01Are fly screens worth it on the Garden Route?
Yes. On the Garden Route you either live with closed windows or you live with insects, and there is no comfortable middle ground in summer. Mosquitoes and miggies are active from spring through autumn, especially near the lagoons, estuaries and coastal bush. Fly screens let you sleep with the windows open, keep cross ventilation in warm weather, and cut down on repellent sprays. For most homes here they are a practical necessity rather than a luxury.
02How much do fly screens cost?
Fly screens are quoted per project rather than sold at a single fixed price, because the cost depends on the screen type, the size of each opening and the mesh specified. A fixed window screen, a hinged or sliding door screen and a security grade screen are each priced differently. Every Custom Blinds quotation includes final on-site measurements, supply and professional installation. Send your sizes and a few photos on WhatsApp for a complimentary estimate.
03What types of fly screens are there?
Custom Blinds fits the Corner Star range across the Garden Route. Fixed window screens sit permanently in the frame for windows that stay screened. Hinged door screens suit single doors such as the kitchen or front door, with optional pet flaps and a self-closing hinge. Sliding door screens track alongside patio and stacker doors. For high risk or baboon areas, security grade screens use a heavier stainless steel mesh.
04Which is better, aluminium or fibreglass fly screen mesh?
For the screens Custom Blinds fits, the choice is PVC coated fibreglass or, for strength and security, stainless steel. Fibreglass is the right choice for most Garden Route homes: it does not crease or dent and holds its shape over years of coastal use. Aluminium mesh, offered by some suppliers, is stiffer, but we specify fibreglass or stainless steel for coastal durability. For security or baboon-prone areas, 316 marine grade stainless steel is the correct mesh.
05Can fly screens fit large sliding and stacking doors?
Yes. Sliding screen systems track alongside your existing sliding or stacker door and are sized to the opening, including wide multi-panel configurations built to match your door profiles. Every large opening is measured on site to account for track depth and existing hardware, so the screen glides as smoothly as the door behind it.
06Do fly screens block the view or reduce light?
No. The mesh is fine enough to be almost invisible from inside the room, and the frames sit close to the existing joinery. Rooms stay bright and the view stays clear. You only really notice the mesh when you look directly at it rather than through it.
07Will fly screens keep miggies (midges) out?
Miggies, the tiny midges common near the Garden Route lagoons and rivers, are smaller than mosquitoes, so no standard insect mesh stops every single one. A close, well fitted and undamaged mesh makes a real difference, and Duncan will talk you through the best option for a home near the water during the design consultation.
08How do you clean and maintain fly screens?
Rinse the mesh with fresh water to remove salt and dust, and wipe the frames with a damp cloth. Check the latches and track channels seasonally. That covers most Garden Route coastal maintenance.
09How long do fly screens last?
With powder-coated aluminium frames and fibreglass or stainless steel mesh, fly screens last for many years in coastal conditions, and the mesh usually needs replacing before the frame. We specify materials for salt air and UV exposure rather than general-purpose hardware that corrodes within a few seasons.
10How do I choose the right fly screen mesh?
Match the mesh to the insect pressure and the location. Standard PVC coated fibreglass mesh handles mosquitoes and flies for most homes. For the smallest biting miggies near the Knysna Lagoon, Swartvlei or Keurbooms, the closest, best-fitted mesh helps most, and Duncan will advise during the design consultation. For coastal salt exposure specify durable fibreglass or 316 marine grade stainless steel, and for baboons or forced-entry risk specify heavy stainless steel security mesh.
11Do you charge for quotations?
No. Estimates and consultations are complimentary. Send through your dimensions and a few photos on WhatsApp and we will prepare your estimate, or share your building plans for larger projects. If you are happy to proceed, we come out and do the final measurements on the Garden Route. Larger projects include a design consultation with Duncan Kane, on site anywhere on the Garden Route.
