Insect screen mesh types and styles.
August 17, 2011 at 9:06 AM
Insect screen mesh types and styles. There is a huge variety of different types of insect screens available from Starline Security. Each has its own feature, use and application. To make your selection of the right insect screen as easy as possible I have put the various types into a table below. I have also included a short description and "Starline's Verdict" for each type as well. The team at Starline Security hope this helps in your insect screening choices. We also have other discussions on our insect screen window and door frames and how we install various insect screens as well
FAQ #1. What about Asian Geckos. Can we keep them out with insect screens?
Answer. So you want to keep Asian Gecko's out? Seems like everyone has an opinion but no-one has an answer. However, we have found that most window screens will keep the noisy Asian Gecko's out. Unfortunately, we have yet to develop a sliding screen door that will. They push through the fluffy pile on the bug strip attached to the bottom of the door and get in under the wheels or they find a way around where the screen door lock is. In a nutshell: you can open your windows but not your doors! Lucky for us flying insects are not so smart.
|
Mesh Type |
Price |
Visibility |
Tear resistance |
Impact resistance |
Airflow |
Special Features / Starline’s Verdict |
Suitable for Insect types |
|
“No Name Brand” Standard Fibreglass insect mesh |
Very Low |
Good |
Very poor |
Poor |
Good
|
Not used by Starline Security – Only good feature is that it is CHEAP! Tears too easily. Poor quality. Might find this mesh in the cheap rack in certain discount hardware stores!!! |
Flys & Mozzies
|
|
PRO – Mesh |
Low |
Excellent |
Good |
Good |
Excellent |
Standard Screen used by Starline Security in all our insect screens and doors. – Good quality product. Manufactured by New York Wire in the USA. |
Flys & Mozzies
|
|
ZERO Mesh |
Very High |
Superb |
Good |
Good |
Excellent |
Almost invisible yet finer aperture screen. Very fine fibreglass strand insect screen mesh. Used where the client wants screens as “undetectable” as possible. Ie you hate to look of insect screens but want to keep the insect out. Also has an anti-fungal treatment bonded to the fibreglass strands so the screen stays cleaner longer. Starline Security regards this as the best quality insect mesh we sell. Again, manufactured in the USA. Expensive. |
Flys & Mozzies with some resistance to midgee’s / sand flies. |
|
Patio and Pool / Tuff lite mesh |
Medium |
Average |
Good |
Good |
Good |
Hardier screen for larger openings ie patio enclosures etc. Slightly heavier strands lead to average visibility, although quite acceptable over a large area. |
Flys & Mozzies
|
|
Aluminium |
High |
Good |
Average |
Poor |
Average |
We hardly ever use this insect mesh anymore. The screens oxidise (ie rust) over time and are too easily damaged. Poor impact resistance. |
Flys & Mozzies
|
|
Stainless |
High |
Good |
Average |
Average |
Good |
Used almost exclusively to pass the Australian Standard AS3959-2009 - Construction of Buildings in Bushfire-prone areas. |
Flys & Mozzies
|
|
Paw Proof |
High |
Poor |
Very High |
Very High |
Average |
Cat and dog scratch resistance is very high. Poor visibility and slightly “darkens” room but strong and durable. |
Flys & Mozzies
|
|
One Way vision mesh |
Very High |
Very Poor |
High |
High |
Low |
Expanded aluminium mesh designed to reduce visibility from outside in while allowing visibility from inside out. Does a reasonable job but does tend to reduce visibility either way quite a bit. |
Flys & Mozzies
|
|
Midgee Mesh |
Medium |
Poor |
Good |
Good |
Very Poor |
A very fine aperture mesh used to resist midgee’s, Sand flies and very small insects. Unfortunately this screen is very poor with regard to ventilation and visibility. – Recommend Zero mesh instead, even though it’s considerably more expensive and not quite as resistant to sand flies, as it is much higher on the ventilation / visibility scale. |
Midgee’s, Sand Flies , Small insects, Fly’s & Mozzies |
