Screen Mesh Sizes & Materials: What Do You Need?

Jul. 01, 2024

Screen Mesh Sizes & Materials: What Do You Need?

Consider these scenarios:

It&#;s hot and you don&#;t have air conditioning in your home or business.
You&#;ve accidentally burned tonight&#;s dinner on the stove. It&#;s still smoking.
You&#;re trying to relax and the sounds of nature would help calm your nerves.

What&#;s the first thing you&#;ll likely do?

Probably open a window.

But insects, birds, leaves, and other airborne nuisances that get inside through your window can quickly make you regret opening it in the first place.

Designed to keep elements of the great outdoors in their natural habitat without obstructing airflow, window screens create a barrier between the inside of a building and what&#;s outside.

But wire mesh screens do more than keep bugs out and let air in -- they contribute significantly to a residential or commercial property&#;s aesthetic appeal. A building appears more finished when its windows have screens.

Choosing a window screen isn&#;t a matter of selecting a mesh that looks good. There are two key factors that let you get the desired performance from a screen: screen mesh sizes and materials.

What to Consider When Shopping for Wire Mesh Screens

Selecting the right screen for a specific application takes a few factors into consideration:

Screen mesh sizes and strand size: How big is whatever you want to keep out? And how wide a span do you want the screen to cover?
How big is whatever you want to keep out? And how wide a span do you want the screen to cover?
Material: Which material best suits the screen&#;s purpose, environment, and desired aesthetic?

Unsure which window screen is right for your project?

Compare our available window screen mesh inventory:

Screen Wire Size: What Are Mesh Size and Strand Size?

Put simply, mesh size is a measurement of the holes in the screen. The size of the holes determines what gets through and what doesn&#;t. Window screen mesh hole size also influences the screen&#;s rigidity.

Strand size -- or gauge -- measures the diameter of each &#;wire&#; that makes up the screen. Thicker wire diameters add to the screen strength but can take away from its good looks and outward visibility.

Combined with a larger strand size, a window screen with a smaller mesh size will have more integrity and be able to span wider distances without sagging.

How to Measure Screen Mesh Sizes

Measuring mesh size is a matter of finding the number of &#;holes&#; in a square inch of screen.

You can find this number by cutting a 1-inch by 1-inch hole in the middle of a piece of paper. Then:

Tape the paper to the screen so the edges of the cutout line up with the vertical and horizontal wires in the screen.
Count the holes in the mesh horizontally from one side of the cutout to the other. Write this number down.
Count the holes from the top of the cutout to the bottom. Write it down.
You now have the mesh size, which you&#;ll write as (number of horizontal holes) x (number of vertical holes). Don&#;t be surprised if the answer is 18 x 16, 18 x 14, or 20 x 20.

Window wire mesh size matters to most screens&#; principal purpose: keeping bugs out while letting air flow freely into an area. In some parts of the country (and the world), tiny flying insects (often called no-see-ums) are prevalent.

A mesh size of 18x14 or even 18x16 might not keep these menaces out. But a 20x20 mesh screen would. On the other hand, the tighter mesh also slightly reduces airflow.

What Materials Are Used to Make Screens?

As screens meet many demands, there are multiple materials from which to choose.

Window mesh screen material type plays a significant role in a screen&#;s performance. Some materials are designed for durability and longevity, while others strictly serve a functional purpose: allowing air circulation.

Popular screen products used in the residential and commercial sectors include:

Black PetScreen® -- A pet screen mesh, this Phifer product provides an insect screen with the ability to resist damage from pets. It&#;s made of vinyl-coated polyester.
Brite-Kote&#; Bright Aluminum Screen -- For good air ventilation and aesthetics, this aluminum mesh screen also offers durability.
Charcoal fiberglass screen -- Providing good visibility through the screen to the outside, fiberglass screen mesh also won&#;t rust, corrode or stain.

Providing good visibility through the screen to the outside, fiberglass screen mesh also won&#;t rust, corrode or stain.
Charcoal aluminum screen -- Another metal screen mesh material, the charcoal aluminum screen offers reduced glare, good outward visibility, and a weather-resistant finish.

Another metal screen mesh material, the charcoal aluminum screen offers reduced glare, good outward visibility, and a weather-resistant finish.
SeeVue insect screen -- SeeVue is a stainless steel wire mesh screen that boasts a black finish and durability.

SeeVue is a stainless steel wire mesh screen that boasts a black finish and durability.
UltraVue insect screen -- Featuring excellent visibility and lasting protection, UltraVue is a fiberglass screen mesh with a vinyl coating.
Featuring excellent visibility and lasting protection, UltraVue is a fiberglass screen mesh with a vinyl coating.

Screens are also made of copper, brass, and other materials -- the choices are pretty broad to meet a variety of applications.

Screen and Frame Pricing:

Pricing for screens largely depends on mesh and strand size coupled with the material.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Mclassic Metal.

At New Angle Beveling, we offer the following prices for window screens:

Window Screen Performance = Screen Mesh Sizes + Wire Gauge + Material

A natural part of any window, carefully selecting mesh screens helps maximize a window&#;s functionality. Combining the right screen mesh size, wire gauge, and material type lets you wholly enjoy an open window.

Looking for a glass partner for your next commercial project? Check out our services and capabilities:

(Editor's note: This blog was originally published in May and was recently updated).

Choosing the Right Welded Mesh for Your Specific ...

Welded mesh is a bit of an umbrella term for metal-based panels that can be manufactured to a range of specifications. From light mesh to heavy-weight coated mesh, it&#;s important to understand the component aspects of the final product to ensure it will perform as required.

Welded mesh is an increasingly popular choice for fencing panels where strength, durability and overall performance are valued. Suitable for a wide range of applications, from High security to low-level demarcation, this is an ideal solution for when full through-visibility is needed as part of a robust fencing structure.

Understanding welded mesh

Welded mesh is essentially a series of durable steel wires that are welded together at each intersection.

At Siddall & Hilton, we boast 5 cutting-edge machines that utilize coil-fed cross wires for electric resistance welding onto line wires. Out of these machines, 4 are specifically designed for line wire coils, while the ATT126 machine employs pre-straightened and cut-to-length line wires. This technique results in a flat and rigid panel with either a square or rectangular-shaped mesh with an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. Our machines perform resistance welding to join wires together. For machines using line wires from a coil, a guillotine is utilized to cut panels to the desired length. In contrast, the machine using cut lengths determines the panel length based on the number of line wires used in production.

The resulting structure is extremely robust and as a result, is highly effective as a perimeter solution. There are a number of common types of welded mesh available, including:

Wire gauge and thickness

An indicator of strength and durability; the thicker the wire, the smaller the gauge and the more expensive the product. However, the focus should be on the correct gauge for each specific project as selecting a wire that is too thin can result in a product that is not strong enough to withstand the intended application, while using a wire that is too thick can be unnecessarily expensive.

In fencing and fabrication, the choice of wire gauge depends on the specific requirements of the application. Heavy-duty security fencing, for instance, might use lower gauge wires for added strength and deterrence, while lighter applications or decorative fencing might use higher gauge wires.

It's essential to consider the intended purpose, load-bearing requirements, and environmental conditions when selecting the appropriate steel wire gauge for welded mesh panels in fencing and fabrication projects.

Material type and coatings/finishings

Whether selecting a commonly manufactured specification or something more bespoke, every mesh panel will be produced from good quality metal that will adhere to Internationally recognised standards, minimum level of material and tolerance requirements. The additional coating then begins to offer enhanced protection of the mesh, adding to the longevity and performance of each panel.

Self-colour &#; Simply put this is steel in its raw form. The wire used does not undergo any additional surface treatment or coating after being manufactured. it's important to note that self-colour steel wire is more susceptible to corrosion compared to coated variants. It can be used for concrete reinforcement and for fabrication into other steel structures. You may choose to hot dip to galvanise the panels and integrate them into fencing and gate systems.

Pre-Galvanised &#; Steel wire that has undergone the galvanising process Prior to welding. Pre-galvanised steel wire offers the benefit of slightly enhanced corrosion resistance, particularly when used in combination with polyester powder coating.

Hot dip galvanised &#; This is where we take a completed steel panel and immerse it into a bath of molten zinc, allowing the zinc to bond metallurgically with the steel surface. This zinc coating offers steel panels additional corrosion protection. Want to learn more about the hot Dip galvanising process read our article on 10 reasons you should hot dip galvanise.

Galfan &#; This type of protective coating is a combination of zinc and aluminium, which provides superior corrosion protection to traditional zinc alloy. Read our guide on Galfan coating for more information.

Powder coated - Also known as electrostatic spraying, this process is popular as it creates a thick and durable layer of protection for metal surfaces which is ideal for fencing solutions. In most cases, fencing panels receive triple resistance protection. A pre-galvanised wire is used and is then pre-treated with a phosphate solution (other chemical pre-treatments are available), this helps promote adhesion between the metal and the coating.

We exclusively utilise directly drawn mild steel wire, ensuring a maximum carbon content of 0.1%. When producing wire mesh panels, choosing the appropriate finishes and coatings is crucial. Factors such as the structure's purpose, exposure conditions, expected maintenance, lifespan, and budget all contribute to forming the optimal specification.

Application-specific considerations

The versatility and flexibility of wire mesh panels mean they are used across a wide range of applications.

In the agriculture sector, Profiled wire mesh is a strong, durable and economical option for a range of purposes. It is effective for animal enclosures as part of a post and wire fencing structure or to ensure animal safety in more structured spaces. It can also be used for crop protection and given its strength and durability, is popular for guarding machinery as part of a high-security system.

For high-security projects, such as prisons, military installations and critical infrastructure, the 358 range is the clear choice (358,35duo, 35 superior). These mesh fencing panels are a reliable and high-performing option. With finger and foot-proof anti-climb barriers and anti-cut design, these panels are designed to withstand immense pressure whilst being compatible with most electronic alarm and detection systems.

When it comes to demarcation, Safetop and profiled panels are a cost-conscious yet visually acceptable choice to help with public footflow. Whether being used to create safe walkways, separate areas of specific use or simply create no-go zones for the general public, wire mesh panels can play an important role in defining boundaries.

With its adaptable design and flexible security features, double panels such as 868 and 656 wire mesh panels are ideally suited to the sports and leisure industry. Aesthetically pleasing, low maintenance and available in a range of colours, this kind of fencing system offers excellent visibility whilst still providing a rigid, strong and secure perimeter solution.

Talk to us today about wire mesh solutions

When it comes to perimeter fencing, wire mesh is an excellent choice. It&#;s strong, low-maintenance and cost-effective, as well as being available in a range of sizes and materials. How it will be used is important in defining the characteristics a specific perimeter structure will need, as is the coating and wire gauge.

This guide is intended to help inform you about the different options available to help you make an informed decision as part of your buying process. If you&#;d like to explore how we can help you with your next welded mesh purchase, we&#;d love to talk to you.

You can contact us at +44 (0) or .

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Wire Mesh For Sale. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

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