10 Questions You Should to Know about insect screen vs regular screen

Florida is home to 47 species of no see ums or biting midges. At less than one-eighth of an inch in size, these tiny pests may have difficulty catching your eye, but they have no trouble making their presence felt. Their bites are irritating and painful, and for some unlucky souls, they can trigger long-lasting lesions. If their nips interfere with your enjoyment of your outdoor living spaces, you are probably wondering if there is a way to keep them away. There is!  As your local screen enclosure experts, Dulando Screen & Awning has the necessary facts. Here is an article about the pros and cons of no see um screen for your patio or pool enclosure.

huili Product Page

No See Um Screen vs. Regular Screen

What sets a no see um screen apart from a regular screen?
It starts with size and material.

Regular screens that are in good repair do a great job of keeping most insects out. However, the minuscule size of no see ums allows them to slip through the holes in the weave of regular screens. No see um screens are a tighter weave and there are more holes in the screen. This increases your protection against biting no-see ums without sacrificing comfort, aesthetics, or durability.

Types of Insect Screening

With nearly 50 species of no-see ums, it’s no surprise that you have several options for insect screen material to keep these nuisances out of your spaces. At Dulando Screen & Awning, we always use top-quality Phifer screens. Phifer offers a few possibilities for no-see ums:

20×20 No See Um Screening

This fiberglass screen is the standard choice for a product that keeps no see ums at bay. It uses glass yarns finer than those found in regular fiberglass screening that have been coated with vinyl. This material choice allows for a denser weaving with smaller holes that keep even the tiniest insects out. Don’t worry, it may keep insects out, but you’ll still enjoy plenty of airflow. Fiberglass remains flexible and won’t rust or stain. This screen is available in charcoal for optimal aesthetics. See the difference between 18/14 Screen and 20/20 Screen.

Phifer Tuffscreen

A vinyl-coated polyester screening, Tuffscreen can stop most small insects while protecting privacy. It’s durable and stylish in black. Phifer TuffScreen® Heavy-duty Mesh Screen spans wide spaces easily. Its heavy-duty vinyl coating blocks out insects but leaves your view unobstructed.

Pros of No See-Um Screens

What are the pros of no see um screens? If you’re weighing no-see um screen vs regular screening, you can generally expect no see um screens to offer greater protection from insects large and small. This means you will not need to use as many chemical repellants.

You will also tend to enjoy more privacy. Depending on the screen that you select, you may also get more sun protection. It’s also worth noting that no see um screens tend to have great durability and lengthy lifespans. This can help to offset their higher initial cost, making them amazing value. As top-quality screens, they can often outperform other regular types of screening.

Cons of No See Um Screens

What downsides come with no-see um screens? Because of the materials and technology involved in their construction, they are one of the more expensive types of screening. Also, their denser weave can sometimes cause a slight reduction in visibility.

Whether you’re weighing the pros and cons of a no-see-um screen or are curious about how to screen a porch or patio, Dulando Screen & Awning is ready to answer your screen enclosure questions. Contact us today to learn more about our services. Dulando always offers a free in-home design consultation.

Q: If I am replacing my insect screens with new screening products, what spline size should I use?

A: If you do not have a sample of your old spline to match the size, then the product that is being installed and the screen frame’s spline groove determine spline size. Measure across the spline channel or groove of the screen frame and use one size smaller spline for fabrication.

Q: What is Water Shed Technology™ and how does it work?

A: Water Shed Technology is an advanced water repellent (hydrophobic) coating that allows the screen to easily shed water and other substances. The coating virtually eliminates "window paning," a process by which water fills the open squares during a rain storm.

Q: Which products are best for a coastal/high humidity climate?

A: All fiberglass screens, sun control screens, TuffScreen® and PetScreen®.

Q: Which products provide the best insect protection?

A: Fiberglass 20×20 “No-See-Ums screen” provides the maximum protection. BetterVue® provides 10% more insect protection vs. standard fiberglass or aluminum screen.

Q: Which products are the longest lasting?

A: All Phifer products are made to provide years of enjoyment and protection.

Q: Which products provide extra strength?

A: In traditional screen applications, 18×14 .013 fiberglass is 50% stronger than standard fiberglass insect screen. The most durable screen is PetScreen and TuffScreen.

For more insect screen vs regular screeninformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

Q: Which products allow the best airflow?

A: UltraVue2® provides the maximum ventilation. Airflow is improved 25% vs. standard fiberglass or aluminum screen. Both BetterVue and SeeVue® yield a 20% improvement in airflow vs. standard screen.

Q: Which products have the best outward visibility/view?

A: UltraVue2 and SeeVue provide the maximum clarity/best viewing experience. BetterVue offers a better view than standard fiberglass or aluminum screen.

Q: Which products block solar heat and glare?

A: SunTex® 80 and SunTex 90, Solar Insect Screen, and SunScreen

Q: Which products will provide daytime privacy?

A: SunTex 80 and SunTex 90, Solar Insect Screen, and SunScreen® are excellent choices for daytime privacy screening.

Q: Will Bronze screen turn green?

A: No, this product weathers to a beautiful dark bronze finish that enhances outward visibility.

Q: How do you clean insect screening?

A: Rinse metal products with water only. Clean vinyl products with a mild soapy solution, avoiding hard scrubbing.

Q: What is Less Visible Screen?

A: It’s the latest innovation in insect screen. The product’s design uses finer yarns in a tighter mesh. The design creates more holes per square inch improving ventilation and optical clarity. The result is better performing insect screen. Aperture openings are smaller improving insect protection.

Q: Why use Less Visible Screen?

A: If you like clear unobstructed views then you need one of Phifer’s iVis solutions. Traditional screens are easily seen from inside or outside the home. BetterVue and UltraVue2 are almost invisible. They improve viewing clarity, brighten windows using Low-e glass, and improve airflow and ventilation. Exterior screens are harder to detect from the curb. Phifer’s BetterVue and UltraVue2 are GREENGUARD® certified.

Q: What is the difference between iVis-Improved visibility screen and eVis-Excellent visibility screen?

A: The primary difference is openness resulting from yarn size. Smaller yarns typically provide better clarity. Improved visibility insect screen was developed as an affordable solution so all consumers could enjoy less visible screen. Excellent visibility insect screen offers homeowners the highest clarity. It is more delicate and typically used in low traffic areas like windows. The cost is considerable higher but its worth the view.

Q: Are Less Visible Screens as durable as standard screen?

A: To improve clarity we must use finer yarns. Basically you sacrifice some strength for improved clarity. Durability is a result of product design. Less visible screens typically weave more yarns per square inch to offset the loss of strength from finer yarns. Compared to the industry’s standard screen, BetterVue and UltraVue2 are similar in durability.

A: To determine the mesh size of screening, first create a template by cutting a 1x1 square inch piece of paper, then tape the piece of paper to your window screen, aligning both horizontal and vertical borders with the lines in the mesh. Next, count the number of square openings you see next to the paper first horizontally, then vertically. If you counted 18 horizontally, and 16 vertically, your mesh size is 18x16.

Still Have Questions About Insect Screening?

Have a screening question you're unable to find an answer to? We'd love to answer it for you! Fill out our contact form and a Phifer representative will reach out to you shortly.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website is fiberglass natural or synthetic.