Does window screen frame thickness matter? 5/16" vs 7/16"
The larger frames (7/16&quot;+) are sturdier when it comes to the screening of the frame (less tendency to bow inward when pulling screen material taut) and are generally sturdier due to larger/stronger corner inserts.
More important than frame dimension is the type of frame construction. You want frame material that is at least .020 aluminum, and you want mitered corners with aluminum corner inserts (as opposed to the cheesy plastic corner inserts designed to be used with straight-cut frame stock). Also, assuming fiberglass, I recommend 18 x 14 screen mesh versus lame (but commonly supplied for profit margin reasons) 18 x 16 mesh.
I feel that you should use the biggest and strongest frame material that your windows will accommodate mechanically and aesthetically.