Do-it-yourself mosquito net: assembly, installation, replacement

With the advent of heat, hordes of insects are reborn to life and one cannot live without mosquito nets. Only they are able to protect the premises from the ubiquitous insects. And then some specimens manage to seep somewhere. But since the grids are for some reason very short-lived, they have to be replaced, then repaired. You won’t call a company representative every time and pay pretty decent money for work that takes a couple of tens of minutes at most. That is why they are trying to make / repair / install a mosquito net with their own hands. 

Types of mosquito nets

There are three types of mosquito net:

• Framework. This is a frame made of a metal-plastic profile, on which a mesh is stretched. The mesh is attached to the frame using special fasteners: Z-shaped brackets or plungers. This design is the most common, since at a low price it protects well from insects. The cost of manufacturing a mesh is from 500 rubles per square meter.
  

• Roll. Arranged as roller blinds or blinds. A mesh roll is attached to the top of the window. Pulling the edge, the mesh is lowered and fixed. When released from the latch, it rises. An excellent device, but the price is from 5,5 thousand rubles per square.
  

• Swing nets. The mesh is stretched on the frame, but the frame is reinforced, with a larger section than the frame mosquito net. It is most often installed on doors – balcony or entrance, it can also be installed on windows. It is attached to the door or window block using ordinary hinges. So that it does not open under gusts of wind, magnets are built into it. The estimated cost of this type of mesh is about 2 thousand rubles. per square.
  

• Sliding. These are grids specially for sliding window systems. They also have a frame on which the mesh is stretched. BUT this frame moves along special guides that are screwed on from the outside. Thus, it is possible to move the grid to the place where the sash is open.
  

• Pleated. According to the method of action, it is similar to a roll, but it is not going up, but to the side. There are two guides – above and below, along which the mesh folding into an “accordion” moves on wheels.
  

As you can see, there are many types. Nevertheless, in 90% of cases frame structures are installed. At a low price, they create a completely normal level of comfort.

Types of fastening frame nets

Most often, frame mosquito nets are installed. There are two ways to fasten them: Z-brackets and rods (plungers).

When mounted on brackets, they are mounted from the side of the street. In most cases, this is convenient and, if circumstances permit, this installation method is chosen. In this case, the dimensions of the grid should be greater than the light gap of the window sash: the frame is inserted from the outside.

When using plungers, the mesh is also attached behind the glass, but the clamps (rods) themselves are located on the side of the room. This device is convenient on the first floors: it is impossible to remove the grid from the outside. When installing a mosquito on rods, its frame must be equal to the size of the light opening. You can’t do it with an accuracy of a millimeter, and to ensure that there is no gap, a brush is attached around the perimeter. It keeps insects out.

How to measure the order window

Quite often, a frame with a mesh is ordered from a company, and they are installed on the windows on their own. When ordering, you will be asked to provide the dimensions of the light opening. The required measurements are taken with the sash open. You measure the distance from one sealing gum to another: width and height. Measure in several places, record with millimeter accuracy. How accurate the grids will fit on your window depends on the accuracy.

Watch how to measure windows for ordering a mosquito stack in the video.

What you need to know

When ordering or buying a mesh for a window, you need to pay attention to its characteristics. Firstly, it is available with different cell sizes: from 0,6 mm to 1,2 mm. The smaller the gap, the less likely that the insect will “leak through”, and there will be less fluff. But at high density, air also passes poorly, which can be critical in the southern regions. Therefore, the best option is somewhere in the middle of 0,8-1 mm.

The mesh is also produced from different materials:

• Cotton. Cotton thread has high UV resistance. Its fleecy structure increases the “holding” ability: insects do not crawl through such a mesh. But since the fiber is natural, it reacts poorly to moisture, is often affected by mold and rot, and therefore is rarely used.
• polyester. The most common material. It is strong enough and durable, with everything it has a low price, but it does not have any special properties.
• Nylon. Nylon is used to make a special anti-allergic mesh. It is produced using a special technology with complex weaving. Thanks to what it detains even dust and pollen. Such nets often go under the name “anti-dust” or “anti-allergy”.
• Fiberglass. It is considered optimal, since it has high transparency: when using such grids, the degree of illumination almost does not change. At the same time, its strength is very high – comparable even to the strength of metal. Fiberglass is used to make an anti-cat mosquito net that can withstand the weight of the animal and does not tear under the claws.

If no special properties are needed, choose the usual one – from polyester. Sometimes they may ask what color the net is needed. The most invisible to the eye is gray, so you can order it.

How to install a frame mesh on a plastic window

You have received the finished mesh. It comes with 4 small Z-brackets (brackets). Please note that they have shelves of different sizes: two by 4 cm and two by 2,5 cm. Brackets with large shelves are installed at the top of the frame, with smaller ones at the bottom.

For fastening to the frame, for each bracket-stop, you will need 2 self-tapping screws with a screw, which are also called “seeds”. You will need a marker with a thin lead or a soft pencil. You will need a drill with a 2 mm drill and a screwdriver or screwdriver.

Outside the window frame, we draw a strip 3 cm below the edge. We stand on a small stepladder or on a chair, we bring the frame with the net out of the window, we ourselves also lean out halfway. Attaching the lower edge of the frame to the drawn line, mark its top.

You can do without manipulating the frame: you need to accurately measure its height, and postpone this value from the line drawn below. From the resulting point, we put another 1,8 cm upwards and here we draw the second line. On it we will align the fastener shelves.

We take brackets with long walls. We apply so that the protrusion is on the line. Regarding the light gap, you need to retreat about 10 cm from the edges. We mark the points where you need to make holes. We carry out a similar operation with “short” brackets from below. For control, measure the distance between the marks above and below. It should be 1,8 cm longer than your frame. If everything is correct, we drill holes in the profile (drill 2 mm), install brackets on the “seeds”. Actually everything, we can assume that the mosquito net is installed with your own hands.

Now take the grid by the handles, turning it sideways a little, take it out into the street. Insert the upper edge into the upper brackets, align it vertically, lift it up to the stop, insert the edge behind the bottom brackets and lower it. The grid stands, held by brackets. 

It is removed in reverse order. Grasp the handles, lift up to the stop, pull the bottom edge out of the brackets, feeding the mesh a little away from you (a couple of centimeters, no more). Then, moving it slightly down, pull it out of the upper brackets.

Corner installation

There is another type of fastener, similar in principle to “work” with brackets – corners. When installing this type of mosquito net clamps, it is also necessary to accurately measure the width. To do this, you will have to find the center of the light opening, from which set aside half the width of the grid. The inner part of the corner should correspond to the width of the frame with a mesh with a small gap of 2-3 mm for freedom of fixation.

That is, in the presence of this type of fasteners, they fix the corners and in width should stand exactly at the corners. In height during installation, we leave the same gap of 1,5-1,8 cm. It provides the possibility of installing the frame in the mounts, and is held due to the fact that the upper shelves are larger.

Do-it-yourself mosquito net: we assemble it ourselves

As you understand, you can assemble the frame and stretch the grid yourself. All components can be bought in companies that sell spare parts for plastic windows. You will need the following components:

• profile for mesh frame MFP2;
• mullion profile (transverse partition with a mesh height of more than 1 m) MFPI and two fasteners for it;
• mesh cloth;
• assembly corners;
• sealing cord (rubber or even woven);
• handles – 2 pcs;
• self-tapping screws with a countersunk head with a drill, dimensions 3,9 * 16 mm;

Assembling the frame

The frame consists of two long profile sections and two short ones. They are connected to each other with the help of corners. They can be plastic (cheap, but short-lived material) and metal, painted with white or brown paint (to match the profile).

Still often they put an impost – a jumper, which is installed approximately in the middle of the long side. It increases the rigidity of the structure and prevents long profiles from “playing”.

The lengths of the profiles must be cut, taking into account the fact that they are going to the corners. Therefore, 20 mm is subtracted from the width and length of the light opening (as described above) – it is this length that is replaced by the corners.

Saw off from the profiles in two segments of the required length. It is better to cut with a hand saw for metal – it turns out a more even saw cut with almost no burrs. It is brought to smoothness with a file or sandpaper. Then on a flat surface – it is more convenient on the table, laying the profile with the grooves up, fold the rectangle, insert the corner holders – the grooves are also up. In the photo, the grooves are directed downwards, but this is inconvenient – then you have to turn the frame over.

With the normal coincidence of the corners and profiles, they should be inserted tightly. Very tight. Hand put in place, it will not work. We’ll have to knock it out, and in order not to damage the plastic, use a lining – a wooden block or a piece of chipboard, as in the photo.

When assembling, also check the corners. They must be strictly 90 °, or the frame will be oblique, and there will be gaps into which mosquito flies will crawl. After the rectangle is assembled, we install the impost. We saw it off 2-3 mm shorter than the resulting frame width, insert the holders on both sides, fix it on the frame in the groove.

We stretch the grid

We spread the grid on the assembled frame. It should be 3-5 cm larger than the frame on each side: it will be more convenient to pull it. We take the cord, we press it through the grid into the groove. You can start from one of the corners, or you can start from the middle of the short side, alternately moving either to the right or to the left.

The cord comes in quite hard, in the workshops it is rolled up with a roller, in its absence, you can use any object with a rounded surface. A knife handle is suitable – a clerical or kitchen knife, a screwdriver handle, scissor handles, etc. Straightening the mesh, insert the cord.

Installing handles

Having reached the installation site of the impost, we put the handles. Usually they are thin, plastic, inserted into the groove under the net, then pressed with a cord. There is a second type of handles – they are denser, sometimes with a metal base, they are screwed onto the profile with screws, but after the mesh is stretched. If you have a choice – take metal or at least plastic, but thick. The plastic ones are very flimsy and often break.

If during the process the mesh lay crooked, the cord can be pulled out by prying with a screwdriver or something similar, corrected, and rolled up again. Having finished stretching, check the width and height of the frame at several points. If there are deviations somewhere, then in this place the mesh is stretched too much. It is loosened by pressing a little with the palm of your hand near the frame. If this does not work out to equalize the width, the cord is hooked and pulled out at some interval. aligning the width, holding the grid, refuel again.

If all dimensions match, you can cut the cord, tuck in the tail, then walk along the profile again, checking the evenness of the “entry of the seal. Now the protruding edges can be trimmed. This is usually done with a utility knife. Everything, the mosquito net is assembled with your own hands, you can proceed to install it on the window.

An assembly example can be seen in the next video. This is a commercial: the company sells ready-made kits for self-assembly. The process is not detailed enough, but it can be considered in general terms.

Homemade mosquito nets: save on the full

If you calculate the cost of all spare parts, take into account the loss of time for their purchase and assembly, then the benefit is doubtful. You still sell components more expensive than firms. It can be useful only in the sense that after self-assembly, you can easily repair it yourself.

However, there are some very inexpensive options for homemade mosquito nets. They are made according to the frameless principle, mounted directly on the window. There are two ways to install this:

• On Velcro – a knitted tape, which consists of two parts – a tape with hooks and a counter with a rough surface. The mesh is cut out a little more than the light opening, the counterpart is sewn to the mesh, and the part with hooks on the sticky layer is attached to the frame around the perimeter of the window.
• On the sealing cord. It is inserted in place of the standard seal. To do this, they remove it (hook it up and pull it out), pull the mesh over the opening, and press the cord into the groove. The principle is the same as when installing a grid in a frame.

The second way to make a budget mosquito net yourself, see the video. The idea is great, the costs are minimal.

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