Choose the Right Screen Material
The screen material you choose affects airflow, visibility, durability, insect protection and how much sunlight reaches the window. Helpful ACE offers several materials through our custom replacement screen program.
The specifications below reflect the options configured in the live Helpful ACE ordering tool. Availability depends on screen type and frame configuration.
Fiberglass
Best for: everyday insect screening.
Standard vinyl-coated 18x16 mesh with approximately 45% openness and minimal UV blockage. Available in black, brown and grey.
Aluminum
Best for: customers who prefer a metal mesh.
Standard aluminum mesh with approximately 50% openness and no stated UV blockage in the current tool. Offered in Brite.
Pet-Resistant
Best for: pets and higher-traffic openings.
Vinyl-coated pet-resistant screen with approximately 36% openness and 64% UV blockage. Current option is black.
VIMCO 20x30
Best for: tighter insect mesh plus solar reduction.
20x30 solar insect screen with approximately 36% openness and 65% UV blockage. Current option is black.
Solar 70
Best for: meaningful solar control while retaining more openness.
Vinyl-coated fiberglass with approximately 25% openness and 75% UV blockage. Available in black, brown and grey.
Solar 90
Best for: stronger solar reduction.
Vinyl-coated fiberglass with approximately 10% openness and 90% UV blockage. Available in black, brown and grey.
SunTex 80
Best for: durable solar screening with more outward openness than a 90% product.
Vinyl-coated polyester with approximately 20% openness and 80% UV blockage. Current colors include black, brown, grey, dark bronze, stucco and beige.
SunTex 90
Best for: high solar exposure.
Vinyl-coated polyester with approximately 10% openness and 90% UV blockage. Current colors include black, brown, grey, dark bronze, stucco and beige.
How to think about openness and UV blockage
Openness describes how much open area exists in the mesh. In general, more openness means more airflow and outward visibility. Denser solar screens trade some openness for greater solar blockage.
UV blockage is the configured product specification for how much ultraviolet light the material is designed to block. It is not the same thing as a guarantee of indoor temperature reduction.
Materials are only one part of the replacement screen
Your quote also includes the frame profile, frame color, finished width and height, hardware, and crossbar details where applicable. Patio screen doors additionally require door frame, roller and handle information.
Our paid orders are fabricated by ScreenFab, our screen-manufacturing partner, using the specifications submitted through the Helpful ACE ordering tool.
Compare Materials in the Live Quote Tool