Windows and flyscreens are easy to ignore until something goes wrong. A torn flyscreen lets mosquitoes and flies in on a summer evening. A sliding window that grinds or will not lock is a security worry. A winder that has stripped means a window stays shut in a heatwave. Around Cranbourne, with hot summers, insects from nearby wetlands and paddocks, and plenty of pets that push through screens, these repairs are some of the most common requests we get.

We repair windows, flyscreens and screen doors for homes, rentals and small businesses across Cranbourne and the surrounding suburbs.

Window and screen repairs we do

• Rescreening torn or damaged flyscreens
• Repairing or replacing flyscreen frames
• Replacing flyscreen corners, springs and pull tabs
• Upgrading to pet-resistant or heavier-duty mesh
• Replacing sliding window rollers
• Replacing sliding screen door rollers and tracks
• Replacing window locks, latches and keyed locks
• Replacing awning window winders and chain winders
• Replacing window seals and weather strips
• Freeing stiff or painted-shut windows
• Re-glazing beads and minor fittings (glass replacement by a glazier)
• Fitting window restrictors for child safety

Flyscreens

Most flyscreens are aluminium frames with fibreglass mesh held in a channel by a rubber spline. Rescreening involves removing the old spline and mesh, laying new mesh across the frame, rolling in new spline and trimming the excess. Done properly, the mesh is tight and wrinkle-free.

Mesh options include:

• Standard fibreglass, which suits most windows
• Pet mesh, which is thicker and resists claws and paws
• Aluminium mesh, which is stronger than fibreglass
• Fine insect mesh, which keeps out midges and small insects

Bent or broken frames can often be straightened or repaired with new corners. Badly damaged frames may need replacing.

Sliding windows and doors

Aluminium sliding windows and screen doors run on rollers in a track. When rollers wear out or tracks fill with dirt and grit, they grind, stick and can come off the track. Cleaning the track and replacing rollers usually fixes the problem. We identify the roller type from the frame brand and profile.

Awning windows

Awning windows open outwards using a winder. Winders strip, and chain winders can jam or break. We replace winders and chains with compatible parts. Some older or discontinued brands need a universal replacement.

Window locks and security

Victorian rental minimum standards include requirements for locks on external windows that can be opened. Window locks also help with home security and insurance requirements. We fit keyed and non-keyed window locks to aluminium and timber windows and replace broken latches.

Child safety

Falls from windows are a real risk for young children. Victorian building regulations require certain openable windows in new homes to be restricted where there is a significant fall height. For existing homes, especially bedrooms and upper floors, window restrictors limit how far windows open. We fit restrictors that still allow ventilation. Moving furniture away from windows also reduces climbing risk.

Seals and draughts

Worn window seals let in draughts, noise and dust. Replacing seals and weather strips is an inexpensive way to improve comfort, especially on windy days in Clyde, Lang Lang and Koo Wee Rup. See silicone and caulking for sealing frames.

Timber windows

Older homes may have timber double-hung or casement windows. These can stick from paint build-up, swelling or worn sash cords. We free stiff windows, replace sash cords and repair minor timber damage. See carpentry for rotten sills.

Glass

Broken glass should be replaced by a licensed glazier. We can make windows temporarily safe after breakage and then fit fittings and seals once glass is replaced.

Common window types around Cranbourne

Homes across the area use a mix of window styles, and the repairs differ.

• Aluminium sliding windows are the most common in project homes. Rollers, tracks, locks and flyscreens are the usual repairs.
• Awning windows open outward with a winder. They are common in bathrooms, laundries and kitchens. Winders and stays wear out.
• Double-hung windows slide up and down and are common in older and heritage-style homes. Sash cords and balances fail.
• Casement windows swing open like a door. Hinges and stays need adjustment.
• Louvre windows have glass blades that tilt. Their operators break and blades can loosen. Older louvres are hard to secure.
• Fixed windows do not open but may have seals and beads that need attention.

Screen doors

Sliding screen doors take more punishment than window flyscreens. They are pushed, pulled, run into by children and pets, and slammed shut. Common problems include torn mesh, broken handles, worn rollers, bent frames and doors jumping off the track. We rescreen, replace rollers and handles, straighten frames where possible, and adjust the door so it runs straight. Security screen doors with steel mesh need specialist parts and sometimes a security door supplier.

Insects and mesh choice

Cranbourne sits close to wetlands, retarding basins and farmland, and summer evenings can bring mosquitoes, moths and flies. In Koo Wee Rup and Lang Lang, surrounded by drainage channels and farmland, insects are even more common. Intact flyscreens on every openable window let you ventilate the house at night without insects coming in. Standard mesh suits most windows; fine mesh helps with midges and very small insects.

Ventilation and cooling

On hot days followed by cool changes, opening windows at night to flush hot air from the house is an effective, free way to cool down. Windows that will not open, stiff winders and missing flyscreens get in the way. Getting every window working gives you more control over comfort, and window restrictors let you leave windows partly open safely.

Security

Window security involves more than locks. A few practical improvements:

• Keyed locks on ground-floor windows
• Restrictors on windows that open onto paths
• Lockable sliding door bolts
• Bars or security screens on high-risk windows
• Trimmed shrubs so windows are visible from the street

Victorian rental minimum standards require external windows that can be opened to have locks that secure them. We can fit compliant locks on most window types.

Seals and condensation

Condensation on windows in winter is common in well-sealed modern homes. It can cause mould on frames, sills and curtains. Better ventilation, using exhaust fans and wiping windows reduces it. Worn seals let cold air in but do not cause condensation themselves. If condensation is persistent, improving ventilation is usually the answer.

Old and discontinued window brands

Many window brands used in homes built in the 1980s and 1990s are no longer made. Finding exact replacement parts can be difficult. In many cases, compatible or universal parts are available, and we carry a range of common rollers and catches. Where nothing suitable is available, we can sometimes adapt hardware from another system.

Measuring flyscreens

To help us prepare, measure the width and height of each flyscreen frame (not the window opening) and note the colour of the frame. Photos of the frame corners and the way the screen sits in the window show us the type of frame.

Preparing for summer

Before the warm weather arrives, check every flyscreen for tears and gaps, test window locks and winders, and clean tracks. Fixing everything at once in spring is usually the most efficient approach.

Child safety and windows

Falls from windows are a serious risk for young children, particularly from upstairs bedrooms in double-storey homes, which are common in Clyde North, Cranbourne North and Botanic Ridge. Flyscreens are not designed to hold a child’s weight. Window restrictors that limit the opening to a small gap reduce the risk. Moving beds, cots and furniture away from windows also helps, since children climb. We fit restrictors that can be released by an adult for cleaning or emergencies.

Window furnishings

Blinds, curtains and shutters often go together with window repairs. We repair and replace blind brackets, refit curtain rails that have pulled out of plaster, and fit new rails using proper anchors. Looped blind cords pose a strangulation risk to young children; cord tensioners and cleats keep cords secured and out of reach.

Cleaning tracks and frames

Dirt in window tracks wears rollers and makes windows hard to open. A few times a year:

• Vacuum the tracks with a narrow nozzle.
• Wipe with a damp cloth and mild detergent.
• Clear the weep holes in the bottom track so rainwater drains.
• Lubricate with a dry silicone spray, not oil, which attracts dirt.

Blocked weep holes can cause water to pool in the track and overflow inside during heavy rain.

Glass

We do not replace glass. Cracked, broken or fogged double-glazed units need a glazier. We can make the window secure in the meantime and repair the frame, locks and screen once the glass is replaced.

Pet doors and pet mesh

Cats and dogs are hard on flyscreens. Pet-resistant mesh is thicker and stronger than standard mesh and handles claws much better. We can rescreen doors and low windows with pet mesh. Pet doors can be fitted into some screen doors; check whether the door frame is suitable first.

Where we work

We repair windows and flyscreens across Cranbourne, Cranbourne East, Cranbourne West, Clyde North, Lang Lang, Koo Wee Rup and our other service areas. Send photos of the screens or windows and their sizes through the quote form.

Frequently asked questions