Screen In Porch Decorating Ideas

Porch Screening Guide

Porch screening materials - what size, quality and color of screen mesh are just right when you are building a screened porch? It is just as important if selecting a screen porch kit or enclosure. Keeping the mosquitos away, especially those carrying West Nile Virus is important too. Plus you want your screened porch to look fantastic.

Let's talk about the mesh - after all, so much of a screened porch is about the screening materials. So here is some mesh lingo for you.

Mesh size is the number of openings per square inch of mesh. For instance, a number 4 mesh will have 4 openings per square inch, and 16 means it will have 16 openings per square inch.

Two mesh has two wires in each direction in a square inch. You could easily pass a pencil through the openings.

We help you sort through common questions about porch screening here.

We help you sort through common questions about porch screening here

What Size Mesh?

So what size porch screening materials (mesh) to use for your porch? 18 x 14 mesh is what is used for porch screens to keep out common insects.

Use 20 x 20 mesh in areas with no-see-ums and other tiny insects. After all, keeping the bugs out is the point.

In comparison, 60 mesh is the size commonly used in kitchen faucets. An 80 mesh has an opening which will barely pass a human hair. To calculate the size of the openings in a mesh the thickness of the wires making up the mesh material must also be taken into account.

In addition to mesh size, consider the quality, cost, and color of your porch screening materials. Our handy reference guide below will help you choose just the right porch screening for your screened porch.

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Porch Screening Comparison Chart

Note: Use this information as a general guide only. It was current when we compiled the information. As with anything, screening materials change and are improved.

aluminum mesh Porch Screening Type: Aluminum

Quality Features: Lightweight yet strong and is resistant to atmospheric corrosion; easily cut with hand tools; bendable but has little spring back; most popular for screened porches! Can last 30-40% longer than fiberglass.

Color: Silver; tends to show glare in bright sun; charcoal and black (almost invisible from the inside) have gained popularity

Cost: Cost less than stainless steel (about 25 to 30 cents per square foot).

brass mesh Porch Screening Type: Brass

Quality Features: Superior to copper wire mesh in abrasion resistance and tensile strength; not suitable for salt water areas; fairly stiff and can be bent by hand and has some spring back

Color: Yellowish gold and will discolor due to atmospheric conditions

Cost: Expensive - over $6.00 square foot

bronze mesh Porch Screening Type: Bronze

Quality Features: Fairly stiff, can be bent with spring back; not affected by salt spray; stronger than copper

Color: Color of a new penny but will gradually discolor over time (color renewable to bright finish with removal of surface oil)

Cost: Expensive (about 90 cents per square foot)

copper mesh Porch Screening Type: Copper

Quality Features: Not as strong as brass; cuts easily with hand tools; softest of metals can be easily bent; has very little spring back.

Color: Yellowish-brown and will gradually discolor to a greenish-blue that eventually blackens

Cost: Expensive (over $7.00 per square foot)

Porch Screening Type: Fiberglass

Quality Features: Preferred insect screening; woven from permanent glass yarn, non-combustible, will not rust, corrode, or stain; needs to be handled with care- easily torn

Color: Variety of colors

Cost: Least expensive (about 15 cents per square foot)

stainless steel mesh Porch Screening Type: Stainless Steel

Quality Features: Most popular woven screen; known for its strength and corrosion resistance; great for marine environments

Color: Silver; Type 316 is approx 10% more but will not rust and is maintenance free. It is bright so it will cause glare in bright sunlight

Cost: Relatively expensive - about $1 per square foot

Porch Screening Type: Vinyl-coated polyester

Quality Features: Designed to resist pets and also for sun control. They dissipate heat to the framing system; it will outlast aluminum; great for hot climates

Color: Variety of colors

Cost:50-65 cents per square foot

Insect Screening

Insect screening for mosquitos and no-see-ums (picture at left) require a more tightly woven screen. See our response to Jennifer's question regarding insect screening for her new porch.

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What Are Privacy Screens?

Privacy screens are approximately $1.25 per square foot. When a privacy-style porch is desired, privacy screens can be a great solution.

How do privacy screens work?

Privacy is obtained by the combination of 3 factors and to be effective, they must all exist together. Here are the factors:

The size of the holes in the screen and how many holes per inch
How much light the screen reflects
Lighting difference

So, let's talk a little more about what all this means.

Size of the Pores (Holes in the Screen)

When you are close to the screen, you can see through more because the number of screen fibers getting in your way decrease. You almost can see through the screen as if it wasn't even there.

But if you stand back, then those screen fibers become more impressive and you see less.

How Much Light the Screen Reflects and Lighting Difference

The area you want to be private must be darker than the outside area. So for example, if you are walking in a neighborhood at night where homes have their indoor lights on, you can easily see inside (if the window shades are open).

Whereas in the daytime, where it is brighter outside than inside, that same home is much more private.

So an outside living area (such as a covered porch or patio) can be made more private if it's not in the sunlight - and hence more opportune for a privacy screen.

custom designed screen porch with porch skirting

Custom screen porch by The Porch Company

Lighter colors provide more reflective qualities. Consequently, lighter colors are often needed in order to make an area private when there isn't much difference in the ambient lighting between the inside and outside.

Solar Screens

Solar screens are approximately $1.25 per square foot. Solar screens are beneficial because they:

Reduce energy costs by keeping nearby rooms cooler
Protect sun-sensitive plants
Increase porch usage by cutting down on the heat

Solar screen is a special screen mesh that is specially designed for sun control. It is the most effective way to control the sun's heat and glare by stopping it before it enters your porch. Solar porch screening is designed to keep out the heat from the sun.

Although solar screens may look dark from outside, the ability to see outward is still there. With darker color solar shades, it is kind of like looking though sunglasses, it blocks the glare and sometimes the outward visibility is even better than without the solar screen.

You can expect the temperature to be as much as 15 degrees lower. That can make your porch much more enjoyable and will allow you to use it during those long hot summer days!

Much like a big shade tree, exterior solar screen will help reduce your cooling costs, can reduce the load on your air conditioning and will help reduce glare.

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Pet Screens Are Even Helpful for Toddlers

Pet screens are approximately $1.80 per square foot. Pet screen fabric is ultra strong screening that resists tears and damage by dogs and cats.

However, is still offers superb outward visibility. Pet screen is ideal for areas where children or pets push against the screen.

So in summary, there are many types of porch screening.

Choose the mesh size, color and quality based upon your budget, climate, the amount of privacy you desire and your personal preferences. Choose a mesh size that keeps the bothersome bugs out and enjoy your screened porch to the fullest.

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Screened Porches Help Prevent West Nile Virus

Note: The following information was extracted from Wikipedia.org and is for reader consideration only. It is not intended to be medical or biological advice.
Any questions about the West Nile virus should be directed to your respective governmental agencies.

mosquito biting arm Avoiding mosquito bites is the most straightforward means to avoid infections such as the West Nile virus.

Remaining indoors (while preventing mosquitoes from entering) at dawn and dusk, wear light-colored clothing that covers arms and legs as well as trunk, using insect repellants on both skin and clothing (such as DEET, picaradin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus for skin and permethrin for clothes).

(Our note: Using 18 x 24 or 20 x 20 mesh porch screening helps to keep mosquitoes out of your porch.)

If one becomes infected, generally, treatment is purely supportive: analgesia for the pain of neurological diseases; re-hydration for nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; encephalitis may also require airway protection and seizure management.

You can find more information from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) online.

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