Several types of screening are made for specialty purposes. Here is a look at the main ones:
Solar screen
Solar screen comes in a white fabric where six horizontal strands are grouped together as bands. This 57 x 16 mesh is used primarily as an interior rollershade—it has good visibility away from the window but is a little distorted closer up because of the woven bands. A similar aluminum product, Phifer ShadeScreen, has tiny open louvers that block most direct sunlight but allow good outward visibility. This comes only in black and costs about $1.50 per square foot.
Pet screen fabric
If you have pets that constantly shred your screens, look into pet screen fabric made from heavy-duty, vinyl-coated polyester. This material from Phifer is heavier than normal screening and is seven times stronger. It’s sold as a do-it-yourself product in black and gray. FlexScreen from Elgar Products, Inc., is a flexible, nylon-reinforced material that will stretch without sagging. It’s sold specifically for do-it-yourself patio door screen replacement and retails for $20–$24 for the kit.
Bronze, copper, brass & stainless steel
You can also get screening made from bronze wire that is composed of 90% copper and 10% zinc, but this option is much more expensive than aluminum. At an even higher premium, you can buy copper, brass, or stainless steel. All of these except brass are typically made using a .011 wire size in an 18 x 14 or 16 x 16 mesh. Brass is made with heavier wire: usually .018 wire in a 16 x 16 mesh.
Bronze is the least expensive, at about $1 per square foot; copper and stainless are closer to $1.20. Brass is about $2.15 per square foot. When ordering specialty metals, expect a minimum order of about $75.
When new, bronze has a golden shine. Copper, bronze, and brass will eventually take on a verdigris patina; stainless steel, the strongest, stays a shiny silver. Copper, bronze, and brass should not be installed in aluminum screen-door frames becausew where the two metals touch they will corrode.
Retractable screens
Pella Rolscreen offers a retractable insect screen, made specifically to fit Pella’s Designer Series and Architect Series rectangular casement windows. This spring-loaded shade retracts into the head of the window. It simply slides down between side-mounted guides and locks at the bottom when you want a screen. Screening is vinyl-coated fiberglass; hardware is either white or champagne colored.
Phantom Screens offers retractable screens for both windows and doors. The entire screen rolls back into a tubular casing at one side of the door when not in use. When open, the screen is held in place by magnetic catches. Six colors are available. Including installation, prices run from $285 for a single door to $595 for double doors (windows are custom priced). Several types of mesh are available, from insect to solar-blocking.
