What Are the Advantages of Polyester Mesh?
May. 07, 2022
When you are ready to make an investment in a screen enclosure, you need to sit down and consider all of your options. You may already know that different types of materials are used for screens. You may also already know that polyester is by far the strongest type of material used. But just how strong is polyester mesh?
Some people want their screens to be strong and durable enough to last for years before they move to a new home. Polyester mesh will certainly get the job done, but it may not be worth the investment for short-term benefits. The strength of polyester mesh is more conducive to a long-term investment.
1. 100% stronger than fiberglass
The standard material used in most screen enclosures is fiberglass. Polyester mesh is 100% stronger than fiberglass mesh. Polyester mesh has a warp tensile strength of approximately 112 pounds force, a warp tear strength of approximately 31 pounds force, and a weft tear strength of approximately 27 pounds force.
The most important ball burst strength of polyester screen is about 190 lbs. In other words, a brand new polyester screen can withstand almost anything and is durable enough to last for more than 20 years.
Applications of Polyester Aluminized Mesh Fabric
2. Weathering Hurricanes
One of the concerns of living in Florida is the onslaught of hurricanes. While the strongest hurricanes don't pass through often, all it takes is to cause some serious damage that could affect you for a long time. Based on the ratings mentioned earlier, polyester nets will withstand some of the strongest hurricanes according to laboratory tests. Of course, the strength depends on the age, the strength of the wind and the object blowing directly into the screen. But in most cases, you won't find a stronger screen casing material than polyester.
3. Strength after years of UV absorption
The downfall of fiberglass screens is that they don't last very long. If you get through 7 or 8 years without incident, you're lucky. One of the reasons for this is the UV intensity we get in Florida. After a few years, the material starts to break down and become brittle and eventually needs to be replaced.
Polyester screens have UV protection properties that help protect them from these intense rays without changing the color or durability of the screen. After 10 years of use, the screen should be as strong as when it was installed.
Polyester Aluminized Mesh Fabric
4. Simple Maintenance to Keep Strength intact
One of the best parts when considering the strength of polyester mesh is how easy it is to maintain the material to keep the strength intact. The mesh is made with insecticides designed to repel insects and, most importantly, prevent the growth of algae and mold.
After a few years, you can't power wash a fiberglass screen because it will become brittle over time. However, as long as you have a polyester screen, you can power wash it whenever you want. Spraying it occasionally is really all that is needed to maintain a polyester screen to keep it strong and looking great.
Is a polyester mesh worth it?
So by now it should be obvious that polyester mesh is the strongest type of material you can use for your screen enclosure. The question now is whether it is worth the extra money to do so. The short answer is yes, but the popular answer is "it depends".
If you're only going to live in your current home for a few more years, then you probably don't want to waste your money on polyester mesh. However, if you don't plan to move in the foreseeable future, then polyester mesh is the best choice you can make.
The strength of the material can be determined and considered in the short and long term. Fiberglass has great short-term strength, while polyester has both short-term and long-term strength. Be sure to consider your options and consider where you plan to be in the near and distant future to help you determine if polyester is worth the investment.
