Rescreening a Porch: What It Costs and What to Expect

A screened porch is one of Atlanta’s great home comforts. You get shade, airflow, and the sweet relief of bug-free evenings. Over time, screens sag, tear, or pull free from the frames. Pollen, pets, and weather do their part. If you’re noticing frayed edges or a few gnats sneaking through, it’s time to talk about rescreening. Here’s a clear, Atlanta-focused look at costs, materials, the process, and how porch repairs tie in when the structure needs more than fresh mesh.

The short version: cost ranges in Atlanta

Most homeowners in Atlanta pay between $900 and $2,800 to rescreen a porch, with typical mid-size spaces landing around $1,400 to $2,000. That range assumes basic frame repair and standard screen materials. Larger wraparound porches, custom wood trim, or heavy structural issues can push costs above $3,500. If your porch combines a gable roof with tall, open bays, count on additional labor for ladder work and taller panels.

Material choice matters. Fiberglass screen is common and wallet-friendly. Polyester screen handles pets and children better but costs more. Aluminum is durable and crisp-looking, though it can dent. Specialty options like copper-bronze and stainless stand up to coastal conditions and abuse, but they are premium choices and rarely necessary in metro Atlanta. You pay by the square foot for screen material and by the hour for labor, with extra line items for spline, trim, fasteners, and porch repairs if framing is compromised.

Why rescreening is overdue more often than you think

Screens do not fail all at once. A small tear starts near a door. A corner pulls loose behind a planter. One panel bows after a storm. You adapt, then you stop using the porch after dusk because mosquitoes find the gap every time. We see this pattern across neighborhoods like Grant Park, Decatur, and Sandy Springs. Homeowners wait until there are five problems at once. At that point, rescreening the porch in one visit is more efficient than patching panel by panel.

Aside from bugs, torn or slack screens look tired from the street. If you plan to list a home in Morningside or Kirkwood, clean, tight screens photograph well and give the porch a finished look. Appraisers may not add a line item for screens alone, but buyers notice a porch that feels clean and sealed off from pests.

Material choices that fit Atlanta’s climate

Fiberglass screen is the workhorse in our area. It resists corrosion, handles flexing, and hides small flaws. It comes in charcoal and gray, with charcoal reading clearer when you look out from the porch. Aluminum screen is stiffer and looks sharp, but it can crease under impact. If you have active kids or a big dog that leans, polyester or a pet-grade screen makes sense. It costs more but saves you from doing this again next year.

For pollen season, people ask about tighter weaves. You can install “no-see-um” screen with a finer mesh that reduces tiny bugs and some pollen. The trade-off is airflow. On a still July afternoon in Atlanta, airflow matters. If your porch sits under shade with limited breeze, consider standard fiberglass for most bays and add finer mesh only to windward sides. That balance keeps the porch comfortable while limiting pollen drift.

If your porch faces strong sun, charcoal screen tends to cut glare and provides a subtle privacy effect from the street. Aluminum reflects more and can look brighter. Neither alternative eliminates the need for shade or fans, but the right choice improves comfort.

How to estimate your porch rescreen cost

Measure the visible screen areas, not the entire porch footprint. A typical 12-by-16-foot porch with three sides of screen might have 120 to 180 square feet of mesh area, depending on post spacing and knee-wall height. Multiply by the material cost per square foot and add labor.

In Atlanta, fiberglass screen material often falls between $0.50 and $1.00 per square foot, aluminum at $0.80 to $1.50, and pet-grade polyester at $2.00 to $3.50. Specialty options can run higher. Labor is the larger factor. Access, height, number of small panels, out-of-square frames, and weathered trim add time. Older porches, especially ones in Virginia-Highland or Cabbagetown, often need more prep because existing spline channels are worn, staples are buried, and trim has paint build-up.

Expect add-ons for spline, new base cap or stop molding, screen door repair, and paint touch-ups. If a screen door drags or the latch is misaligned, we fix that during the same visit. It’s cheaper to address those items during a rescreen than to call for a separate repair.

What happens during a professional rescreen

On a standard Atlanta porch, a two-person crew completes most jobs in a day. Larger spaces may take two days. We start by removing old spline and screen, then inspecting the framing. If wood is soft, cracked, or twisted, rescreening without repairs is a short-term fix. We recommend addressing porch repairs before mesh goes back up.

We tune up or replace the screen door sweep, adjust hinges, and check handle alignment. Then we install the new screen, set the spline in tidy, straight channels, and trim excess. Finally, we reattach or replace any stop molding and touch up paint if that was part of the scope.

Your role is simple. Clear furniture and plants a few feet from the screened walls and move grills away from work areas. Pets should be indoors during the stretch-and-spline step, or they will think it is a game. We bring ladders, drop cloths, and vacuum attachments to collect old spline bits and staples.

Porch repairs that often accompany rescreening

Screen replacement exposes hidden issues, especially on porches older than 15 years. Sun, rain, and sway cause hairline cracks at joints. Fasteners rust and lose grip. We routinely find three categories of porch repairs:

• Structural tune-ups: loose posts, racked corner framing, or out-of-square openings that make the screen pucker.
• Surface wood damage: rot at the sill or base plates where water pools, often behind planters or under downspouts.
• Hardware wear: sagging screen doors, corroded hinges, or missing closer pins that cause the door to slam and tear screens.

If rot is confined to a small section, a splice repair and epoxy consolidation may be enough. If the sill shows deep decay, plan on partial replacement. On porches in flood-prone backyards or where sprinklers hit the wall daily, we may suggest a composite base cap to avoid repeating the same repair in two years. These fixes add cost but prevent a new screen from failing due to movement or water exposure.

Timelines by neighborhood conditions

In-town Atlanta homes often have tight setbacks, narrow side yards, and limited street parking for trailers. We account for access and hauling time. In suburbs like Roswell or Smyrna, access is easier, which can reduce labor time slightly. Meanwhile, lake-adjacent or heavily wooded lots see more insect pressure and higher moisture. We pay extra attention to sealing and fastener choice on those jobs. The work itself is the same, but conditions change how long the rescreen lasts.

If your porch is part of an older bungalow with historic trim, we work more carefully at the molding. Many of those profiles are no longer off-the-shelf. We preserve what we can and replicate as needed. That careful approach takes longer and influences cost.

Screen doors: repair, adjust, or replace

Most porch complaints start with the door. A misaligned door scrapes, slams, and tears screens around the frame. Before we stretch new mesh, we square and shim the door, replace tired hinges, and set a proper closer tension. A new closer costs little but saves the screen from repeated shock.

If the door frame is twisted or the stile is cracked, replacement is the right call. Standard aluminum doors are affordable and light. Wood doors look great but need maintenance, especially on southwest exposures. We seal end grain, adjust the strike plate, and add a simple threshold or sweep to keep bugs out at the base.

Spline and channels: the details that keep screens tight

A clean spline channel makes a tight, even screen. Old paint drips, rusted staples, and deformed tracks cause waves and puckers. We clean channels before setting new spline. Size matters here. Using spline that is too small invites pull-outs during the first windy day. Using spline that is too large risks cracking the frame or stretching the screen unevenly. On older wood frames with inconsistent channels, we sometimes replace the trim with a modern system that holds the screen more reliably.

Weather and season: the best time to rescreen in Atlanta

Spring fills our phones. So does early fall. If you want fast scheduling, late winter is ideal because pollen has not yet arrived. Summer is fine, but humidity makes screen more elastic during install, which we account for in the tension. Rain delays are rare unless we have exposed framing or are applying exterior paint and caulk as part of porch repairs.

If you host a graduation party or a family visit, tell us your date. We can prioritize short jobs or split a large one into two visits so your porch is usable when guests arrive.

Do-it-yourself versus hiring a pro

If your porch has two or three panels and they are close to the ground, DIY can work with patience. Expect to spend on screen rolls, spline, a spline tool, utility blades, and possible trim replacement. The most common DIY issues are over-stretching, cutting too short near corners, and waviness from uneven tension. Tall panels add ladder work and increase risk. If you have a 10-foot bay or a second-story screen, hire it out.

Many of our calls come after a DIY attempt where the spline will not hold because the channel is chewed up from previous removals. At that point, you are doing porch repairs as much as rescreening. A pro will switch to a different spline size, rebuild the channel, or replace the stop. The right fix depends on the condition of the wood or aluminum and the look you want.

Costs you can avoid with smart prep

You can save money by handling a few tasks before crews local deck post repair arrive. Clear the porch perimeter so we have open access. Remove stapled holiday lights or hooks from the screen frame so we do not have to work around them. If vines have grown into the screen, trim them a few days before so they dry out and release. Confirm that outdoor outlets work so we can run tools without trailing cords through the house. Quick prep keeps labor focused on the rescreen and any porch repairs that matter.

How long a new screen should last

With fiberglass, expect five to ten years depending on sun exposure, pets, and traffic. Aluminum can last longer if it avoids dents. Pet-grade polyester often outlasts fiberglass under rough use. The biggest factor is structure. If the frame moves, a fresh screen stretches, then sags. That is why we stress minor framing work and solid door alignment during a rescreen. Solid structure means a tighter screen for a longer period.

We also suggest adding door protector strips or kick plates if kids push the screen when opening. A small add-on saves the lower panel from the daily bump.

What you see during the job: a normal day on site

We set up with drop cloths and small parts bins so old spline and staples do not scatter into the yard. If we are replacing trim, we cut it outside on sawhorses to keep dust away from seating areas. Old material goes straight into bags. You will hear modest tapping as we set spline and light sanding if we clean up channel edges. We test each door two or three times and ask you to check the swing. We finish by walking the perimeter from inside and outside to check tension and sight lines.

Common Atlanta-specific issues and how we address them

Red clay stains show up low on screen where soil splashes. We cut the new screen slightly above grade if the porch sits close to the ground, then add a small base kick trim to reduce splash-back. Pine pollen season leaves a film that clings to certain weaves. A quick rinse with a hose and a fan nozzle helps. Use low pressure. Power washers can pop spline if the angle is wrong.

Squirrels are a wildcard. They can chew through standard screen when determined, often near a corner where the frame offers a grip. If you have repeat squirrel issues, consider a narrow band of heavy-gauge screen along the base or a hidden deterrent strip. It is not common, but we see it in tree-heavy lots in Druid Hills and Dunwoody.

Permits and HOA requirements

Rescreening alone rarely needs a permit in Atlanta. Structural porch repairs may, especially if we replace posts, add beams, or alter the roof tie-in. HOAs in planned communities sometimes require a simple notice if the color or design changes. Color usually refers to trim paint and screen doors. Charcoal screen reads neutral and almost invisible from the street, which satisfies most guidelines. If you are in a historic district, match existing profiles and paint sheen. We can provide photos and scope notes if the board requests them.

A realistic look at price examples

A small, three-panel porch in East Atlanta with standard fiberglass: $950 to $1,300, including door tune-up and minor trim replacement.

These numbers reflect current Atlanta market labor and materials. Lumber prices swing. Availability of pet-grade screen varies by season. If you collect multiple quotes, compare the scope line by line. A low number that skips repair allowances often grows once the crew discovers soft wood.

The quiet value of an accurate inspection

Before any rescreen in Atlanta, we look for three signs that justify porch repairs during the same visit: soft wood at the base where splash hits, out-of-square openings that cause waviness, and loose rail connections. Fix those, and the new screen sits tight with straight edges. Skip them, and you end up calling again after the next storm loosens a corner.

We also check the roof drip line. If rainwater cascades onto the screen wall, the lower trim rots. A small gutter extension or a diverter is cheap insurance. This is the unglamorous part of porch work, but it determines whether your rescreen lasts five years or twelve.

What makes an Atlanta porch feel finished after rescreening

Two small details elevate the result. First, consistent fastener style and placement across the porch. Mixed screws and uneven spacing look sloppy. Second, fresh paint or stain on base cap and stops after install. Even a quick coat makes the screen disappear and the trim look intentional. If your porch floor has hairline cracks or peeling paint, consider addressing that at the same time. A clean surface makes the screened space feel like an outdoor room, not a back step.

How Heide Contracting handles rescreening and porch repairs

We focus on clarity and practical timing. You get a written scope with screen material, spline size, trim details, and any repair allowances. We quote a firm price when conditions are visible, and a fair range when we expect hidden rot or warped channels. We bring the right ladders for tall panels and keep a stock of common hinges, closers, and handle sets on the truck, which saves a second trip.

Every porch in Atlanta is a little different. Some run hot, some stay damp, some carry historic charm that deserves care. We match materials to the conditions you live with, not a one-size-fits-all kit. That means straighter screens, fewer callbacks, and a porch you actually use on weeknights.

Simple homeowner checkup before you call

• Walk the perimeter and note tears, loose corners, and door drag points.
• Press gently on lower trim to check for soft spots.
• Look up: where does rainwater land, and does it splash the base?
• Measure approximate panel count and height for a faster estimate.
• Take two photos per side so we can spot issues remotely.

These quick notes help us price your rescreen accurately and plan for any porch repairs we might need to tackle during the same visit.

Ready to bring your porch back to life?

If your screens are sagging, the door sticks, or you are swatting mosquitoes by the porch light, it is time. Heide Contracting rescreens porches across Atlanta, from Midtown condos with small balconies to large family porches in Johns Creek. We fix what needs fixing, keep what is sound, and leave you with clean sight lines and a tighter seal against bugs. Tell us your neighborhood, share a few photos, and we will quote promptly. Book your rescreen and porch repairs today, and enjoy your evenings outside again.