Here’s a trick to help you install screening flat and taut. Begin with a piece of screen that is a few inches longer than the frame. Staple it at one end. Take care to keep the weave even with the frame. Then staple the screen at the long end to a scrap of wood held tight to the frame. Stretch the screen by tilting the scrap against the frame. Staple the taut screen to the end of the frame. Now fasten the screen to the frame sides, and trim the screening to fit. Finally, replace any screen molding.Screening comes in fiberglass or several colors of aluminum wire. Aluminum is significantly stronger and usually a more durable product. Fiberglass is much easier to work with, especially when the screen is pressed into a channel and held in place with a vinyl spline strip (this is typical of metal frames). And fiberglass won’t corrode. So it may be a good choice in seacoast locations.

Tools and materials
- utility knife
- stapler
- screening
- replacement screen molding (as needed)
- scrap wood to stretch screening

If you have metal frame windows please use the tips from the article How to replace the screen on metal frame windows.

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