sits around 4,400 feet, and the EPA notes that UV radiation rises about 2 percent with every 1,000 feet of elevation. Strong sun breaks down screen materials over the years, which is why the sunny side of a house usually shows faded, brittle mesh first.
Wind is the other factor. NOAA's hourly climate normals for Reno-Tahoe International Airport show summer afternoon winds averaging about 13 miles per hour, mostly from the west. A loose screen that rattles in its opening will work its way out, bend, or blow off entirely. A screen built to the right size with the right hardware stays put.
Gusts are the real test. From 2016 to 2025 the airport averaged about 45 days a year with a gust of 40 miles per hour or more, and the strongest gust in that stretch was 78 miles per hour in November 2020. Those are the days when a loose screen ends up in the yard, and a snug one stays in the window.
Getting a house ready to sell or rent
Missing and torn screens are easy to stop noticing when you live with them, but they stand out to someone walking through a house for the first time. A full set of matching, tight screens is one of the small details that makes a home look cared for at a showing or a move-in.
Listing prep and rental turnovers often turn up a handful of problems at once: two screens missing, one bent from a move, a few faded on the sunny side. We can measure every window in one visit and quote new screens and rescreens together, so the whole house matches when the job is done.
A safety note for families
A window screen is made to keep insects out. It is not made to hold the weight of a child or a pet leaning against it. On upper-floor windows, window stops or guards and keeping furniture away from the sill do more for safety than any screen can.
Signs a screen is not doing its job
- Bugs get in even with the screen in place
- Daylight shows around the edges of the screen
- The screen rattles or hums in the afternoon wind
- It falls out when the window is opened or closed
- The mesh looks hazy, chalky or discolored
- Screens sit in the garage because they no longer fit
Before you call
- Count screens by size. Group windows that look alike. We still measure each one.
- Look at the mounting. Note whether screens sit in a channel, use springs, or clip on from outside.
- Keep old frames and hardware, even bent ones, so we can see how they mounted.
- Think about pets and bugs. Tell us where cats climb or dogs push on screens, so we bring the right mesh samples.
How new screens get made
- Call or text. Tell us roughly how many screens you need and where.
- Free on-site measure. We measure each opening, note how it mounts and show mesh and frame samples.
- Quote. You get a price for the screens you choose, with senior, military, referral and multi-window discounts applied. Installation carries a lifetime warranty and solar screen material a 20-year warranty, see our warranty page.
- Build. Frames are cut to size, joined at the corners and filled with your mesh.
- Fit and check. Each screen is set in its window and checked for a snug fit with the right springs, tabs or clips.
Price
What affects the price
- Number of screens. Doing the whole house at once can qualify for the multi-window discount.
- Size. Large screens take stiffer frame stock and sometimes a cross brace.
- Mesh. Pet-resistant mesh costs more than standard fiberglass.
- Mounting hardware. Springs, pull tabs and clips are matched to each window type.
- Shape. Arched and odd-shaped windows take more work than rectangles.
- Upper floors. Screens that go in from outside on a second story take more time and ladders.
Every price is quoted after the free on-site measure. Our cost guide covers published ranges and what drives them.
Reno-Sparks
Screens and the Reno-Sparks summer
Summer nights here cool off fast. NOAA's normals for Reno-Tahoe International Airport show June through August highs and lows about 33 degrees apart, so a July day that peaks near 94 drops to about 60 overnight. That is when open windows do the most, and when a well-fitted screen matters.
Evenings are also mosquito time. In 2024 Northern Nevada Public Health found West Nile virus in mosquito samples from ZIP codes 89436 (Spanish Springs and north Sparks) and 89521 (South Reno) and advised installing protective screens on doors and windows. NNPH treats mosquito season as May through September. Our mosquito season guide has more.
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, Reno-Tahoe International Airport; Northern Nevada Public Health, August 27, 2024; CDC, Preventing Mosquito Bites; U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-year.
Keeping window screens in shape
- Rinse screens with a hose once or twice a year and let them dry before they go back in
- Between washes, vacuum dust off with a soft brush attachment
- Lift screens out by the tabs or the frame, never by pushing on the mesh
- Store removed screens flat or on edge, with nothing heavy on top
- Check springs and clips each spring, before mosquito season starts
- Fix small tears early, since the CDC advises repairing holes in screens to keep mosquitoes outdoors
Reviews
What customers say
“Excellent work and fast too! I'm very happy with my new screens! They were easy to communicate with and very responsive to my needs!”
“Larry was very friendly and helpful. He got us the screen we needed within a day and it fits perfectly. Thank you!”
“Replaced four window screens screens and a sliding door.Very fair pricing, competency and very pleasant to deal with. What more can you want?”
Questions
Straight answers
Can you make a screen for a window that never had one?
Usually, yes, as long as the window has a place for a screen to mount. We check that when we measure.
Can I measure my own windows?
You can for a rough idea, but we measure on site before building so the final screens fit. Small errors are the most common reason a screen falls out or lets bugs in.
Do new screens come in colors?
Frame and mesh options vary. We show you what is available when we measure, so you can match the windows and trim.
Is it cheaper to rescreen?
Rescreening an old frame usually costs less than a new screen when the frame is still straight and sound. We will tell you which way makes sense for each window.
What mesh can I choose for my window screens?
Standard fiberglass insect mesh or pet-resistant mesh. Standard suits most windows, and pet mesh suits low windows where cats climb or dogs push. We bring samples to the free on-site measure.
Why does my screen keep blowing out?
A screen that blows out is usually loose in its opening or missing a spring or clip. A screen built to the measured size with matched hardware stays put. Our guide to Washoe Zephyr wind explains the afternoon wind pattern.
Do you make screens for older windows?
Yes. Older windows often have openings that were never a standard size, which is exactly why we measure each one on site before building.
Related
Related services
Custom Window Screens across Reno-Sparks
Sources: U.S. EPA, A Guide to the UV Index (EPA 430-F-04-020) (opens in a new tab) · NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Reno-Tahoe International Airport) (opens in a new tab) · Northern Nevada Public Health, NNPH detects West Nile Virus in mosquitos in Northern Nevada (August 27, 2024) (opens in a new tab) · U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Preventing Mosquito Bites (opens in a new tab)
Since 1997 · Sparks, Nevada
Ready for a free quote?
Call or text us. Or leave your details and we call or text you back.
Monday-Friday 8:00 am-4:00 pm
We come to you anywhere in the Reno-Sparks area to measure and quote, at no charge.
