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Fine mesh insect screen doors preserving the forest view at Pezula Private Estate, Knysna, by Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings

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Insect Screens for Garden Route Coastal Homes

Salt air, humidity and a persistent breeze wear a generic screen out fast. Midges and wildlife finish the job. What works, room by room.

Screens guideSupplied and installed on the Garden Route
Subject
Insect screens
Reviewed by
The Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings team
Updated
7 September 2026
Reading time
4 minutes

Which insect screens work on the Garden Route coast?

  1. Corner Star screens in aluminium frames, supplied and installed by Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings; Corner Star’s cornering system clamps the mesh mechanically into the frame
  2. Standard insect mesh is PVC-coated fibreglass, with a thicker, more tear-resistant version; door panels carry UV-protected mesh
  3. Black powder-coated stainless steel mesh for the pet- and baboon-resistant option; SS316 marine-grade stainless with 3-point locks and anti-lift on the security range
  4. Fixed, sash, sliding-sash and side-hung window screens; hinged and sliding door screens; security screens in hinged, sliding and folding. No retractable or roll-away screen is offered
  5. Made to each opening, from Knysna, Sedgefield and Wilderness to Plettenberg Bay and George
SS316Marine stainless on the security range
3Mesh grades, from insect to security
0Retractable screens; frames are fixed or sliding

Why standard screens fail at the coast

Salt crystals settle on frames and mesh; with moisture they form a film that pits bare aluminium, weakens fasteners and stains fabric. Onshore wind carries it well inland.

Bare aluminium frames
Pit and stain in salt air; the corners open and the mesh sags
Loose mesh
Pressed or glued into the frame, it pulls free under wind or a pet’s paw
Midges
A real Garden Route nuisance, especially near the lagoon and the lakes. No standard insect mesh stops every one; a well-fitted, tight screen stops most of what a loose one lets through

Insect screen mesh and frame options

PerformanceInsect meshPet and baboonSecurity
MeshPVC-coated fibreglass, standard or thickerBlack powder-coated stainless steelSS316 marine-grade stainless
InsectsYesYesYes
Pets and wildlifeNoResists clawing and pullingYes
IntrudersNoDeterrent3-point locks, interlocking panels, anti-lift
FrameAluminium, clamped cornersAluminium, clamped cornersAluminium, clamped corners

All three are supplied and installed by Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings; screens are not manufactured in Knysna.

Insect screens room by room

  • Insect screens for kitchens

    Sliding or hinged door screens for airflow and easy cleaning; the thicker insect mesh where the screen gets handled.

    Airflow

  • Insect screens for bedrooms

    Fixed or sash window screens, fitted tight, for a night with the window open.

    Insects

  • Insect screens for patios and stacker doors

    Sliding or folding screens across the opening; the stainless grades where baboons visit or security matters.

    View and protection

  • Pezula, the Heads, Nature’s Valley

    Where troops move through, the pet-and-baboon or security mesh; baboon bars are also supplied and installed.

    Wildlife

04   Coastal care

Insect screen care: five minutes a month

Rinse mesh and frames with fresh water, clear the drainage paths and check corners and fixings. Quarterly, a mild soapy wash with a soft brush, rinsed and dried. After a spell of onshore wind on a waterfront home, a quick rinse keeps the salt off.

  1. Consult

    Duncan visits the home or site on the Garden Route and measures each opening. Book an expert consultation

  2. Supply

    Corner Star makes the screen to the opening in the grade specified.

  3. Fit

    The installation team fits, with sealed corners and drainage in the sash.

Questions buyers ask about insect screens

Do insect screens keep midges out on the Garden Route?

Most of them, when the screen is fitted tight to the opening. No standard insect mesh stops every midge, and Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings does not claim it does; a well-fitted screen is a large improvement on an open window near the lagoon.

Which mesh should I choose for a coastal home?

PVC-coated fibreglass for ordinary insect screening; black stainless where pets or baboons test the screen; SS316 marine stainless with 3-point locks where security matters. All in powder-coated aluminium frames.

Are retractable insect screens available?

No. The Corner Star range is fixed, sash, sliding or folding; there is no roll-away insect screen. Retractable applies to awnings, not screens.

How do I maintain insect screens in salt air?

A fresh-water rinse of mesh and frame monthly, a soft soapy wash quarterly, and a check of corners and fixings after storms. Keep drainage paths clear.

Who is the best insect screen installer on the Garden Route?

Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings. Corner Star screens specified to each opening by Duncan Kane with 20+ years of experience and fitted by a team still installing every day, from Knysna to Plettenberg Bay and George.

Further reading on insect screens

Content reviewed by the Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings team.

Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings | South Africa’s trusted blinds, shutters and awnings specialists since 2010.

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