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Blinds vs. Bug Screens: Do You Need Both?

They solve different problems — light and privacy vs. bugs and airflow. Most BC homes want both, and they work together.

Bloom Bug Screens September 7, 2026

A common question we hear: if I'm putting in blinds, do I still need bug screens? The short answer is yes — because they do entirely different jobs.

What each one controls

Blinds control light, heat, glare and privacy. They work whether the window is open or closed, and they're about your comfort inside the room.

Bug screens control what comes through the opening when the window is open — insects, debris and, with the right mesh, embers and glare. They only matter when the window is open, but when it is, nothing else substitutes for them.

Why you need both

With the window closed, blinds do the work. But the moment you open the window for fresh air — which in a BC summer is most evenings — a blind does nothing to stop a mosquito. And a screen does nothing to cut the afternoon glare. Together they cover the two states of every window: open and closed.

How they work together

Modern low-profile screens and slim blinds share a window frame without fighting for space. We size screens to sit cleanly inside the track so blinds mount on the frame or inside the reveal without interference.

The one exception

A sealed, never-opening window (a fixed picture window, for example) needs blinds but no screen. Everything else wants both.

Planning a refresh? We measure for screens and coordinate with your blind installer so both fit the same openings.

Ready to enjoy fresh air without the bugs?

Get a custom quote or book a measurement — we build it, you enjoy it.