All You Need to Know: Privacy Mesh
When it comes to door, window, and patio screens, the mesh can be designed for a variety of reasons. As we’ve covered so far in the “All You Need to Know” series, two of the most common reasons to get a Phantom Screen is to keep bugs and the harsh Florida sunlight and UV rays out of your home. One might be interested in getting a screen to preserve your home’s privacy; Privacy meshes are the best way to give your home a taste of the outdoors whilst still being able to maintain a sense of seclusion from the neighbors.
Letting the Outdoors In Without Letting the Indoors Out
Much like Insect Meshes and Solar Meshes, the term “Privacy Mesh” does not refer to any specific mesh. Rather, it can be thought of as an umbrella term that encompasses any screen mesh that is designed with the minimal level of openness possible. This is to say, they are designed to maximize the level of tightness in the openings woven through the fabric, which in turn maximizes the protection the mesh offers from sunlight and UV rays as well as insects. In turn, however, this also minimizes the amount of light and air that can flow through the mesh, which can be less-than ideal if you’re looking to bask in the sunlight and warm breeze while indoors. The most meaningful result of the low openness percentage, however, is the low visibility that occurs as a result of the lack of openings; for those who live in crowded areas, this means being able to enjoy a screen without being worried about nosy neighbors.
Uses for Privacy Screens: Doors, Windows, and Patio Screens
Privacy screens, due to their primary function of blocking as much of the light and visibility as possible, are perfect for a variety of uses. For Doors, one could select a mesh with some openness. With this, you can still enjoy looking out your screen and having some airflow from the outdoors, but shade your opening so that it is more difficult to peer through. *Note that we do not typically recommend to use mesh with 0% openness for doors, as the mesh does not allow any airflow (since it is fully closed, opaque mesh) and wind can catch the screen and potentially cause some damage to it. For window screens, the same applies: many people use Privacy mesh of all kinds for windows, especially to black out a room during the day. If you choose to install a Privacy screen with 0% openness in this manner, we recommend keeping the window closed while it is in use. Patio screens are unique, however, as their size and build makes them better equipped to handle the elements with a fully opaque mesh. They are perfect to fully enclose your outdoor space and make it feel like an extra room in your home. Although, we still recommend keeping any type of screen fully retracted in its housing when the wind is high to prevent any potential damage.
What’s In A Mesh: Materials and Fabric
With their characteristic thicker weave and tightly-packed design, you can generally expect all Privacy Meshes to have a significantly low level of openness. The exact openness percentage can still vary on the material composition and how the screen is designed — and there is a noteworthy difference between a mesh with 10% openness and a mesh with 0% openness. For example, Phantom Screens offers an array of Privacy Meshes that range from 10% openness, which provides 90% Sun/UV blockage, to 1% openness, which provides up to 99% Sun/UV blockage. Additionally, the level of visibility of both screens will seem noticeably different as well; a mesh with 0% openness will seem more akin to a solid wall than a screen that is 10% open. Any screen with 1% openness or above will have some visibility through it, especially when light is passing through the mesh.
Another factor to consider is the material of the fabric itself, as this will also make a meaningful difference in the effectiveness of the mesh. For instance, Phantom SheerWeave Privacy Meshes are constructed with a mixture of PVC vinyl and fiberglass, giving it its trademark resiliency and durability. Screens from other manufacturers may be made with a different mixture of other materials, or simply be made with one material in lieu of a mixture at all. We recommend taking the time to look into the materials your local screen supplier uses for their Privacy Meshes, and ensuring that they are high quality materials you can trust in your home.
Style and Aesthetic
The range of colors offered, for example, may be limited by the materials the manufacturer uses for their screen or by the size and width of the opening the screen is able to cover. For example, Phantom’s SheerWeave Privacy Meshes come in a wide array of colors — Charcoal, Chestnut, Pearl Grey, Beige, and Oyster — but Phantom’s other Privacy Meshes, such as the Opaque line, have a more limited offering. We recommend ensuring that the mesh type and color you are interested in is able to match the aesthetic of your home before confirming your selection.
The specifics of each Privacy Mesh can vary greatly depending on the openness, material composition, and stylistic options available, so we recommend thinking carefully as to what features your dream screen has and look for a manufacturer who can match it. If you’re interested in a Privacy Mesh for an opening in your home, feel free to contact us today for a free estimate! With so many options, we are sure to have the ideal Privacy solution for you.
