No See Um Screen vs. Regular: Which One Should You Choose for ...

Tired of dealing with bugs and mosquitoes sneaking into your home? These pesky insects find even the tiniest gaps in window screens to invade your space. If you're planning a new screening project and want maximum insect protection, you’ll likely come across two popular screen mesh options: no-see-um screens vs regular screens. But which one is the right choice for your home? Let’s compare them to help you decide.

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What are Regular Window Screens?

A regular screen mesh is the standard type of screen used in most homes. These screens are made from fiberglass material, providing good durability and airflow.

The most common mesh size for regular screens is 17x14, which means there are 17 horizontal strands and 14 vertical strands per square inch. This mesh size is designed to keep out common household pests like flies and mosquitoes while still allowing fresh air to circulate through open windows and doors.

Benefits

• Good Airflow – The larger mesh openings allow more air to pass through, making them ideal for ventilation.
• Clear Visibility – The standard weave provides a clear, unobstructed view of the outdoors.
• Affordable – Regular screens are budget-friendly, making them a popular choice for homeowners.
• Widely Available – Found in most home improvement stores and screen repair shops.

Limitations

• May Not Block Tiny Insects – The standard 17x14 mesh is not fine enough to prevent no-see-ums, gnats, or sandflies from squeezing through the gaps.
• Less Privacy – Since they are designed for visibility, regular screens don’t offer much privacy or sun-blocking benefits.
• Not as Strong – While durable, standard fiberglass screens can be torn with sharp objects.

What is a No-See-Um Screen?

A no-see-um screen mesh is an upgraded version of fiberglass, designed to keep out even the tiniest insects, including no-see-ums, gnats, and sandflies—tiny pests that can easily slip through standard screens.

How It Works

No-see-um screens typically have a 20x20 mesh size or finer, meaning there are 20 horizontal and 20 vertical strands per square inch. The tighter weave creates smaller openings, which act as a barrier against tiny bugs while still allowing air to flow through.

Types of No-See-Um Screens

• Standard No-See-Um Screen – A fine mesh screen made from fiberglass, designed to block tiny insects while maintaining good airflow and visibility. It’s commonly used in homes, patios, and porches where insect protection is a primary concern.
• Solar Insect Screen – A dual-purpose screen that blocks both insects and sunlight. Made with specialized materials, it helps reduce heat and glare while keeping bugs out. If you live in a warm, coastal area where no-see-ums thrive, this type of screen could be the perfect choice for improving comfort indoors.

Benefits

• Superior Insect Protection – The smaller mesh openings effectively block no-see-ums, gnats, and other tiny insects that standard screens can’t stop.
• Better Privacy – The denser weave slightly reduces visibility from the outside, offering more privacy without completely blocking your view.
• Optional UV Protection – If you choose a solar insect screen, it can help block heat, glare, and harmful UV rays, keeping your home cooler.
• Durable & Long-Lasting – Coated with a heavy-duty vinyl material, these fiberglass mesh screens remain intact for a long time without compromising quality.

Limitations

• Higher Cost – No-see-um screens are more expensive than regular screens due to the finer mesh and added features like UV protection.
• Reduced Visibility – While still allowing good visibility, the denser mesh may reduce the clarity of your view compared to standard fiberglass screens.

Which Screen Should You Choose?

If you're in an area where gnats or sandflies are a big problem, a no-see-um screen is your best bet. But if mosquitoes are your main concern, traditional fiberglass screening will do the trick, offering clean visibility while keeping most bugs out.

My sister's dog has destroyed my fly screens front and back, all is good it can be replaced.

But I have decided it's time to upgrade to something a bit more protective.

My last property had a really thick one, no dog (No matter how much they tried ????) couldn't damage it and it didn't move at all.

I haven't seen one like this since, but I'm wondering if someone could help me find an idea on what could achieve the same affect. Essentially I'd like it to be an additional security feature, but I'm okay if it just looks that way.

Picture of the one I want below.

One is the way it looks in photos, the other is a shot of something else but I cropped so you can see what I'm after.

TIA

Hi @KatieCraig,

Let me extend a very warm welcome to the Workshop community. I trust you'll get loads of helpful advice and inspiration for all your projects around the house and garden from our amazing members. 

I shall tag the wonderful @Tara86 to see if she can kick off this conversion for you as I know she has been busy recently replacing some of her flyscreens. 

Can I please ask what problem you are trying to solve? Is it security from unwanted guests (a security screen) or just a tougher flyscreen so the dog cannot damage it? 

Thanks,

Jason

Want more information on insect screen vs regular screen? Feel free to contact us.

Hi @KatieCraig so your after a stronger, pet proof type flyscreen? There are a few options available that are designed for additional strength, plus ones that accommodate family pets. Some are made using stainless steel, or heavy gauge polyester.
Cyclone have a few options available, but you might find their Petmesh range more suitable. I have included a link below for their Petmesh Insect screen it’s stronger and more durable than normal flyscreen. Able to withstand pets clawing (or kids who like to poke holes through the mesh).

https://www.bunnings.com.au/cyclone-mm-x-2-05m-petmesh-insect-screen_p 

Hope this helps. If you need anything else feel free to ask ☺️

Guys If the issue is only the dog. In my last house we had the same problem with our lab and our back slider. I ended up going to the second hand place and buying an old security door $20  and using the aluminium grill I cut it down to make an insert for the bottom half. If you dismantle the original door it will slide in the edge. Best way to cut aluminium grill is with tin snips,  the angle grinder tends to melt it. This allowed us to keep the view out the top while strengthening the bottom and giving the dog a visual cue. Given you have normal swinging doors I would suggest checking a secondhand materials place for a cheap replacement security door. If wanting to keep existing door ld go stainless gauze or security mesh (aluminium perforated sheet) security against 4 and 2 legged  but I'm not sure if that means taking doors to door window place.

James 

Thank you everyone so very much, sorry, I just found out my son has been playing with all of my notifications! 

So we're looking for some security or at least the look of it would be nice.

The petmesh I was concerned that it doesn't seem to look like it has any strength behind it, I could be wrong. I have 2 cats, a mastiff that stands over 5ft (so he's gotten pretty much most of the door), one cat has thought my door looks like an excercise gym ????.

Is there a possibility someone could please explain to me what the difference is? I have to admit these things aren't my expertise and I've been trying to research it, which is making me feel even dumber ????. Trying to find stuff outside of Bunnings at the moment is also not possible due to the need of isolating as much as possible.

I really want to say thank you again though!

Hi @KatieCraig.

Welcome to the Workshop community and thanks for your question. I see helpful community members have already given some great advice. I’m happy to help provide some more information.  

Fibreglass insect screens are ideal for general purpose applications. They are a great budget option but only provide minimal resistance to pet damage or intruders.

Aluminium fly screens have extra strength aluminium mesh. They offer more resistance to pet damage than Fibreglass screen, but do not provide significant intruder protection.

Petmesh insect screens are six times stronger than standard fibreglass screens. They are ideal where a pet's claws are a problem as they use flexible yet heavy-gauge polyester screening that is resistant to tearing, but don’t assist with intruder protection.

I would advise you to consider a Stainless steel insect screen. It features marine grade stainless steel, is corrosion-resistant for coastal areas and has ember protection making it also suitable for bushfire-prone regions. The screen is black powder-coated to minimise glare but still has excellent visibility. Due to the stainless steel being significantly stronger than the previous screens mentioned, it does provide some protection from intrusion.

An even stronger option is a Bronze insect screen. Bronze offers greater strength and durability than all other options as it is suited to the most demanding conditions. It will also provide a significant deterrent for intruders.

I hope this helps in clarifying some of the differences between the various door mesh options. If you have any further questions or need further advice, please feel free to ask.

Mitchell

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