Which bug screen material to use?

[westcoastkevin]

Hi.
I had to remove the mesh material from all of the bug screens in the sun room. Some animals had trashed them sometime in the past.
The original was possibly aluminum. It seemed to be made from some sort of metal wire.
I have previously refitted the fabric mesh at a previous house.

Figuring that some of you will have given this more thought than me.
What kind do I replace it with?
Is the metallized one much more difficult to install than the fabric style if I can get a roll of it.
Does color matter gray/black?
Is one easier to see through than the other?
Any brands you recommend?
Any brands i should STAY AWAY from?
Is there anything I should be thinking about that I did not ask?

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[The Cobbler]

These days the fiberglass is more common, it is more resilient to not getting marked by hitting it . both are about the same to install, albeit they have different techniques to install . do you have frames with spline or are they stapled to a wood frame?
I like the black myself. If you have animals, there is a heavy screen that stretches and will hold the weight of a raccoon called pet screen . substantially more money

 

[nadogail]

As far as I know, the choice of colors for Fiberglass screening is merely a cosmetic matter.
I match whatever is existing on the building I am working on.

 

[zeke67]

Insects can eat through fiberglass screen. For a screen porch or something like a under a deck floor, use aluminum. If you have removable window screens, the FG is much easier to install, always looks nice, doesn't dent, etc. but is less durable.

 

[bassJAM]

My screened in porch has 16 panels of about 44x44 in each. I put up heavy duty fiberglass screen 9 years ago when I moved in, almost immediately 4 of the panels got ripped by a wild cat I scared off and I replaced those 4 with aluminum screen. After 9 years both the fiberglass and the aluminum has held up about the same. The fiberglass has more small pinholes from bugs eating it, but the aluminum also has a bunch of holes and many areas of it has stretched, while the fiberglass is still pretty taught for the most part.

I'm replacing it all this year, and going with the heavy duty fiberglass again. For the price it's held up well, especially in an area that gets a lot of abuse with small kids and both cats and dogs.

 

[westcoastkevin]

Thanks everybody for the thoughtful answers.
I just bought the place so I am not concerned about the same level of future damage.

They are aluminum frames with the rubber spline.
I just ordered a 250 foot roll of the correct diameter spline and the little roller tool.
I will get some rolls of the fiberglass material and use that.
Thanks again.
Kevin

 

[HPRifleman]

Last weekend we replaced a screen on one of the wooden screen doors on our house. They were probably original to the house (1950's).

The aluminum screen material seemed to get damaged easily before it got installed in the door. If you don't keep it rolled up, any folds make a crease in the material that looks lousy. We went with the fiberglass and it looks great after putting in the wooden trim and painting the door. The real challenge is keeping the dog from getting her paws on the screen and bulging it out.