Pool Enclosure Super Screen
Written by Anthony Clark
If you are a Southwest Florida homeowner who has been through enough hurricane seasons to deal with screen damage, chances are you’ve heard of a product called Pool Enclosure Super Screen. Super Screen is touted as being stronger, more UV resistant and longer lasting than conventional screen, but does it really stack up to its reputation or is it all just rose colored glasses? Today we take a look at the advantages of Super Screen and examine any possible drawbacks it may have. So sit back, relax and prepare to be educated before making any decisions about screen repair.
Let’s start off by familiarizing ourselves with Super Screen. It all comes down to the make up; most screens are made of a coated fiberglass material, whereas Super Screen is made of a polyester yarn. To determine the strength and durability difference between Super Screen and conventional screen we will refer to the testing and specifications provided by the official websites. We will use Phifer 18-14 screen as a comparison, as this is by far the most common screen used in Southwest Florida. According to Phifer’s official website, their 18-14 screen has a mesh weight of 4.5 oz/d, a Warp Tear Strength of 14.0 lbf, and a Ball Burst Strength test of 61 lbs. By comparison, Super Screen has a mesh weight of 6.5 oz/yd, a Warp Tear Strength of 28.0 lbf and a Ball Burst Strength of 188lbs. That means Super Screen is 18% heavier, but has twice the Warp Tear Strength and triple the Ball Burst Strength. We therefore believe there is little argument that Super Screen is much stronger than conventional screening.
Next, we will examine the UV properties of fiberglass and polyester to determine if Super Screen is significantly more resistant to UV rays. For this one we will be referring to a study from North Carolina State University and data from Geofabrics.com.au. According to North Carolina State University, A- glass fibers, the most common type of fiberglass, can only withstand approximately 6 days exposure to high-intensity UV light before losing 70% of their strength. Compare this to data from Geofabrics.com.au that shows polyester fibers can withstand 12 months exposure to sunlight and still retain over 67% of their strength. This data strongly indicates there is much truth to the UV resistant claims about Super Screen.
Now we’ll take a look at the claims that Super Screen lasts much longer than conventional screening. We will again be referring to the official websites, though it must be noted a lot of the data we gathered is just manufacturer claims and there is not much testing to back it up. We will therefore also share our experience with both products over the years to draw a conclusion. According to the Phifer official website their 18-14 and 20-20 screen products last 10-15 years depending on conditions such as sun exposure, water exposure, etc. It is our opinion, under typical Florida conditions this screen product will last 7-10 years, and become brittle after 2-7 years depending on sun exposure. On Super Screen’s official website they state their product can last up to 21 years and they offer a 10 year limited warranty. It is our opinion Super Screen will last 12-20 years, and become brittle, though less so than Phifer, after 5-15 years depending on sun exposure. Though less scientific than the strength and UV resistance testing, we believe this is where Super Screen lies in terms of longevity.
Now for the aforementioned bad and the downright awful. As long as Super Screen has been around, there have been claims that your pool enclosure is more likely to be ripped apart in a hurricane if it’s screened with Super Screen. The thinking is conventional screening is more likely to tear under strong winds, thus increasing airflow through the enclosure and making it less likely it will be pulled apart. When researching Super Screen’s official website, the only data we can find to rebuttal this claim is a test which shows airflow through a Super Screen panel is about the same, albeit slightly lower, than a normal screen panel. They thus conclude an enclosure is not more likely to tear apart when screened with Super Screen, but this still does not satisfy a scenario where winds are so strong they rip the conventional panels, thus increasing airflow. There is really no data for this and we can only go with our experience and observations over the years. We have seen screen enclosures screened with Super Screen that were ripped apart, yet most of the screen panels were intact. It is true in these particular cases the homeowner would have been better off with conventional screening as it’s much cheaper to rescreen your enclosure than to rebuild it, though it must be said these particular scenarios represent a small percentage of the jobs we come across. It is therefore our belief that Super Screen is generally better than conventional screening in every scenario except perhaps the most powerful of hurricanes, and we believe it does more than pay for itself over time.
As a side note I felt I must mention, one thing my installers have always told me is it is much cooler under the shade of the Super Screen than it is under normal screen, so that might also be a thing to consider. I sincerely hope I helped anyone reading this article and provided any needed information before you make any decisions for your home. If you have any other questions just give us a call, we are always willing to provide help and we strive to educate our customer base. Have a great summer and stay cool out there Southwest Florida!
Cape Coral Fort Myers Screen Repair
Hello, we are Screenbusters and we offer pool screen repair, soffit, fascia, gutter repair, and house painting in the Cape Coral, Fort Myers area. To learn more visit our website at https://screenbusters.org
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