Mesh size is the fineness of the weave, and it decides which insects stay out and how much air comes in. Finer is not always better. A mesh that is too fine cuts airflow and collects dust faster, while a mesh that is too coarse lets the smallest insects through.
This guide explains mesh sizes in plain terms, with no jargon. We fit every weave in our fixed window fly screens, made to order in our Dubai workshop, and we recommend the right fineness per window at the free measurement visit.
What Mesh Size Actually Means
Mesh size is usually given as a mesh count, which is the number of openings per inch in each direction. A standard insect screen is around 18 by 16 openings per inch. A fine no-see-um screen is around 20 by 20 or finer. The higher the numbers, the smaller the holes.
You do not need to memorize numbers. What matters is the trade-off. Each step finer stops smaller insects and blocks a little more air. The goal is the coarsest weave that still stops the insects you have.
Standard Weave: Flies and Mosquitoes
The standard 18 by 16 weave is the default for good reason. It stops flies, mosquitoes, wasps, and moths, which are the insects almost every Dubai home deals with. Airflow through it is barely reduced, and the weave is open enough that dust does not clog it quickly.
For most bedrooms and living rooms, standard weave is the right answer. If mosquitoes are the only problem, there is no reason to go finer.
Fine Weave: Gnats and No-See-Ums
Homes near landscaping, water features, or gardens sometimes get sand gnats and biting midges. These are small enough to walk through a standard weave. A finer weave, around 20 by 20, stops them.
The cost is airflow. A fine weave cuts airflow noticeably, which you feel on a still evening when you are counting on the breeze. It also traps dust faster, so the screen needs wiping more often. Only choose fine weave for windows where the small insects are a real problem, not for the whole house by default.
A practical test helps. If you can see tiny insects clustering on the outside of your current screens at dusk, they are probably gnats trying to get through a standard weave. That is the clearest sign a finer weave is needed on those windows.
Solar and Privacy Weaves
Some weaves are designed for more than insects. Solar mesh is denser and cuts heat and glare as well as blocking insects. It suits west-facing windows that bake in the afternoon. On a west-facing bedroom window it can make the room noticeably cooler in the late afternoon, which also takes load off the air conditioning. Privacy mesh is even denser and makes it hard to see in from outside during the day.
Both cut airflow significantly and darken the room, so they are specialist choices for specific windows rather than whole-house solutions.
Matching Weave to Room and Window
Bedrooms get standard weave for maximum airflow at night. Ground-floor windows near gardens get fine weave where gnats are an issue. West-facing windows that overheat get solar weave. The rest of the house gets standard weave.
This is exactly what the measurement visit is for. We walk through the home, note which insects are a problem where, and recommend the weave per window. The quote is free at the measurement visit.
For the frame side of the equation, read our guide to mosquito nets for aluminium windows.
FAQ
Will a finer mesh stop cockroaches?
Cockroaches do not come through the mesh. They come through gaps around the frame or from drains and doors. A standard weave with a sealed frame stops them. Finer mesh makes no difference for cockroaches.
Can I see through a fine weave?
Yes, but less clearly than through standard weave. The view gets slightly hazier as the weave gets finer. Dark mesh color helps keep visibility as good as possible at any fineness.
Does fine weave block dust better?
A little. It catches larger dust grains but not fine airborne dust. The bigger effect is that the screen itself gets dirty faster, so expect to clean fine-weave screens more often.
Can different windows have different weaves?
Yes, and that is the normal way to do it. Bedrooms get standard weave for airflow, garden-side windows get fine weave for gnats. Mixing weaves is standard practice.
How do I know which insects are getting in?
Check bites and sightings by room. Mosquitoes bite at night and are easy to spot. Gnats cluster near plants and water. If you can catch or photograph the insect, bring it to the measurement visit and we will match the weave to it.
Screen the door. Keep the breeze.
Free measurement. Made in our workshop. Fitted across seven emirates.
