How to choose a mosquito net for a plastic window?

To prevent insects, poplar fluff and street debris from entering the house through open windows during the summer season, it is important to choose the right mosquito net. Today there are dozens of varieties on sale, differing in materials, cell size, type of construction and many other parameters. Let's study the selection rules and find the best grid!

Types of mosquito nets by design

Before considering the subtleties (material, color, mesh size of the mosquito screen), you need to understand which mesh design is best suited to the existing situation. At least 5 varieties have been developed, which differ significantly from each other. Let's analyze their design features to understand which type is best to choose for plastic windows.

Frame grids

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

The popularity of frame structures is determined by several factors:

Easy to manufacture and repair. The frame can be made by anyone who feels confident when working with tools.
Affordable price.Due to the relatively simple design and the use of common materials, prices for this type of mosquito curtains have remained low for many years.
Light weight structure. This mesh is easy to put in place and remove if necessary (if the fasteners are correctly installed).

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

The service life of frame structures is about 5 years. The most common places for breakdowns are the handles, as well as the corners of the frame. Therefore, if you expect long-term use, buy models in which these places are reinforced with reinforcing metal linings. Another reason for frame failure is cracking of the plastic due to aging processes. Products made from aluminum profiles do not have this drawback, but their cost is noticeably higher.

Roller mesh

The main feature of this variety is its compactness. The mesh fabric is wound onto a special roller placed in a container installed in the upper part of the door or window opening. If it is necessary to block the opening, the lower part of the panel slides along the runners and is fixed with special latches installed in the lower part of the opening.

Roller curtains have a number of advantages:

Stylish look, modern design.
Possibility of installation on any window or in any doorway. In this case, installation is carried out in a maximum of 60 minutes.
When the mosquito curtain is not needed, it can be easily removed with one hand movement.In this case, no special storage space is needed.

There are also certain disadvantages. Since the design of the roller mechanism is quite complex, 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 will be able to carry out repairs on their own. And the cost of such a screen is noticeably higher than a simple frame design.

To extend the service life of the roller shutter, strictly follow the care instructions.

Swing mesh

The main purpose of this variety is to protect the house from the penetration of insects and street debris through the balcony door opening. The hinged design is distinguished from frame screens by a reinforced frame equipped with transverse imposts. For fixation on the door frame, hinged fasteners are used, turning the swing mesh 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 seal around the entire perimeter must be installed on the frame mesh. In addition, it is better to equip the structure with a closer, similar to those installed on entrance doors.

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

Sliding options

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

Structurally, sliding mesh screens are frames made of aluminum or metal-plastic profiles equipped with a cellular fabric, which move along rail guides. To make the frame slide easily on 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 pads installed on the vertical sides of the frame.

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

The sliding design has few disadvantages. The main one is the 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.

Choosing material: what to pay attention to?

In addition to the design features of the mesh, the properties of the cellular fabric itself are of considerable importance. Here are some recommendations for choosing material given by experienced installers:

Pet owners should prefer fiberglass cellular sheets. This material costs slightly more than conventional polymer, but is highly durable. Even a cat jumping onto the net will not be able to break through the strong threads. Of course, to provide reliable protection, the frame must also have sufficient strength.
For allergy sufferers, the best solution would be polyamide fiber curtains that meet the requirements of the “Anti-Dust” and “Anti-Pollen” classes.Thanks to the reduced cell size, such screens will 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. Applying an aluminum film to the outer surface made it possible to achieve a high coefficient of reflection of solar rays. In addition to good shading ability, such a grid practically does not allow you to see what is happening in the room. It is almost comparable in effectiveness to window tinting.
Ultraview mesh is distinguished by its reduced fiber thickness. Thanks to this, the canvas transmits the sun 25% better. Materials of this variety are suitable for mesh installed on a window facing the shady side.

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

Deciding on 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 experts say about choosing a color for a mosquito net:

The classic shade recommended for most cases is light gray. It is hardly noticeable to the eye and almost does not reduce the screen’s ability to transmit sunlight. At the same time, gray meshes are non-staining and do not require frequent maintenance.
Bright colored canvases are considered a fresh solution in interior design.They can add color to a room and look unusual and unconventional. 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 mesh, no one can answer for sure. Therefore, when choosing a colored canvas, you need to carefully weigh the pros and cons.
White and black mesh will be a poor choice in most cases. Dust, rust and other contaminants are much more noticeable on them, so they are demanding in terms of cleaning frequency. In addition, these colors are more noticeable to the eyes than light gray shades.

Another reason to avoid black mesh is its ability to absorb heat from the sun's rays.

According to statistics collected by mosquito net manufacturers, the most common (and therefore universal) option today is a frame net equipped with a polyamide or fiberglass cloth painted in light gray tones. However, the popular solution is not always the best. In some conditions, installing a grid that differs from the classic parameters will be more profitable.

You should approach the choice of a mosquito net responsibly - spend a couple of days choosing it, so that in the future, for 4-5 years, the net will regularly serve as a reliable barrier to insects, garbage and street dust. We hope that our tips will help you choose the option that is best suited for your home.