If you live in British Columbia, you already know the trade-off: you want every window open for that cool evening breeze, but the moment you do, the mosquitoes, flies, and (in some neighbourhoods) spiders and rodents come right in with it. A well-built window screen is the single cheapest upgrade that lets you actually use your windows.
This guide walks through everything a BC homeowner should know before ordering — so you get a screen that fits perfectly, lasts for years, and stands up to a coastal, valley, or wildfire-zone climate.
Why custom-built beats big-box
Most window screens sold at hardware chains come in a handful of standard sizes. The problem is that almost no window in a BC home is a "standard" size. Older Vancouver casements, 1970s Tri-Cities subdivisions, new Fraser Valley builds, and laneway homes all use different opening dimensions. A screen that's even 1/8" too small rattles in the wind; one that's too large simply won't fit.
A custom-built screen is made to your exact opening, measured to 1/8" precision. It slides in cleanly, seals tightly, and won't pop out in a storm. It's also built with the frame colour, mesh type, and hardware that suit your home — not whatever the box store happens to stock.
Explore our custom window screens →
Choosing the right mesh
The mesh is the heart of the screen. The three families you'll see in BC:
- Standard fiberglass — the everyday choice. Good visibility, keeps out flies and mosquitoes, and is the most affordable.
- Metal mesh (pet & rodent resistant) — woven steel or aluminum that resists claws, teeth, and impacts. Essential for ground-floor units, laneway homes, and properties near greenbelt where rodents are a real issue.
- Ember-resistant metal mesh — fine metal mesh designed to resist flying embers in wildfire-exposed areas. Increasingly relevant for homes on the North Shore, in the Fraser Valley, and anywhere backing onto forest.
Not sure which you need? If you have pets, kids, or a ground-floor unit near bushes, metal mesh pays for itself the first time a cat doesn't tear through your screen.
Compare mesh options on our metal mesh screens →
Frame colour and finish
Your screen frame is visible from inside and out, so it should match your windows. We build in a range of powder-coated frame colours — white, brown, bronze, black, and more — so the screen blends with your window trim rather than standing out as a grey rectangle.
Measuring: the part that matters most
A custom screen is only as good as the measurements behind it. You need the width and height of the opening to 1/8" precision, taken from the inside of the frame channel where the screen sits.
If you're comfortable with a tape measure, our measuring guide walks you through it step by step — including how to handle fractional measurements like 34 1/2".
Not confident? That's exactly what our free in-home measurement service is for. We come to your home across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley and take every measurement for you.
DIY vs. professional installation
Custom screens are designed to drop into your existing frame — so if your openings are square and your measurements are right, installing them yourself takes minutes. We have a full DIY resource for homeowners who want to do it themselves.
Choose professional installation when:
- Your frames are older or out of square
- You're replacing screens on a second story or hard-to-reach window
- You'd simply rather not climb a ladder
Pricing in BC
Pricing is by the square foot, with a base price per screen and surcharges for frame upgrades and metal mesh. Because we build to order, you only pay for exactly what you need — no rounding up to the next "standard" size.
Turnaround and delivery across BC
Every screen is hand-built in our Coquitlam workshop, with most orders ready in 5–7 business days from confirmed measurements. Pick up free at our workshop, ship anywhere in BC or Alberta, or choose measure-and-install across the Lower Mainland.
Find your city in our service area directory — we serve the entire Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley.
The bottom line
A custom-built window screen is a small investment that changes how you use your home in summer. Get the mesh right, measure to 1/8", and order from someone who builds each one by hand. Ready to start? Get a quote or browse our screens.