Perhaps Ogden Nash put it best-- "God in His wisdom made the fly... And then forgot to tell us why." Just when the outdoor temperatures grow pleasant enough for us to leave doors and windows open, squadrons of buzzing bugs bring on their assault. Fortunately, insect screening is an effective countermeasure that allows us to maintain an open-door policy.
Screening has come a long way from the bug barriers woven from horse hair a century ago. Following modification of textile looms in the 1920s, galvanized steel screening became common in homes. It protected doors and windows for decades but, because steel wire has a tendency to rust over time, it eventually gave way to a non-rusting alternative, aluminum. Today, aluminum--and newer vinyl-coated fiberglass--are by far the most common screen materials used. Of the two, vinyl-coated fiberglass outsells aluminum 3 to 1 because it's about half the price.
Other than price, there isn't much difference between the two. Historic preference plays a big role in whether people choose one over the other. In certain parts of the country people prefer aluminum, but in other regions they choose vinyl-coated fiberglass.
