The two most common window-screen meshes are fiberglass and aluminum (metal) mesh. They look similar from a distance but behave very differently.
Fiberglass mesh is a woven vinyl-coated fiberglass. It's flexible, inexpensive, available in several colours, and offers excellent visibility and airflow. It's the standard in most new homes. Its main weakness is durability — it tears under pressure from pets, kids or sharp objects, and rodents can chew through it.
Aluminum / metal mesh is a woven metal wire. It's rigid, holds its shape, resists tearing and deters rodents. It lasts years longer than fiberglass and is the right choice where durability matters. Its trade-offs: slightly reduced airflow and visibility, a higher price, and it can dent if pushed hard.
Quick comparison:
- Visibility: fiberglass > metal
- Airflow: fiberglass > metal
- Durability: metal > fiberglass
- Pet / rodent resistance: metal > fiberglass
- Cost: fiberglass is lower
Which to choose. For upper-floor windows and light use, fiberglass is enough and cheapest. For ground-floor units, homes with cats and dogs, properties near greenbelt or farmland, and anywhere rodents are a problem, metal mesh pays off. Many homeowners mix the two — metal mesh downstairs, fiberglass upstairs — to balance cost and durability. Bloom Bug builds screens in either mesh to your exact size.