Australia’s unrelenting sunlight has a way of weakening and fading ordinary screen materials until they crack, which is why UV protection for your window mesh is something to consider. The proper mesh will let in air and cut down on glare while keeping mozzies at bay, but one should not think of it as a panacea for every ray or an alternative to good glazing.
Beatrice Hollowbrook here. After years in everything from a coastal cottage to a dusty regional town and my share of weatherboard homes, I can tell you that window screens take their share of abuse. Be it salt spray, the afternoon baking, grit in the wind or an over-zealous dog, all put the durability of the mesh to the test. Following regular screen maintenance routines and choosing your material well will save you the bother of having to put in new screens when the old ones have gone rough as guts.
What Is Meant by UV Protection
For the most part, it means the finish, coating or fibres of the mesh are putative to withstand ultraviolet radiation. You will find a UV-resistant screen holds its shape and does not fade like untreated mesh left in the open. But do not assume it is blocking all UV; the material, its colour and weave, the openness factor and how much sun the window gets will dictate the outcome.
Do not confuse the two. One is about the mesh enduring exposure (resistance), the other is what is allowed through (blocking). You may have a UV stable mesh that does not offer much in the way of solar control, or a dark solar screen that takes the edge off the light without stopping every wavelength.
Put aside the label and get some test data from your supplier. You want to know if the claim is for the whole screen or just the coating, and such things as visible light transmission and any UV-stabiliser treatment.
The Case for Better Screens in Australia
From the Top End’s humidity to the windy suburbs and dry inland, our climate puts intense sunlight on window mesh. The Bureau of Meteorology’s official UV Index information sets out how levels change with the season and where you are. Some homeowners are taken aback by it: a cool day might call for a jumper but the radiation is no less strong. Clouds will dim the brightness yet the UV risk remains.
In Time the Damage Shows
Before the mesh looks for the worse, the UV degradation has set in. Press on it and you will find it brittle, the coating is chalky and the fibres have given up their flexibility. Then you start to see small tears in the spline channels or at the corners where the frame has been buffeted by the wind. Windows to the south and west get the worst of the afternoon, though balconies and other buildings can provide some respite. Up north the wet season brings its own problems of moisture and flying debris come November.
A Look at Your Options
You will not find one UV resistant mesh that is best for all of Australia. Fiberglass is fine for the average home, stainless steel for strength, polyester for flexibility. It is a matter of what you are prepared to put down and what your security and ventilation needs are. In a shaded bedroom cheap mesh is sensible enough, on an exposed western verandah it is a false economy.
| Material | Strengths | Watch-Outs | Suitable Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiberglass mesh | Easy to cut, light and affordable | Prolonged sun will make it sag or go brittle | Moderate exposure for general insect screens |
| Stainless steel mesh | Animals and impact are no match for it | More expensive and requires a good hand at installation to preclude corrosion | Where you have pets or a high-traffic door |
| Polyester mesh | Lightweight and flexible, protective coatings common | Coating can be damaged leaving the fibre exposed | An upgrade for outdoor living areas |
| PVC-coated mesh | Better colour stability and handling | Harsh cleaners or heat can mar the coating | Exterior rated product for sun-facing windows |
Fiberglass or Stainless?
If the frame is under cover and you can easily put in a new one, fiberglass is the practical choice for an insect screen. When you have children, vandalism or a lot of wind to contend with, go with stainless steel. Do not be under the impression that stainless steel requires no upkeep. The “stainless” label is no guarantee that a wash will never be called for. In coastal locales one will find salt making deposits on the frame and mesh, and localised corrosion can be the result of a scratch or fasteners that are not suited to the material. A good rinse with clean water is in order when there is an accumulation of dust or salt.
Heat Glare And Fading
With a tighter weave or a dark solar-control finish to the mesh, window screens for sun protection will keep some of the glare and heat at bay. That goes some way to making a room more liveable and you will not have to put up the blinds at the height of the day.
But the window system as a whole dictates how much of a reduction in heat is achieved. There is the orientation, the type of glass and frame, ventilation and any external shade or indoor blinds to consider. No catalogue will tell you the truth if it suggests a screen by itself can make a west-facing room into a cool cave.
The Limits Of Mesh
An ordinary insect screen is no substitute for UV-filtering glass or a good quality external blind, even if a UV blocking fly screen will cut down on what reaches your flooring and artwork. Should fading be an issue, put the mesh in combination with curtains, films or shutters.
Darker mesh is preferable for curbing glare as it does not reflect light and gives better visibility out, but it has a tendency to absorb more surface heat. Do not go by colour, enquire as to the supplier’s figures on solar-control performance.
Selecting Mesh For The Home
It is best to begin with who is using the window and its exposure. The demands on a sliding door with the ocean in front of it, or on the bushfire side of town where livestock might be nosing about, are not the same as those of a sheltered bathroom.
Take measurements of the frame and see if it is square, have a look at the present spline before you put in an order for replacement. If the corners are loose or the frame is twisted, new mesh will only give you a tidy looking failure.
A Checklist
- Determine the direction of the window and how much sun it gets in a day.
- Opt for something with an outdoor UV rating.
- Factor in wind, salt spray, children, pets and the comings and goings at the door.
- Put openness and airflow up against glare and insect control.
- Make sure the mesh will work with the frame and spline you have.
- Get details on warranty, service life and any restrictions on cleaning.
In the Pilbara or inland South Australia easy to clean and dust resistant properties are of more importance; in the Top End you must give as much thought to moisture and wet season storms as to mould. For a home by the sea corrosion resistance in the fixings and fasteners is paramount.
Weather In Australia
The mesh on an Australian window is subject to varying degrees of rain, wind, salt, dust and UV. You may have a screen in Castlemaine contending with pollen and dry heat, whereas in the vicinity of Cairns it is the humidity and conditions ripe for mould and heavy rain.
Maintenance is a seasonal affair. Have the screens seen to before summer brings bushfire smoke and holiday makers. When the wet season is upon you, check the drainage and frame movement and the state of the fasteners. After a storm do not wait for a mozzie to make its presence known, go and see if there is debris damage or the mesh has been stretched.
What One Might Expect
There is an expectation of indefinite life from a top of the range UV-stable insect screen. In fact they will age, however UV-resistant materials will put off deterioration. The manufacturer puts forward a service-life estimate but it is not a given, for installation and weather are different in every house.
And while a screen behind glass is to some degree protected, some UV makes it through to internal ones and external screens are open to the elements. Quality glazing means less exposure, not none.
Keeping Up With Screens
Grit and salt will grind their way into the frame and mesh unless small jobs are done. I made the error of leaving a coastal screen alone too long; on the surface it was just dusty but the spline had come loose and the lower edge was corroding.
A soft brush or the vacuum will do, then a rinse and a wipe with mild detergent if the occasion warrants. There is no need to be aggressive with a scrub or turn a high-pressure hose on it. Once the screen has dried completely, check for any loose corners.
Care To Avoid Problems
- Brush away or vacuum any loose dust.
- Clean water to get rid of grime and salt.
- Have a thorough inspection of the handles, fixings, spline and mesh.
- Dry the screen before the window is closed or it is put back.
- Note any damage so you are not faced with an expensive batch of repairs down the line.
In the case of coastal living, a dusty country property or any home with construction in its vicinity, more frequent cleaning is called for. Should you have a screen that rattles in the wind, put right the frame or fasteners; do not resort to wedging it as one might be tempted to. You will find such expediency has a way of coming back to haunt you at an inopportune time, often when the mozzies are in session.
Damaged Mesh: To Repair or Replace
A repair is the sensible course if the frame is straight and there is only a small tear or some wear. But where the mesh is brittle, has seen better days in terms of colour, is stretched or has come away from the spline, or is compromised in multiple spots, it is best to replace it in full.
Give the mesh a gentle press of a finger. If it is in good order it will have a certain flexibility and tension. Cracks, flaking or anything with a papery feel means it is pulling from the frame and patching is not the answer. A patch might close off an insect or two but the rest of the screen will be primed to let you down.
When to Enlist a Professional
For bent frames, out of the ordinary sized windows, security mesh or where ladders are needed, a qualified installer should be your call. Re-screening a panel on the ground floor is no trouble, but to do the same over a balcony or stairwell is a risk not worth taking for what was meant to be a quick fix.
Ask for a written quote that itemises the labour, disposal, spline, frame work and the mesh itself. There is no responsible way to put an AUD figure on it without first measuring up, given the variables in location, access and material.
Frequently Asked Questions
Homeowners have their misunderstandings when it comes to UV stable insect screens, and these answers are provided for the sake of clarity. The final decision ought to be informed by the manufacturer’s technical data and how exposed the window is.
Window Mesh and UV Rays
Ordinary insect screens will not block every UV ray, though some mesh will cut down on transmission. What is termed UV-resistant is largely about withstanding ultraviolet damage. Put in some UV-rated glass or external shade along with a quality mesh for furniture you do not want to see fade.
The Best UV-Resistant Screen?
You will not find a one size fits all. Whether it is polyester, stainless steel or UV-rated fiberglass, go with what suits your budget, the need for airflow and visibility and so on. In high-wind or coastal spots, corrosion resistance and weather performance have to be top of mind.
Are Fly Screens Good for Furniture?
To an extent they will keep some of the sun and UV at bay, but do not rely on them for total protection. A strong afternoon can still see timber, flooring and photographs suffer through the glass and mesh.
Lifespan of UV Mesh
That is dependent on climate, how it is installed and cleaned among other things. One in the shade will outlast a screen to the west or in the salt spray. Make regular inspections and put in new mesh once the fibres show their age.
Maintenance in Bad Weather
Rinse off the salt with water, be kind to the dust and steer clear of abrasive chemicals. Have a look at the fasteners and spline. Do so with greater frequency in the wet season or after a spell of extreme heat and wind.
Heat and Glare
Some solar screen mesh with a tighter weave will lessen both, but then again the whole window, its orientation and ventilation are factors.
Fiberglass Versus Stainless Steel
For a standard insect screen, fiberglass is the more economical and lighter option. Then there is stainless steel which is stronger for a busy door or where pets are concerned, if one is prepared to pay for it and give it the attention it needs in a coastal environment.
Choosing Wisely
With Australian window mesh it is a matter of selecting the right material for your household and climate, not whatever the packet claims. You want even tension in the installation, some corrosion resistance and verifiable UV stability.
See to your exposed screens at least once a season, get the grime off before it does any harm and change the mesh if it has become brittle. It is the right way to have a screen that lets the breeze in and the insects out and spares you a maintenance bill that would otherwise be the bane of the house.
