Retractable Screens for Windows: FAQ
Phantom Insect Mesh for Window Screens
Keeping your windows open is a wonderful way to increase air circulation and help cool down your home. With Phantom Screens for Windows, you can enjoy the pleasant weather while keeping out pesky bugs and limiting harmful UV rays that pass though. We offer insect, solar, and privacy mesh options, tailor made to cover all of your screening needs.
What is a retractable window screen?
Unlike traditional fixed screens, Retractable window screens are contained within an aluminum housing that lives above the window opening. When needed, they can be extended down to cover the window. When they are not needed, they roll up into their housing and disappear from view.
Advantages
Retractable screens offer several distinct advantages over a traditional, permanent screen fixture. For one, retractable window screens are designed to seamlessly integrate into your home’s design. They do not detract from the overall appearance of your home as a permanent screen fixture might. As our retractable screens come in multiple colors for the frame and aluminum housing, they can be custom-tailored to be a perfect fit. Phantom’s retractable window screens come in 10 distinct colors and 15 different wood grain finishes, meaning that no matter the style of one’s home, the screen can fit right in.
The best screening solutions for your home’s needs are a phone call away.
Warranty, Lifespan, and Longevity
The retractability of our screens can increase the longevity of the screen’s mesh when compared to a traditional fixed window screen. A screen’s lifespan depends on the materials used in its construction, the quality of its installation, and environmental factors beyond human control. With the unpredictable Florida weather, permanent screens are much more likely to be under threat of damage or tearing from debris and the other elements mother nature may throw its way. With a retractable screen, keeping your screen protected from the wild weather is as simple as retracting it up into its aluminum housing; ensuring that the screen and its mesh fabric is safe from anything that could otherwise damage it, exceeding its potential lifetime well beyond that of a fixed screen.
To better get an idea of how long one can expect a screen to last, we recommend examining the warranty a manufacturer offers along with a purchase of their screen. Many will offer a warranty that covers a variety of components in the screen for a specific length of time. Phantom Screens offers a limited lifetime warranty on every screen sold, reflecting their confidence in their screen’s lifetime.
Choosing The Right Mesh
There are a wide variety of meshes tailored to fulfilling different goals:
Insect Mesh: Keep out bugs and insects while maintaining airflow and full visibility through the mesh.
Our BetterVue mesh is ideal for ventilation and insect protection in windows. It is the thinnest and most “open” insect mesh we offer, which means that the visibility through the mesh is so clear, you might not know it’s there even when in use.
*Note: BetterVue mesh is only available for window screens as it is not recommended for larger openings, but we have other great insect mesh options such as our 18/14 or 20/20 insect mesh which are reinforced for use in both small and large spaces.
Solar Mesh: Keep out bugs, provide shade, add UV protection, and reduce heat while maintaining airflow.
Uses: Keep areas cooler and more comfortable, enhancing energy efficiency and outdoor enjoyment while allowing visibility through the mesh.
Privacy Mesh: Minimize or eliminate visibility through the screen and mitigate UV rays and heat.
Uses: Keep outsiders from looking into your home.
Vinyl Screens: Fully opaque screens (wall-like) to fully enclose your space. Enhance privacy and assist in temperature control as it will help keep your AC inside.
Uses: Blackout shades to keep out the sun.
*Note: We recommend only using vinyl screens with your window closed as it is a solid material and can catch strong winds which can cause it to blow out of the track.
Phantom Privacy Mesh for Window Screens
Size
Phantom’s retractable window screens have a width range 13½” to a whopping 84”, along with a maximum height of 90”. For windows larger than this, we have other solutions such as the XL Wall Screen to cover the opening.
Materials
Phantom’s Phifer fabric meshes are created with a combination of fiberglass and PVC vinyl, with the vinyl acting as a protective coating to further reinforce the fiberglass material. This ensures maximum durability while still keeping the cost relatively low for both the manufacturer and the customer. Beyond the mesh, Phantom screens are constructed with aluminum which is used for the frame and housing.
Cost
As our screens are custom-made to fit customer preferences and needs, the prices reflect their selections in screen size, premium or custom colors, mesh type, the type of opening, and other elements. If you are interested in a free consultation at your residence, please reach out to our office so we can give you the most accurate price for your needs.
Contact us today for a free estimate! Our Phantom retractable window screens come in a variety of mesh types and colors, ensuring that regardless of your specific needs and desires, we have a screen for you.
