How to choose a mosquito net for a plastic window?

To prevent insects, poplar fluff and street debris from entering the house in the summer season through open windows, it is important to choose the mosquito net correctly. Today, there are dozens of varieties on sale that differ in materials, cell size, type of construction, and many other parameters. We will study the rules of choice and find the best grid!

Types of mosquito nets by design

Before considering the subtleties (material, color, cell size of the mosquito screen), it is necessary to understand which mesh design is best suited to the existing situation. At least 5 varieties have been developed that differ significantly from each other. We will analyze their design features in order to understand what type is best to choose for plastic windows.

Frame mesh

This is the most commonly installed type of mosquito screen on a window. It is a rectangular rigid frame made of plastic profile, on which a mesh canvas made of synthetic material is stretched. Aluminum or wood can also be used to make the frame. The frame is fixed to the window frame from the outside using z-shaped staples or other mounts.

The popularity of frame designs is determined by several factors:

• Easy to manufacture and repair. The frame can be made by any person who feels confident when working with tools.
• Affordable cost. Due to the relatively simple design and use of common materials, the prices of this type of mosquito net have remained low for many years.
• Light weight construction. It is easy to put such a mesh in place and remove if necessary (with correctly installed fixtures).

Neither the frame grid, nor any other type of mosquito screen is an obstacle that can reliably protect against falling out of the window. Therefore, in rooms where the window opening is protected only by a grid, it is strictly forbidden to leave unattended young children, disabled persons and pets.

The service life of the frame structures is about 5 years. The most common places for breakdowns are handles, as well as corners of the frame. Therefore, if you are counting on long-term operation, buy models in which these places are reinforced with reinforcing metal plates. Another reason for the failure of the frame is the cracking of the plastic due to aging processes. Products made of an aluminum profile are deprived of this drawback, but their cost is much higher.

Rolling net

The main feature of this species is compactness. The mesh cloth is wound on a special roller placed in a container installed in the upper part of the door or window aperture. If it is necessary to block the opening, the lower part of the panel is shifted along the runners and fixed with special latches installed in the lower part of the opening.

The roller blind has several advantages:

• Stylish look, modern design.
• Possibility of mounting on any window or in any doorway. At the same time, installation is carried out in a maximum of 60 minutes.
• When a mosquito curtain is not needed, it is easy to remove with a single motion of the hand. In this case, a special place for storage is not necessary.

There are certain disadvantages. Since the design of the roll mechanism is quite complicated, it is difficult to hope that the roller shutter will last longer than 4 years without breakdowns.It is unlikely that people who do not have specific skills can carry out repairs on their own. And the cost of such a screen is much higher than a simple frame design.

To extend the life of roller shutters, strictly follow the instructions for care.

Swing net

The main purpose of this species is to protect the house from insects and street debris through the opening of the balcony door. The oar structure is distinguished from the frame screens by a reinforced frame equipped with impost cross-members. For fixing on the door frame, hinges are used to turn the swing net into an additional (albeit very light) door.

To prevent insects from entering through the cracks between the door frame and the frame, a high-quality sealant should be installed on the frame mesh around the perimeter. In addition, it is better to equip the structure with a door closer similar to those installed on the front doors.

Swing models are rarely placed on plastic windows due to their relatively large weight. The exception is the balcony door. Installing such a screen is quite easy, and also removing it if necessary. The only drawback is the ability to "select" part of the space in an open form. This is especially important for apartments with narrow balconies and loggias.

Sliding options

Another option that is relatively rarely used in rooms, but is widely used on loggias with large glazing, is a sliding grid. The main feature of this design is installation not from the outside of the opening, but from the inside. This ensures ease of installation and safe operation.

Structurally, sliding mesh screens are frames equipped with a cellular cloth made of aluminum or metal-plastic profile, which move along the rail guides. So that the frame easily glides along the rails, the two lower corners are equipped with rollers, and the two upper corners are equipped with runners (sliders). Tightness is ensured by fleecy overlays mounted on the vertical sides of the frame.

When choosing a sliding grid, pay attention to the presence of imposts. These reinforcing cross members significantly increase the life of the entire structure.

The drawbacks of the sliding design are few. The main one is a relatively high cost. In addition, it is not possible to install rail guides on any balcony frame. Therefore, it is better to provide for the installation of such a structure in advance and discuss it when ordering balcony frames.

Choose material: what to look for?

In addition to the design features of the mesh, the properties of the cellular fabric itself are of considerable importance. Here are some guidelines for choosing materials that experienced installers give:

• Pet owners should prefer fiberglass mesh fabrics. This material costs slightly more than a conventional polymer, but is notable for its high strength. Even a cat jumping onto a net cannot break through strong threads. Of course, in order to provide reliable protection, the frame must also have sufficient strength.
• For allergy sufferers, curtains made of polyamide fiber that meet the requirements of the Anti-Dust and Anti-Pollen classes will be the best solution. Due to the reduced cell size, such screens protect the room not only from insects and poplar fluff, but also from smaller carriers of allergens.
• Owners of rooms facing the sunny side will like nets equipped with a reflective coating. Application of an aluminum film to the outer surface made it possible to achieve a high reflectivity of sunlight. In addition to a good shading ability, such a grid practically does not allow to consider what is happening in the room. It is almost comparable in effectiveness with tinted windows.
• Grid "Ultraview" features a reduced thickness of the fibers. Thanks to this, the canvas is 25% better than the sun.Materials of this variety are suitable for a grid installed on a window facing the shadow side.

In addition to the type of material, the size of the cells in the grid is also important. Most specialists recommend mosquito screens with cells 1–0.8 mm in size for urban conditions. If they are smaller, the mesh will hold air. Small insects can already get through large holes.

Determine the color

The palette of colors used for painting mosquito nets is quite wide today. In addition to the traditional black, white and gray colors, there are canvases painted in blue, green, orange and other bright colors.

Here's what the experts say about choosing a color for the mosquito net:

• The classic shade recommended for most cases is light gray. It is hardly noticeable to the eyes, almost does not reduce the ability of the screen to transmit sunlight. At the same time, gray nets are non-marking and do not require frequent care.
• Bright colored canvases are considered a fresh solution in interior design. They are able to give the room colors, they look unusual and non-standard. However, this solution is not suitable for every room. In addition, fashion comes and goes quickly, and when the owners of the apartment manage to replace the grid, no one will answer for sure. Therefore, when choosing a colored canvas, you need to carefully weigh the pros and cons.
• White and black grids in most cases will be a bad choice. They are much more noticeable dust, rust and other pollution, so they are demanding on the frequency of cleaning. In addition, for the eyes, these colors are more noticeable than light gray shades.

Another reason to abandon the black mesh is its ability to absorb the heat of sunlight.

According to statistics compiled by manufacturers of mosquito nets, the most common (and therefore universal) option today is a frame mesh equipped with a canvas made of polyamide or fiberglass, painted in light gray tones. However, a popular solution is far from always the best. In some conditions, it will be more profitable to install a grid that differs from the classical parameters.

The choice of mosquito nets should be approached responsibly - spend a couple of days choosing so that over the next 4–5 years the nets regularly serve as a reliable barrier to insects, debris and street dust. We hope that our tips will help you choose the option that is best for your home.