Roller Fly Screen | Windows

Measuring your window for roller fly screens is straightforward, but depends on how you are going to install your screens.

If you are fitting within the recess, then you will need to measure the width and drop of the recess. When you measure the width, pay particular attention to the measurement at the top as this is critical. When you measure the drop, measure in 3 places (left, middle, right) and use the shortest measurement. If you select recess size, we'll make the appropriate deductions for you.

If you are fitting outside of the recess or know exactly the size that you'd like your screen to be including all hardware, then you should submit these sizes as blind size, and we'll make no deductions.

You can read our detailed measuring guide for roller fly screens, here.

Roller fly screens can either be recess-fixed or face-fixed. You will need a power drill, a pencil for marking where you wish to drill and a screw driver.

Recess fixing involves drilling and screwing a clip-fix bracket for the cassette into the top of the recess, and fixing the left- and right-hand side channels into the recess by drilling and screwing.

Alternatively, you can face-fix, directly to the window frame, or face-fix around the window recess. The cassette is face-fixed by using an angle bracket which slides into a groove on the top of the cassette into the face of the wall or window. The side channels can also be face-fixed. We can pre-drill your side channels with screw holes in the rear of the side channels and 10mm holes in the front of the side channels which allow access to screw the side channels in place. Once fixed in place, the 10mm hole in the front of the side channel is filled using the cover caps supplied.

You can read detailed installation instructions for roller fly screens for windows by following the link.

Our roller fly screen system was designed on the continent, where the majority of windows open inwards. So it has been designed for outdoor installation. The aluminium profiles are powder-coated and rust-proof, other parts are made of nylon and are weather-resistant. The mesh itself is fibreglass and rott proof.

If installed outside in the UK, you may wish to consider that the weather is a lot poorer than on the continent. Over time, dirt, dust and other debris may accumulate in the side channels and any other grooves. Periodically, the fly screen can be taken down the components and mesh can be washed in soapy water.

Our standard fly screen mesh has a thread count of 18x16 threads per square inch and prevents most flying insects and creepy crawlies from passing through it.

You can also customise your roller screen by selecting from other types of mesh for use in your roller screen:

• Midge Mesh - has a thread count of 20x20 per square inch and prevents most midges from passing through it.
• Pet Mesh - is a heavy-duty mesh which will withstand rough treatment from household pets. It has a thread count of 18x17 per square inch.
• Pollen Mesh - is a super-fine filter mesh, which allows air to circulate into your room but prevents pollen from passing through.

Roller fly screens, using standard fly screen mesh, will keep out the majority of flying pests including flies, wasps, moths, daddy long-legs, bees and hornets. They will also keep out creepy crawlies such as spiders.

However, if you wish to keep out very tiny insects, such as midges, you should consider our roller midge screens which feature a very fine 'midge mesh', which has 20x20 threads per square inch.

Although we would always recommend taking additional measures to keep pets inside, we have been told by some customers that our roller fly screens have been used successfully to keep smaller pets inside.

Additionally, our roller pet screens feature a special heavy-duty, claw-resistant fly screen mesh which may be more suitable for households which have pets where claws, teeth and general exuberance may cause rips and tears to standard fly screen mesh. Again, we would always suggest taking further measures to keep your precious pets inside.

To install a roller fly screen, you will need the following tools:

• Pencil
• Power drill
• Screw-driver

We would suggest sourcing rawl-plugs and screws that are suitable for your fixing surface.

Full installation instructions can be downloaded here.

This particular system is best installed using screws.

It is a permanent solution and once installed does not need to be removed, because when not in use the mesh retracts back into the cassette. The cassette and side channels are discrete and unobtrusive enough to be kept in situ permanently.

Whilst we would recommend screw fixing, some customers have chosen to install their roller insect screens using very strong double-sided adhesive tape and found this to be a successful fixing method.

We do also offer 'no drill fly screens' and in particular for those who like the functionality and appearance of a retractable screen, we offer no drill roller fly screens for both windows and single doors, which use expanding end caps to grip the recess.. These are popular with renters and those who wish to remove their screen out-of-season.

The standard fly screen mesh used in our roller fly screens is charcoal grey in colour. The thread of the mesh itself is relatively fine and the mesh has an open weave with 18x16 threads per square inch. Contrary to popular belief, grey (rather than white) mesh is the least obtrusive choice for fly screens. When held up against the window, whilst the grey screen is visible, it certainly allows a clear and unobstructed view out of the window.

This is a very common question. You should consider that, by design, a roller fly screen only needs to be deployed when the window is open.

For most windows, when the window is open, the handle is attached to the opening leaf of the window and is therefore also pushed outwards, not obstructing the fly screen from being deployed. 

When it comes to closing the window, and the handle being back in the 'closed' position - before closing the window, you would first retract the fly screen into its cassette, where it would stay until the window is opened again!

For those wishing to match up or coordinate the fly screen hardware with window frames, you will find the RAL codes for the colours available below:

• White - RAL 9010
• Brown - RAL 8014
• Anthracite Grey - RAL 7016

The RAL code 7016 Anthracite Grey is commonly used in modern aluminium window frames. White RAL 9010 provides a good match with most UPVC windows and doors.

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: Yes but... 

Our window roller screens are custom-made to your measurements. We hope that if you measure carefully, paying specific attention to the top (cassette) measurement which is the most critical, you should not have to trim them down when you receive them.

Trimming down the side channels is straightforward with a hack saw.

However, trimming the cassette is a lot more involved. You would need to remove the end caps and tensioning spring (which will be under tension and may cause the end caps to spin). You will need a saw capable of cutting through the cassette, mesh, tube and sliding bar.

If you are at all uncertain about your measurements feel free to contact our team at [email protected].

If you have a window that is made up of a mixture of fixed and opening panes, then you may not need to cover the whole window with a fly screen. Instead, you can cover just the opening pane. 

This has cost advantages, because you only need to order a screen to cover part of the overall window, so the screen that you order should be smaller and lower cost.

Covering one panel, rather than the whole window usually requires the screen to be face fixed to the frame itself. If you wish to avoid fixing directly to the window frame. Then you may still wish to order a screen to cover the full window and side/top fix into the recess.

If you decide only to cover the opening pane, then you will need to order the screen at the size that you would like it to be manufactured, including the cassette and side channels.

The following profile dimensions are useful to consider:

• For the width measurement: Each side channel is 30mm wide. 

• For the drop measurement: The cassette is 51mm high.

• For the drop measurement, when you do not have a window sill: The L-profile is 26mm high.

You can read about two different window configurations by clicking the links below:

• Window with Side Opening Panel

• Window with Top Opening Panel

If you have read these guides, and you are uncertain about your measurements, our friendly team are here to help at [email protected]. Feel free to send us a photo of the windows you are covering and we will provide advice on how best to measure it.