There are a wide variety of mesh materials available in the market, as well as the standard fibreglass mesh.
If you are looking for a specific mesh material, colour or type of screen for your doors and windows, you can contact your local hardware store. Common mesh materials include metal, fibreglass, plastic and melamine. You can also purchase mesh online at a reasonable price at various hardware stores. Depending on what you are using the flyscreens for, different mesh materials will be efficient in serving different purposes. For example; metal fly screens are perfect for exterior use such as for outdoor doors and windows because they are durable and rust-resistant but heavy. Metal fly screens require more work to hold up with no frame structure. Plastic mesh is a lighter, more pliable material. It comes in many colours but it too requires a frame structure to hold itself up. Fibreglass mesh is light and easy to work with but can be difficult to fit into a frame or a door without a lot of extra support. Melamine mesh flyscreens are the perfect choice for the frame of your average door and window screens because they are durable, versatile and relatively inexpensive. They also come in many different styles for you to choose from. Melamine flyscreens require no framework to support them since they have their own built-in cross braces that allow the insect screen to stand alone until you install it. The only downside with this range of screens is that if they're exposed outside, the sun's ultraviolet radiation will cause the colour on the screen to fade. Melamine typically lasts about five years outdoors before you'll need to replace it. If you're using the insect screen for decorative purposes, try micro-mesh or an iron product that gives your screens a more finished look. Micromesh is usually perfect for inside use because like melamine mesh, it's not designed for outdoor use such as for a patio and can be difficult to install on its own with a smaller life. Iron mesh also works well as a decorative insect screen but since it is made out of wire, it too requires an additional framework in order to hold up properly. Fibreglass mesh is lightweight and very durable. They come in a variety of colours (white is most common) and are used for any kind of screens project including windows, pool enclosures, patio etc.
The best way to cut a material like this is with either heavy-duty scissors or tin snips. Tin snips will make nice clean cuts, though they aren't quite as easy to use. The only other alternative would be to try and find it pre-cut in your size at a hardware store, which can be hit-or-miss, depending on what you're looking for. For very small mesh sizes, you may find that the only option is to cut it with an exact knife.
This depends on where you go and what range, style and colour of mesh would suit you. As a general rule, the average price cost to create a single door frame is between $300-600. For a complete set of doors or windows, expect to pay anywhere from $700-1,500. A more advanced flyscreen such as flexible magnetic insect screens or a BAL rating compliant fire-rated fly screen, these have a relatively bigger price. Don't worry if the cost of a fly screen looks high, as it doesn't have to be this expensive if you're willing to do some work yourself. If all you're looking for is just something to keep bugs and insects out of your doors while letting fresh air in, then all it really takes is some screen material and either an adhesive or staples to install it to your window frame. It's fairly simple but depending on your skill level, it can be time-consuming.
If you're using a good adhesive, then the most difficult part of installing the flyscreen is to measure the space and cut the material to fit the door or window frame perfectly. This can be done with a ruler and a utility knife but it's not easy so expect to spend some time with this one if it's your first try at this sort of project. If you want something faster and easier, there are special tools designed just to measure the space and cut flyscreen mesh. A lot of them look like long rulers that have a series of blades attached in staggered intervals along their length. Once you place the blade in line with your cut-line on the mesh, push down hard and drag it along slowly until you've cut all the way through.
If your mesh is simply loose and hanging down around the frame of your door, you can just remove it by hand. Just be careful not to break anything when you do so. If the mesh is tangled up in something or has been folded or torn, it may be easier to try and cut it away and start over with a new piece of material. Keep in mind that if you're cutting this type of material with anything other than sharp tin snips or heavy-duty scissors then chances are that whatever tool you use will dull pretty quickly and require replacing. Making clean cuts on screens like this isn't all that easy anyway, especially on thicker micronet meshes (1/4 "). If the mesh is attached to the doors with staples, then try to pull them out as best you can before trying to remove the flyscreen from your doors. If a staple breaks off and stays inside the mesh, it will be very difficult to get out so making sure they're not there in the first place will make things a bit easier for you down the road.
One of the most common materials used to create fly screens is a mesh made from plastic or metal. There are a few things you need to take into account before choosing a fly screen material that would suit you. If you live in a climate that experiences cold winters, then metal flyscreen doors will probably be your best bet because they're very durable and can withstand all sorts of different weather conditions. Plastic insect screens are cheaper but they only have a limited lifespan. If you live in a place where the winter is mild, then a plastic screen should be just fine. You can also try looking for one that has been UV-treated. This will prevent it from breaking down as quickly as an untreated one and lasting much longer.
Both metals and plastics have their pros and cons. There are a few things you need to take into account before choosing your flyscreen such as, if you're looking for a long-term solution with a longer life, then the metal range is probably your best bet. It can last up to 20 years or more if it's been treated with a UV inhibitor and is properly maintained. Flexible magnetic insect screens are another great alternative.
Plastic insect screens tend to only last 5-8 years before they need to be replaced but they're also typically cheaper than metal ones so that has to be taken into consideration as well. No matter which range of material you select, make sure you get one that won't allow flies and insects larger than what you want in your house so there won't be any gaps between the flyscreen meshes where bugs or mosquitoes could slip through after the installation.There are typically two methods for attaching the snap ties, one is done with a drill press where you tie string to the metal clips first before placing them on the flyscreen mesh, then using a drill press at 20-30 power or so place them firmly against your work surface while turning slowly by hand. The other method to install snap ties is by pounding them through which requires more time but no machinery. whichever way you select and choose from just be sure to keep all markings as straight as possible along the length of wire that runs across the frame of your window, if not this may cause great frustration.
Making your own flyscreen isn't all that difficult. All you need is to choose a strong mesh of your preferred colour (like what's used for window screens) and something like wood, aluminium or plastic strips of measure 1/8" to 3/16" thick by 2" wide by however long you want the screen to be. Depending on the size of your window frame, you may need longer pieces of wood, aluminium or plastic strips. We suggest using either clear pine or cedar because they're both very sturdy and won't warp over time like other range of woods can. Once you've got your materials together, simply install a strip of wood, aluminium or plastic to the corners of the mesh with a staple gun so it keeps everything in place as one single unit. Before attaching the mesh, you'll want to double-check that everything fits properly by placing it in your window opening so once it's all up, nothing can get in or out. If you don't have a staple gun then you can also use wire ties to attach them together. The more secure your screen is, the better chance you'll have of keeping bugs, flies and other insects out of your house.
Replacing your fly screen mesh is as easy as removing the old one and putting a new one in its place. You'll want to make sure you do it before the summer months start up because this is when flies, mosquitoes and other bugs are at their worst and they'll try to find a way into your home if there's a hole or tear in any of your insect screens. Don't hesitate just make sure you use a pair of scissors with a sharp edge so you can cut through any excess mesh that's stuck to your window frame or sill after the replacement has been made. Use some window spray cleaner along with paper towels to wipe everything down before replacing them so you don't have any streaks on your windows after installation especially for plastic flyscreens because it tends to leave behind a filmy residue after it's cleaned off.
The biggest cause of fly screen rips and tears is the installation process and how the screen mesh is attached to your home's windows and doors. If you're using screws to do so then they should already be included in the packaging that your metal or plastic screens came in but if not, we recommend using finishing nails or self-tapping screws with washers on both sides at least 1" long which are more effective than flat head screws for hanging anything on wood. Make sure you buy some rustproof wing nuts as well because these will last much longer than regular wingnuts which tend to break down over time due to their low quality.
Tired of your children, even your cats, dogs and other pets ripping off your fly screen again and again? The best way to fix tears or rips in your fly screen is to measure and cut some clear tape and applying it over the damaged area. If this doesn't work, then you will need to use a mesh repair kit which can be found at most hardware stores. With access to these kits, tear off a small section of the mesh fabric, attach it to your screen with either glue or mesh tape depending on what type of kit you buy and allow it enough time to dry before hanging the screen back up again. This should permanently fix any rips that are smaller than 1" long but for larger ones, you may have to replace the entire piece of metal or plastic mesh attached to your window.
If your flyscreen is part of a security screen system there are certain installation and manufacturing standards that must be followed, according to Standards Australia.