When choosing screening for a porch, you will want to consider the material used and its quality, and the size of the mesh.
Screening became popular in the late 1800s for porches, doors and windows and was mainly used to keep bugs away, just like today.
However, with today’s advances in technology, there are many different materials to choose from, different size weaves to add more protection and different colors to add to the mood and aesthetic quality of your porch.
Here are some common and not so common choices for screening materials.
Fiberglass Screens
Fiberglass has tended to be the most common type of screening. This is partly due to the fact that it is the easiest type to work with due to its flexibility and its cost is the least expensive of all.
Fiberglass also allows for good visibility as it stops most of the glare from sunlight.
Other great features of fiberglass is that it doesn’t rust, stain or corrode.
But a drawback is that it can more easily tear than other types.
Colors commonly available are black, gray, charcoal and silver.
Aluminum Screens
Another popular choice is aluminum. It is lightweight but tends to be more durable than fiberglass but also more rigid and may dent over time. This can make it a bit hard to install. It is about a third more expensive than fiberglass but the cost is offset by the fact that it lasts generally 30-40 percent longer.
Unfortunately, it is prone to corrosion in damp or seaside locations.
The visibility is excellent but watch out for glare.
Popular colors are silver (but this color shows the most glare on bright days), gray, black and charcoal.
Vinyl-coated Polyester Screens
This type of porch screen material is made of polyester with a vinyl covering. It tends to be very strong and durable, more so than aluminium. It doesn’t dent or crease.
It is strong enough to resist the claws of pets and is a great choice for hot climates as it seems to dissipate heat from the sun.
It also comes in a large variety of colors.
It’s about double the price of aluminum.
Stainless Steel Screens
This material is strong and rust resistant. It works well in marine environments and doesn’t require much maintenance.
However, because it is rigid, it is somewhat difficult to work with.
Color: Silver – during sunny days expect a significant amount of glare.
Relatively expensive. Almost double the price of vinyl coated polyester.
Bronze Screens
Bronze is considered a specialty type of window screen. It’s often used in older homes or historical buildings. This is partly due to its aesthetic appeal and its longevity. It adds a touch of elegance.
Bronze is an alloy and consists of close to 90% copper as well as a small amount of tin and other metals.
These screens are rust-resistant, durable and strong.
It is approximately 10 times the cost of fiberglass.
Solar Screens
Solar screens insulate your porch better than other types of screens.
They are usually made with vinyl coated polyester with a very tight weave. They deflect sunlight to reduce glare. Their design allows you to see outside, but it obstructs the view into your living space. So if you desire privacy these may be a good choice.
A great asset of solar screens is that they can cool down your porches’ temperature to make it more pleasant to be outside. This may even be a money saver on air conditioning.
They also reduce glare and up to 65-90% of ultraviolet rays, protecting you and your furniture and flooring.
A few drawbacks though, are that because of the tight weave, your view of the outside may be slightly blocked. It will also darken your porch. They come in a variety of colors and styles.
Pet Resistant Screens
Often made from vinyl coated polyester, these screens are engineered to be tougher and more claw resistant than other types of screens.
Pet screening is not only good for pet owners but for those with small children as well.
Due to the toughness of the screening and its tighter weave, it may be somewhat expensive. In this case, a simple option would be to install this type of screening only along the lower portion of your porch.
Choosing Screen Weave
Insect screening is made from woven strands of material. The tightness of the weave, or mesh size, is measured in the number of strands per inch. Porch screens usually have a mesh size of 18-by-14. This means that there are 18 strands of mesh in one direction and 14 strands of mesh in the other direction. The smallest sized mesh is 20-by-20; this allows for ventilation while keeping out tiny insects. People living in areas where some insects are almost invisible to the naked eye, sometimes called “no-see-um” bugs may want to use the 20-by-20 sized mesh. Marshy and coastal areas will benefit greatly from tightly woven screening. This screening is often made with vinyl coated fiberglass strands. Be aware that while an 18-by-14 weave allows for good airflow, it will not keep out the tiniest of bugs.
A 20-by-20 weave will keep out the tiniest of bugs, but it will slightly lessen airflow and perhaps slightly darken your porch. However it does allow for more privacy and more protection from the hot sun.
Sunshine Sunrooms can help choose the right materials for your screened in porch and create the perfect design for your home. Give us a call to get more information on screened porches for your home. Contact us today online or call us (972) 243-5390 for more information on how we can help you with screened in porches for your home!
