If you are looking for new or replacement window screens, you may be wondering "what screen is best for windows?" If you have begun researching, you will have likely already found that there are many different types of window screens and even more types of mesh available. For the person unfamiliar with window screen mesh, the number of choices can be overwhelming. Just a few examples include:
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Whether you are shopping for pre-made window screens or bulk window screen material, you have choices. These choices allow you to get more value out of your window screens.
For example, while most screen meshes offer basic insect screening protection, some mesh types will provide more outward visibility (UltraVue 2 and BetterVue) so you can take in the views from the comfort of your home. Other types might provide increased durability against pet and weather damage (pet screen and Super Screen), solar protection (Solar Screen), and air filitering for dust and other allergens (AllergyGuard). Other benefits can include security screening, increased airflow, and defense against tinier insects and no-see-ums.
Below are some of our most popular window screen materials and how they can benefit you.
Fiberglass window screen is the economy choice for window screens, screen doors, and porch enclosures. It is affordable and comes standard with most windows that are sold with a window screen.
Fiberglass can be used anywhere in your home, but it is best used for window screens. It does not provide the durability or strength that most people need for their sliding screen doors as well as porch screen enclosures.
Fiberglass is an economy option for most of our screen products. Shop our pre-framed window screens, sliding screen doors, porch panels, and fiberglass screen rolls.
Aluminum window screen offers enhanced durability when compared to fiberglass window screen, though it is less strong than stainless steel. It is sometimes called "tight" window screen because it can be easier to keep tight than fiberglass.
Aluminum screen mesh is best used in sliding screen doors but can also be used in window screens. It offers increased durability. For best visibility, choose charcoal or black aluminum screen.
Shop aluminum window screens, aluminum sliding screen doors, or aluminum screen rolls online.
For added strength and durability, Super Screen is your go-to option. Made from vinyl-coated polyester, this top-of-the-line screen replacement is three times stronger than standard fiberglass screen mesh.
Super Screen is a great option for patio screen mesh and is sometimes called "pool enclosure screen" because it is a popular choice for pool and porch screen mesh. Even so, it can also be used in screen doors and window screen. Because of Super Screen's strength and increased visibility compared to pet screen (see below), it is an excellent pet screen for windows.
Put simply, Super Screen can be used anywhere in your home where you want increased durability. We offer fixed-panel replacement window screens with Super Screen, sliding screen doors, and bulk screen rolls.
If you've ever given up on having screens because your pets destroy them almost as fast as you can replace them, pet screen may be the perfect solution. Our pet-resistant screen is made of vinyl-coated polyester and is 7 times stronger than fiberglass.
Pet-resistant screen can be used anywhere in your home. However, because of its decreased visibility (due to its enhanced strength), most customers do not use it for their new or replacement window screens. Many, though, do use it in their screen doors, porch enclosure panels, and catio/pet enclosure structures. We offer a variety of colors to match your home's architecture, so a pet enclosure or screen enclosure enhances or blends in with the aesthetic of your home.
One customer who gave our pet-resistant screen five stars said:
"Our six cats like to climb the screened walls of their catio. After nearly a year of abuse, there are no signs of wear. One day I looked out to see all three of our big male cats hanging on one section, determined to get a bird on the other side. No damage occurred. Truly a remarkable fabric and well worth the expense. The linen color has not faded in the West Texas sun and matches our beige stucco perfectly."
Shop our pet window screens, sliding screen doors, bulk screen rolls, or learn more about all of our pet products and accessories &#; we also offer pet screen doors!
If visibility, rather than durability, is your top priority, UltraVue or BetterVue may be the best mesh screen for your project. Both screen types provide the best outward visibility of any screen on the market. UltraVue 2 is best used in window screens, and BetterVue, which is stronger than UltraVue, is best for screen doors and porch enclosures.
In addition to increased outward visibility during sunny conditions, UltraVue and BetterVue feature water-shedding technology that keeps water from building up in your screen during wet weather conditions, and they also keep dirt build-up at bay for long-term visibility.
High-visibility screens can be used anywhere. Many people with million-dollar views put UltraVue in their picture windows, but anyone who wants crystal clear visibility will benefit from UltraVue. As mentioned, UltraVue is best for window screens but can be installed anywhere. BetterVue is best for places where greater durability is needed.
Shop our invisible window screens, bulk rolls of BetterVue, and our sliding screen doors &#; choose your mesh type at checkout.
When energy efficiency, sun glare, heat, or sun damage are issues, the it's time to shop solar screen. Solar screen comes in various strengths to block a percentage of the sun's UV rays and light. Benefits of solar screen include:
The stronger the solar protection, the darker and more opaque the screen will appear. Use the information below as a guide for choosing the right solar screen. You can also always contact us with your questions.
Solar screen fabric can be used anywhere in your home where you want to mitigate the effects of the sun - most commonly in window screens, sliding screen doors, and your porch enclosure.
We offer UV-blocking window screens, also called "dark window screens," as well as solar screen rolls, and sliding screen doors. Shop all these products online and contact us with any questions!
Nothing is worse than not being able to enjoy a beautiful day because your allergies are acting up. AllergyGuard has unique filtering technology that blocks pollen, pollution, dirt, dust, bacteria, and more from entering your space - meaning you can breathe freely with the windows wide open.
AllergyGuard can be used anywhere in your home, but keep in mind that because of its filtering structure, it may affect the visibility of your window, door, or enclosure. Remember, you don't have to use the same type of screen everywhere in your home - you can mix it up.
Shop our air quality solutions when you shop AllergyGuard window screen filter screens, AllergyGuard window screen filter screen doors, and our AllergyGuard screen rolls.
Brite Bronze is a copper screen mesh material that is designed for use on any home or business but is a great choice for vintage and historic buildings or homes on the coast. When first installed, it is a bright bronze color that fades to a deeper patina with time and wear.
Use Brite Bronze copper screen anywehre that you would install standard window screening in your home or business. It coordinated with copper architecture elements such as roofing, dormers, and gutters to give your home a nostalgic, elevated look.
Shop Brite Bronze copper window screens and copper mesh screen rolls, and contact us with any questions. We also offer rolls of pure copper screen that can be used in RFI shielding, Faraday cages, and other technical applications.
Tiny mesh can be installed anywhere in your home or business where you have window screens, a sliding screen, or porch panels. Because of its tight weave, it offers strength and durability for all applications and makes a suitable choice for pool, porch, and patio enclosures.
Buy no-see-um mesh rolls or shop our replacement window screens and sliding screen doors and select tiny mesh at checkout.
For more Stainless Steel Window Insect Screeninformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
We offer a couple stainless steel options. SeeVue Stainless Steel mesh is a fine mesh designed to provide enhanced durability and excellent visibility with other benefits.
We also offer 0.23-diameter stainless steel screen that is the most weather- and pet-resistant screen available. We use this mesh to construct our security screens that are also vandal-proof and can provide enhanced window safety and golf ball protection depending on the construction of your window screen. The 0.23 stainless steel mesh screen is a great option to do the following:
SeeVue can be used anywhere you would install window screen mesh and is an ideal option for coastal homes. Stainelss steel mesh screen comes in mill (silver) color as well as black, and is best for use in window screens to provide more durability and security. It can be used in sliding screen doors as well, making it the ultimate pet-resistant window screen. Commercial clients sometimes use it as a particle filter as well.
Shop security screens and rolls of mill and black stainless steel window screen mesh. For window screen applications, we suggest black, as a mill finish can be highly reflective and decrease visibility.
With so many choices, it may be difficult to choose which mesh type is best. The easiest way to think about it is to ask "Which do you need more &#; durability or visibility?" Most screen mesh types offer one quality more than the other. In other words, if it is more durable, it is likely offers less visibility, and visa versa.
You can also mix and match the screen types that you buy based on application and location. Use a more visible screen in your windows, like UltraVue, and use a more durable screen like BetterVue or Super Screen in your screen door and porch enclosure.
Another option is to use AllergyGuard in your bedroom windows to avoid waking up with allergy symptoms in the morning, but to use UltraVue or security screens elsewhere in your home for best visibility or improved safety.
If you are unsure which type of window screen mesh you need, read up on our latest blogs or give us a call. The screen experts at Metro Screenworks would love to help you. You can also request a sample of any of our screen mesh types to see it before you buy. If you are in the Denver area, stop by our showroom in Highlands Ranch!
Before going into details about the mesh materials, it is important to first understand insect screen mesh sizes.
Mesh size is measured by the number of openings in one square inch. For example, a mesh size of 18 x 16 means that there are 18 openings per inch when you count from the left to the right corner. When you count from the top to bottom corner, there should be 16 openings per inch.
How does the mesh size affect the insect screen? The greater the number of openings per square inch, the smaller the holes. A higher mesh size is thus more effective in keeping out smaller insects. Mesh size affects the rigidity of the screen as well. Smaller openings mean a tighter weave. In turn, the screen is less prone to sagging.
The standard 18 x 16 mesh easily keeps out larger insects such as mosquitoes and flying termites. However, if you would also like to keep out tiny insects such as fruit flies, sand flies (AKA biting midges) and drain flies, a 20 x 20 mesh would be your best bet.
Another factor to keep in mind when selecting insect mesh size is ventilation. Larger openings allow for more airflow at the cost of allowing smaller insects through. Conversely, smaller openings keep out tiny insects while slightly sacrificing airflow.
Regardless of mesh size, choosing a lightweight mesh will help to improve airflow through the insect screen.
You may be surprised to learn that an insect screen&#;s mesh colour affects much more than just aesthetics. Some may prefer a mesh colour that blends in with their interior décor. For example, a white mesh against a white window frame. However, white mesh is actually not recommended due to problems with visibility.
Black, white and grey are the three most common mesh colours available. We explain their differences below.
Black
The black mesh is by far the most popular choice among homeowners, and for good reason. Black objects are the best at absorbing light. Because of this, the black mesh offers the best outward visibility and the most protection against UV rays. You not only get to enjoy a clear view through the screen, but also a reduction in sun glare. Additionally, the black mesh is the least visible among the three colours. Many insect screens that use black mesh are able to achieve the &#;invisible&#; effect.
White
White mesh has the opposite effect of the black mesh. As white objects reflects light, a white mesh offers lower outward visibility and the least protection against UV rays. In terms of visibility, white mesh is the most visible and gives off a &#;translucent&#; look. But it is the best at diffusing light, which could be useful if your room requires even lighting throughout. White mesh is typically the least popular option among the three colours.
Grey
Grey mesh offers similar advantages to the black mesh, but to a lesser extent since grey objects cannot absorb light as well as black. One thing to note is that the amount of sunlight affects how visible the mesh is. While not very noticeable in the day, the grey mesh becomes much more visible at night.
Strength, durability, cost and outward visibility are some of the considerations to keep in mind when choosing mesh material. The right mesh material will depend on which factors matter more to you.
Fiberglass is one of the most commonly used mesh materials for insect screens. The reason for its popularity is simple &#; it is inexpensive and offers good outward visibility. Fiberglass is also lightweight, flexible and corrosion-resistant. Some manufacturers may coat the fiberglass with PVC to improve its strength.
The greatest disadvantage of fiberglass is that it&#;s not as durable as other mesh materials. It is prone to tearing/fraying at the edges and tends to stretch over time. When exposed to strong sunlight for long periods of time, its strength will deteriorate and discolouration may also occur.
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Polyester mesh has been gaining popularity as an alternative to fiberglass mesh. It is flexible, tear-resistant and less prone to sagging, making it stronger and more durable. It is usually also coated with vinyl, which serves as an additional protective barrier. Polyester mesh coated with a thicker layer of vinyl is often used in pet screens. The thick vinyl coating grants increased resistance to abrasions, which makes it difficult for pets to damage the screen.
A downside of polyester mesh is that the thick coating results in a decrease in outward visibility. It is also more expensive than fiberglass. And if you&#;re opting for vinyl-coated polyester, you&#;ll have to fork out much more.
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Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) are mesh materials that have caught on in recent years. Both plastics are used in a wide variety of applications and are similar in physical properties. When used to make screen mesh, they are commonly available as PE mesh, PP mesh or PE + PP mesh (made with a combination of PE and PP).
Both PE and PP are strong fabrics that are tear-resistant and less prone to sagging. PE is a good electrical insulator and is slightly sturdier than PP. Meanwhile, PP has a higher chemical resistance and is more lightweight. Both are mildew-resistant and offer good outward visibility. Like the polyester mesh, most PE/PP mesh sold are coated to further enhance their strength and durability. Coated PE/PP mesh is also UV-resistant and waterproof.
While PE/PP mesh has many strengths, one drawback is that they are not suitable for pet screens. The coating on PE/PP mesh is not as thick, which makes it less resistant against scratches and damage caused by pets. PE/PP mesh is also more expensive than fiberglass mesh.
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Another material used to make screen mesh is aluminium. While popular in countries such as Australia and the USA, aluminium mesh is rarely seen in Singapore. Aluminium mesh offers superior strength and durability as well as excellent outward visibility. It cannot be torn and its rigidity means you won&#;t have to worry about the screen sagging. The mesh often comes in a protective finish that is corrosion-resistant.
However, as you may have expected, aluminium mesh is very expensive. It may also dent/crease upon heavy impact.
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Finally, we have the stainless steel mesh. Stainless steel is the strongest and most durable mesh material available. It is rust- and corrosion-resistant, offers excellent outward visibility and will not stretch or sag. Other than its natural colour, the mesh may also be powder-coated for a black finish which further improves visibility.
The main disadvantage of using stainless steel mesh is the cost. It is easily the most expensive mesh of the lot due to the premium material used. Additionally, the mesh may also dent or kink upon heavy impact.
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If you want to learn more, please visit our website stainless steel mosquito mesh for windows.