Hi,

Is steel type material better quality than mesh/cloth type of material for window screens? Please advice.

Thank you!
Veronica

 

I've used both in the past.... and my dog ends up pushing through both! Then again, at 86lbs, I guess he could get through chain link if he pushed hard enough.

Are you repairing or buying new? If repairing, the plastic/fiberglass stuff is a bit easier to install as it has some stretch to it. Though, if you stretch it too much, your screen window will end up bowed. I do like the darker shade of it though.

 

What are you calling "steel type material"? Do you possibly mean "aluminum"? Aluminum screening (charcoal color is pretty standard) will crease & dent whereas fiberglass will not.

 

Define "better".

As Johnam mentioned, aluminum screens will show dents (such as from hail, or anything that hits the window, or even grazes it.) Aluminum screens can either be dark (charcoal colored) or bright (aluminum colored).

Fiberglass screens won't show dents, but they are also a favorite snack of grasshoppers, which will eat holes in them. Fiberglass screens can also become baggy looking.

Both screens have advantages and disadvantages. I suppose you might say that aluminum screens are more "durable", but they also can dent and get holes poked in them. Its a case of "six of one, half a dozen of the other."

Since I live and work in a rural area, we generally order aluminum screens due to the grasshopper factor. One window company continues to ship us windows with aluminum screens that are contantly dented, scarred and sometimes even poked with holes. We've given up on getting quality aluminum screens from them and only order fiberglass from them. I find it hard to believe that they won't protect their screens in packaging.

 

I remember the old steel screens - used to have to thin down paint to cover the rust when they got old. I prefer alum screen wire. I think it outlast fiberglass but is harder to install and can be harder to find [around here anyway] My biggest complaint with fiberglass is alot of sun and weather seams to deteriate them.

 

Thanks for the responses!

So, is aluminum screening more robust? Is fiberglass screening cheaper than aluminum? I am looking to replace my window screens and would like to know which one would last longer specially during the winter snow storm.

Thanks!
Veronica