Insect screens: compare quotes and prices

Which screen suits your windows and doors?

A fixed frame stays in the window opening and, depending on the design, can be removed for cleaning. If you regularly need to reach through the opening to water plants, for example, a hinged frame or roller screen may be more practical. A doorway to a terrace needs a system that is convenient to open.

Hinged and double-action screen doors need space to swing. Sliding frames need lateral clearance, pleated mesh folds away and a roller screen retracts into a housing. The choice depends on width, opening direction, daily use and available fitting space. You can request advice without choosing the system first.

Choose mesh for visibility, pollen and pets

Standard, particularly fine and reinforced meshes have different properties. Ask how the proposed product affects visibility, daylight and airflow. A screen is not completely invisible: room lighting, dirt and the mesh structure also influence the result.

If you also want to reduce pollen entry, specifically request suitable pollen-filtering mesh. An ordinary insect screen is not automatically designed for that purpose. Even a dedicated mesh does not guarantee complete pollen protection; a general percentage cannot be applied to every product and installation.

More resistant meshes are available for homes with pets. Scratch resistance is a different function from fall protection: a pet-resistant insect screen is not automatically a secured cat safety net. Clarify the intended function and any required pet flap explicitly.

Which measurements help with an initial quote?

State how many windows, doors or light wells are affected and any approximate widths and heights you know. One combined description is enough initially for different sizes. Include the unit and associate each measurement with its opening.

Glass size, clear opening and finished frame dimensions are different measurements. The right measuring position depends on the system and fixing method. Do not apply the same deductions or allowances to every screen. Confirm final ordering dimensions and connections before manufacture.

Roller shutters, external blinds, hinged shutters, handles and seals can limit the space available. The window should remain usable for opening, tilting where applicable, closing and cleaning. If dimensions or technical details are not known, a measuring visit can be part of the requested service.

Check the fixing and passage before ordering

Suitable frames can be fitted with hooks without drilling. This is not automatically possible for every frame profile or screen door. State a preference for installation without drilled holes so the contractor can check a compatible solution.

For frequently used doors, the handle, opening direction, closing action and height of the lower track matter. A low transition is not built the same way in every system. Ask how the doorway will be used and cleaned in everyday life.

In rented accommodation, changes to frames or the facade should be agreed with the responsible party before permanent fitting. Your enquiry does not require you to certify the technical design; fixings, material compatibility and necessary permission are clarified before work starts.

• Existing opening. Consider the window or door, opening direction and neighbouring blinds or shutters.
• Preferred operation. Choose passage, retraction, sliding or removal to suit daily use.
• Fixings. Agree holes, brackets and changes to the existing component.
• Manufacturing approval. Confirm final dimensions, mesh, frame colour and agreed installation scope.

Replace the mesh or the complete screen?

A hole in the mesh does not automatically mean a new frame is needed. Depending on the system, the contractor may replace the mesh, individual seals or fittings. Roller, pleated and sliding screens can also have faults in their guides, cords or moving parts.

Describe what you can see: torn mesh, a bent frame, stiff movement or a broken handle. A precise technical diagnosis is not needed for the enquiry. A known brand or model helps identify compatible parts; if you do not know it, this can be checked later.

Not every contractor repairs every other manufacturer's system. Confirm repairability and parts availability. Compare repair and replacement on the same basis: removal, workshop transport, new mesh and refitting may be additional to the main repair.

Roof windows and light wells need specific solutions

A roof-window roller screen may be mounted on the internal lining or wall. The relevant opening is at that fitting position, rather than simply the window's size code. Operating height, window cleaning and compatibility with existing blinds should also be checked. Not every window combination accepts every roller screen.

A light-well cover must suit the existing situation and grating. Mesh against insects and leaves does not automatically replace a load-bearing grating. If people or vehicles pass over it, the appropriate construction and fixing must be checked. Ventilation and cleaning access also need to suit its use. Fine dust can still enter the well.

Separate product prices from installed quotations

A fixed frame, sliding door and roof-window roller screen do not share a directly comparable unit price. Quantity, dimensions, system, mesh, colour and fitting conditions affect costs. Measuring and installation time can be distributed differently across identical elements and individual special shapes.

Two limited published examples show why the scope matters: a manual roof-window roller screen has a recommended product price from CHF 185.95 including VAT. A Swiss contractor lists a starting price from approximately CHF 225 excluding VAT for a 50 × 70 cm window frame. The delivery and installation included in the second example are not fully specified. These different amounts do not form a general price range and do not replace a quote.

Compare the completed job, including taxes and explicitly stated extras. Supply alone and work that includes measuring, adaptation and installation cover different services. Clarify whether a site visit is charged and how changes after measuring will be handled.

Keep operation smooth and the fit correct

After installation, ask to be shown opening, locking and any removal procedure. Check the edges and operation together with the window, door or blinds. A screen left open or a gap at its connection interrupts the barrier.

Remove dust and loose dirt according to the care instructions for the specific mesh. Keep tracks clear of sand and other foreign objects. Sharp tools, unsuitable cleaning agents or excessive pressure can damage mesh and mechanisms; no cleaning method automatically suits every material.

Whether an element can stay in place during winter or should be retracted in severe weather depends on the product. Do not force a jammed system. Report visible damage or changed operation before further parts are damaged.

From enquiry to a suitable insect screen

For an initial enquiry, state the service you need, the affected openings and the details you know. Missing manufacturing dimensions can be checked later. Delivery time and fitting date depend on the product, season and contractor; immediate installation should not be assumed for made-to-measure work.

1. Describe the need. Choose new, replacement or repair and state openings, quantity and known dimensions.
2. Compare quotes. Assess system, mesh, included installation and total price together.
3. Confirm details. Agree measuring, operation, fixings and the final specification.
4. Accept the installation. Check fit and function and retain care and repair instructions.