Mosquito nets for windows and doors: which type goes where

How much do fly screens with fitting cost?

The price comes down to the type of net, how many windows and doors there are, and who buys the nets: you, or the handyman after taking measurements. A window frame goes in quickly. Roller and door screens need precise measuring and take longer to fit. Current labour rates are in the table and kept up to date.

Fixings are usually included in the labour. The nets themselves, delivery and taking away the packaging are paid separately, as agreed in the handyman’s offer.

Rather hand the job over? More here: apartment fit-out in Warsaw.

Which screen where: framed, roller, door

A frame net is an aluminium frame that sits in the window opening on clips, often with no drilling. It suits ordinary inward-opening windows and comes out for winter in a minute.

A roller net winds up into a cassette above the window and runs in side guides. It makes sense where you would otherwise pull the frame out every time you clean the window or reach for the plants outside.

Balcony and terrace doors get a hinged door screen or a pleated one. A pleated screen folds like an accordion and barely takes up the doorway, so it’s the choice when space is tight.

The mesh varies too: standard fibreglass, a reinforced pet mesh for homes with a cat or dog, and a finer mesh that stops some pollen. If your cat likes to hang off the net, standard mesh won’t last long.

How a fly screen is fitted

1. The opening is measured at several points, because windows are rarely perfectly square.
2. Check that the window handle, outer sill, roller shutter or blinds won’t get in the way.
3. A frame is test-fitted and the clips set so it goes in without force and doesn’t crush the seal.
4. Roller and door screens get the cassette or frame fixed, with the guides set dead vertical.
5. Finally a run test: the mesh moves without skewing, the door closes, no gaps at the edges.

Common fly screen mistakes

• The net was ordered to the sash size instead of the opening, leaving a gap at the side.
• The roller cassette hits the roller shutter, which can no longer come down.
• The window frame got drilled where clip-in holders would have done.
• An ordinary frame went on the balcony door, even though it comes off ten times a day.
• Guides out of vertical, so the mesh rubs and tears in the first season.

What to prepare before fitting screens

• Photos of every window and door: the whole thing, plus the handle, outer sill and threshold close up.
• Renting? Ask the landlord whether drilling is allowed.
• Decide where you want a frame, a roller and a door screen. Not sure? Describe how you use the window and the handyman will suggest one.
• Clear windowsills and a free path to the balcony.

Torn mesh, or a roller net that no longer winds up? You don’t always need a new one: a frame can be re-meshed, and a roller often just needs a new spring or catch. Add photos and a short video to the job and that will be clear before anyone comes out.

How to measure a window for a framed fly screen

A framed screen is measured across the window opening from outside, between the frame edges the screen will sit in. Measure width and height in several places, as windows are rarely perfectly square, and order to the smallest figure.

Also check that the handle of the closed window, the outside sill, a roller shutter or glazing bead will not get in the way. Manufacturers state in the instructions how much to deduct for their system.

For made-to-measure screens the tradesperson usually measures personally so they can stand behind the fit. If you order yourself, take photos with the tape measure laid horizontally and vertically.

Planning more work? These guides help too: flush hidden door installation and how to fit a loft ladder.

Windhager, Tesa and Pronature fly screens: the differences

Windhager is an Austrian maker with three systems: a tension frame for the season, a roller screen with a cassette above the window, and insect screen doors on hinges or sliding. Roller screens and doors are measured more precisely than frames, as the cassette and guides must be perfectly plumb or the mesh runs crooked.

Tesa sells DIY kits: hook-and-loop tape for the frame and mesh you cut to size. The tape only holds on a clean, dry, degreased frame, stuck at room temperature on the flat part of the profile rather than on the seal. On a balcony door, hook-and-loop mesh tears off easily; a hinged frame works better there.

Pronature offers window frames, balcony door solutions and meshes of different density, including reinforced ones for homes with pets. A frame is measured to the sash opening, allowing for the seal. There are versions on hooks, on spring clips and drill-free ones, handy in a rented flat.

Frequently asked questions

How to order

Describe in the app how many windows and doors you have and what nets you need, and add photos. Tradespeople near you will send offers with their own price and timing. Compare them by reviews and pick one; only that person sees your address.

You pay the handyman directly and they issue the invoice. They stand behind their own fitting and will adjust it if the net slips or the door won’t close. Crooked reveals and old warped frames are not on them.

Do you fit mosquito nets yourself? Set up a profile and pick up jobs in your own city through the app. You work for yourself and choose your own business setup. Create a tradesperson profile