Choosing the right type of porch shade or screen for your outdoor living space can be quite a decision-making process in itself, but when you have settled on a style or approach, along comes the next question: what kind of porch screen material are you going to go for? Well, there is a wide range of porch screen materials out there, but the one which is right for you will depend on a number of factors.

Here we’ll take a look at the major deciding factors in picking the right screen material for porch areas, and at the differences between the main types of screen material are.

Deciding Factors for Porch Screen Materials

Personal Taste: 

One of the biggest factors in choosing the type of material used for your porch screen is that it fits in with the overall aesthetic you want for your home. Some types of porch material, such as a common fiberglass screen, can come in virtually any color, while others, like steel or bronze, will only have one. Apart from the color, the porch screen materials used will give different looks, like vinyl-coated polyester for a minimalist look or brass for something more vintage.

Climate: 

Another major reason to pick one kind of porch screen material over another is what weather effects you’re looking to minimize. This could mean going for something with a tighter mesh size if the sun is too strong and you’re looking to protect furniture and fittings from sun-weathering or a non-metal if it’s a damp climate that could lead to rust and corrosion.

Location: 

There are also a number of environmental factors that may play a role in picking a particular porch screen material. These include sea salt, which can lead to the corrosion of metals like aluminum and brass if you live close to the sea. The direction and strength of the sun will make a difference as some screen porch materials, especially PVC-coated polyester, are better for dissipating heat. In urban areas, the fumes of a city can create a thick scale on your screen porch material, so an easily cleaned option like fiberglass will be a good choice.

Pets: 

Pets, specifically cats and dogs, can either scratch or tear holes in your porch screen. This is mostly a problem for a fiberglass screen as it’s the most fragile of porch screen materials. The best pet-resistant material for a porch screen is PVC-coated polyester fibers, but strong metals, such as stainless steel, brass or bronze, would also work well.

Visibility Needs: 

If you have a beautiful view and little passing traffic before your home, then you’ll want the screen porch material that gives you the most possible visibility, so a thin PVC or fiberglass screen with a wide mesh would work. However, privacy might be a more significant concern in a more populated neighborhood. Therefore, you’ll want a darker material that creates a mirror effect by being brighter on the outside than on the inside.

Movement: 

It also makes a difference if your porch screen is going to be fixed and static for its lifetime or if it will be moving. Motorized and retractable porch screens are highly popular for new installs as they increase homeowners’ design options. However, much heavier materials, such as stainless steel or brass, may not be viable, while more fragile options, such as fiberglass, run a greater risk of being damaged. If looking to install a motorized or retractable screen, it’s best to talk with your installer to get expert help on the best porch screen materials to use.

Different Types of Porch Screen Material

As we’ve looked at, though insect protection is the primary use for porch screens, they also have a lot of other deciding factors on the material used for the screen mesh. There are a wide variety of options, so here we’ll take a look at the most common and some more niche screen porch material choices and their pros and cons.

Fiberglass: 

This is generally the number one choice for porches as it can come in a huge variety of colors and provides great visibility as it minimizes glare from the sun. It’s easy to work with, flexible and generally the cheapest option out there, but the downsides are that it’s relatively fragile, so it tears easily and can be easily torn by determined pets.

PVC-Coated Polyester: 

A more resilient porch screen material, polyester fibers coated in a vinyl covering, is more resistant to pets and other types of corrosion caused by environmental factors. This screen fabric also won’t dent or crease like other materials and is probably the best choice for very hot climates or screens taking direct sunlight as the fibers naturally dissipate heat.

Metal Screen Materials:

Some vendors still offer metallic screens, but they fall short in so many fields that Screenmobile doesn’t offer them. PVC and fiberglass are generally considered to be superior options compared to aluminum, stainless steel, copper, and brass, due to the following reasons:

• Aluminum: It may be cheaper than other metallic options, but it dents easily and is prone to corrosion, especially in damp or seaside locations. Charcoal or black coating can reduce glare but also adds to the cost.
• Stainless Steel: Strong and rust-resistant, but it is rigid, making it difficult to work with, and it also causes significant glare in the sun.
• Copper: Flexible but bends easily, and while it has a unique natural discoloration over time, it may not be suitable for all styles.
• Brass: a stylish option, but it is expensive, flexible, and susceptible to sea salt and atmosphere corrosion.

In comparison, PVC and fiberglass are durable, low-maintenance, and have better resistance to weather and corrosion, making them a better long-term investment for porch screens.

Conclusion

There is a wide range of potential materials to use for your screen porch, and a number of factors go into deciding which one is best for your situation. Apart from keeping out insects, your porch screen material can also be used for keeping the worst of the sun’s rays or even mild precipitation from your porch furniture or fittings. Of course, wear and tear and corrosion are also big factors, but then the stronger materials you choose, like stainless steel or brass, may not be viable in the area you live in.

Before making any decision on your screen porch material, it’s always good to get an expert opinion on what will work best for your individual needs. To do so, you can get in contact with your local Screenmobile installer here, who will be happy to discuss your options.

Why Turn a Porch into a 3 Season Room or 4 Season Room

The most basic sunroom could also be called a one-season porch. It’s an area outside your home, level with your house, which is usable and quite enjoyable when the sun is shining in. It will most likely have insect-resistant porch screening to make sure the only guests are ones you’ve called over rather than the mosquitoes, no-see-ums or various other bugs attracted by the gathering.

This space can be many things, a relaxing place to chill out, somewhere to take in some cool air without the aircon blasting, or even a casual party location. However, this space could also be elevated even further by building a three-season or four-season space out of your existing porch or veranda. Three and four-season sunrooms mean that you can get much more use out of this extra living space, which brings greater value to your home and also means getting better value out of any investments you make there in terms of decoration and furniture.

If you already have a porch or are thinking of adding one, going the extra step of making it a 3-season room or 4-season room definitely has big benefits. Here we’ll look at what they are and what you need to do to make it happen.

3 Season Room or 4 Season Room: What’s the Difference

Let’s start with looking at what the big difference is between a basic or screened-in porch, a 3-season room and a 4-season room.

A normal or screened-in porch will have, at most, screening materials at its openings, which mostly serve to keep out insects but can also be for reducing the glare and UV damage of the sun or for ensuring pets and toddlers don’t stray out any gaps. However, with the screen material allowing for the full flow of air and no extra insulation measures, outside of summer, the porch will be too cold, windy or wet for daily usage.

A 3 season room will generally have insulation (though some very warm parts of the country won’t necessarily need it) and also a screen and window layout that can keep out wind and rain. This means that despite the worst of whatever spring, summer and fall has to throw at your home, the 3 season room will still be usable. A three-season porch, as it doesn’t have its own heating or aircon, will still have to be separated from the rest of the house, which is the main difference between it and a 4 season room.

A 4 season room, as the name suggests, is completely usable all year round. That’s because, along with better insulation in the flooring and roofing, and windows that can trap heat, it’s also connected through to your house’s heating, ventilation and aircon (HVAC) system, which allows it to be heated or cooled like any other room in your house. As a year-round sunroom, you’ll be able to enjoy the space and comfort of the extra living space without having to worry about the ambient temperature outside, which also means that a 4 season room can be directly connected to the rest of your house without the need to be closed off by walls or doors, which also fills your home with more natural light.

So with those differences sorted out, let’s look at how to go about building a 3-season room or 4-season room. These can be either from converting an existing porch, veranda or other outside space or building it from the ground up. There are different processes for making either of the spaces, but they also have a reasonable amount in common.

How to Build a 3-Season Room

Whether the job is a conversion or a new build, whether it’ll be a DIY 3-season room or you’re hiring a contractor, the core concept of elevating a 3-season room from a simple screened-in porch is how much control you have over the environment. By that, we mean you want to be able to keep what you don’t want (wind, rain, insects, heat or coldness) out and what you do want (warmth or cool air, noise, pets and toddlers) in.

There are a number of factors that allow you to do this, namely insulation (roof, wall, floor) and your windows, screens or window screens. The insulation doesn’t have to be as heavy as with a 4 season room. Roof and floor work are the main concerns. It’s possible to have all-clear walling in your 3 season room, depending on your insulation needs. An example is the Eze-Breeze system, which integrates panels made from see-through vinyl that have the same functionality as glass without the fragility or cost. The advantage of using such a system for your 3-season room is that the wall/window panels can be adjusted into different configurations depending on how much coverage or openness you want for the room in adapting to the seasons.

Cost-wise, a 3-season room is going to run anywhere between $10,000 to $50,000, depending on how much insulation and glazing or screening has to be added. It can even sometimes be cheaper to build the room again from the ground up rather than retrofitting insulation or other features such as anti-mouse and moisture screens in the flooring.

How to Build a 4-Season Room

As mentioned, the big difference between a 3-season room and a 4-season room is that the latter is connected to your home’s HVAC systems. To ensure that you’re not losing warmth or coolness from your home that means the 4 season room must be up to the same standards of insulation and temperature control as the rest of the house, so all of the same rules apply as for a 3 season room but wall insulation and insulated (that is, double-panel) windows or screens are a must.

Connecting your HVAC system to the room can be quite a task in itself, though. It will probably need to be rewired for extra outlets or HVAC equipment. When it comes to that equipment, a new aircon or heating system unit may be required, though you may be lucky to get away with simply splitting ducts from the main system. For anything producing fumes, such as a fireplace or stove, make sure you have proper exit ducts, and the whole finished job is up to local building codes.

Though a 4-season room will logically come in more expensive than a 3-season room, at around $20,000 to $80,000, the benefits are greater. Apart from being able to use the room all year round, it is also important, legally, for a room to be occupiable 365 days a year for it to be officially counted as ‘living space’ by real estate agents, thus adding greater value to your home.

Conclusion

Building or converting a porch or outdoor area into a 3 season room or 4 season room is a big home improvement undertaking but can have huge benefits, giving you, your family and your friends a wonderful and relaxing living space for the majority or all of the year.

If you’re thinking about taking the step, it’s always best to talk with the experts first. Here at Screenmobile, converting and winterizing porches, verandas and other spaces is a specialty, and our technicians are always happy to discuss how the job can go down and what kind of options are available to make the space your own.

To find out more, you can read about conversions, 3-season rooms and more here or locate your nearest Screenmobile operator here.

What are Pet Screens?

Pets are much-loved members of the family but can sometimes pose a challenge when it comes to the treatment of furniture and anything else in the house. This is especially true in the case of screen doors, which are usually more fragile than a normal door, and household pets can damage them in a number of ways, such as:

– Dogs: Screen doors are a barrier stopping a dog from getting outside, which is made even worse as they can clearly see what’s on the other side, and they want it. Dogs can claw or get their teeth into regular screen doors to try to tear them apart. They can also just straight-up crash into them and knock them out if they’re coming at them in a hurry.

– Cats: Cats, generally, don’t have the strength or desire to pull out a screen door, but they do love scratching their nails and stretching on the grate-like surface of a screen which will tear it open in time and then the curiosity really begins. Cats are also known to climb up screen doors like it’s a tree, which can end up pulling them out of their frame.

For these reasons, special pet-resistant screens are needed, which use different screen material to normal screens to give them extra strength and make them tear-resistant. A pet screen will still provide all the functionality of a normal screen, that is, keeping out bugs and providing a certain amount of privacy while also allowing air to circulate, but it will just be a more heavy-duty version.

What Materials Are Used in a Pet Screen

Pet screen material should be vinyl (PVC) coated polyester or nylon fibers for a few reasons. The first of these is that PVC-coated fibers are up to seven times stronger than regular screen materials, and while they are tight-knit, the fibers also have more give in them than some types of metal-based screens, which may just crack if hit by a sprinting hound who can’t stop in time. As well as adding a protective coating from pet claws, the PVC coating also helps protect the fiber strands from the worst of the sun’s rays, as well as salt, oils, and moisture in general.

The second reason to be careful about the pet screen materials you use is to ensure they aren’t toxic or harmful to your pets. Standard screen materials like carbon fiber and aluminum may not be hugely toxic in the small amounts a pet is likely to ingest (though some dogs can chew through a whole one, which is definitely not a good thing), but these materials don’t digest at all and so can cause gastrointestinal blockages for your pets. The best pet screen material in this sense is polyester fiber which, while not excellent in huge quantities, is just the same as the filling in a pet’s play toy.

It should also be noted that there may be chemicals you want to avoid in some popular screen washes, so be sure to check for a non-toxic version before cleaning your screens.

What Kind of Pet Screens Are There

Depending on the type of pet you have, the challenge will be different for protecting your screen from them. The typical forms of pet screen solutions are:

Pet Resistant Screens

These are normal screens but made with the heavy-duty PVC-coated polyester fiber mentioned earlier. They have extra strength to deal with the vast majority of animal interests, so you can feel safe leaving your pet alone with them without coming home to find one or both to have disappeared. The fiber is thicker, so the screen apertures are also slightly larger to allow for air and light but still too small for bugs to pass through.

Pet Guards

For the toughest pet challenges, mainly very large and active dogs, then a full-on pet guard might be necessary. This is like a barrier for your screen, which protects the screen from being reached and scratched or gnawed by your pet. It functions like a gate, with vertical bars, and can be made from a variety of metals with varying levels of width and number of bars. This will keep your screen safe while still letting it function fully.

Pet Doors

Pet doors, which allow pets to move freely between outside and inside, can also be installed on pet screens. Without any barrier to entry or exit, a lot of the reason for picking on the screen door is gone, and if it’s made of pet screen material, then it will be built to survive most wear and tear. Whether you want to have a pet door included in a screen door, you’re having installed or to install a pet door on an existing screen door, you can ask your Screenmobile technician to help you out.

Pet Screens for Windows

In the same vein as pet screen doors, screens for windows also need protection from pets, especially those behind tall furniture or anything to do with cats. Using the same PVC-coated polyester as the pet screen material, your screen windows should be tough enough to survive most scratching, climbing and pulling. The frames can be an issue, and it’s important to get screen window frames that don’t pop out too easily.

What is the Best Screen for Pets

The pet screen vs. regular screen debate is relatively easy to settle. If you have a pet that’s in any way curious about the outside or your furniture, you should most likely get a pet screen for your doorways and possibly windows, too (in the case of cats or windows beside sofas or other tall furniture). This pet screen will be made of special, heavy-duty material, such as PVC-coated polyester, that is not dangerous or toxic for your pet.

As to whether you should get a pet screen, screen guard or a pet door, well, that will depend on your pet, its size and desire to get outside, whether it’s allowed outside and whether they’re big enough to get through even a pet screen or agile enough to reach a window. Those are all individual decisions, but our Screenmobile technicians are always happy to help you find the best option for your family, pets and all.

To find out more about installing pet screen doors or windows, pet guards or pet doors, you can read more about what Screenmobile offers here or go here to find your local Screenmobile operator.