Written by Anthony Clark
If you are like most Fort Myers homeowners, chances are you know what privacy screen is, but you aren’t fully aware of all the benefits or drawbacks it can have. Today we are going to take a deep dive and fully explore the ins and outs, as well as the do’s and don’ts of privacy screen.
For today’s article we are going to be examining Florida Glass privacy screen, as it is by far the most common brand used in SW Florida and has built a superior reputation over the past 20+ years. The number one function of privacy screen is in the name; privacy. Florida Glass has a special opaque vinyl coating and attempts to mimic the look of opaque glass. You can see neither in nor out of Florida Glass and it performs its function of privacy very well. If you like to sunbathe, have prying neighbors, or just don’t want to be visible to passerbys while swimming in your pool enclosure, Florida Glass is a solid contender and can be strategically placed to minimize air flow disruption and maximize privacy.
A less obvious function of Florida Glass is to minimize the amount of dust and debris that finds its way into your patio. Florida Glass has no holes like traditional screening, and thus permits no air or dirt to pass through to your patio. Most commonly, the lower screen panels on whichever walls are the worst culprits are screened in with Florida Glass, as this is usually where the privacy screen will block the least amount of air flow. This is best, perhaps if water shedding from the house and/or screen enclosure roof is what’s causing the build up. If you want to reduce the total amount of dust blowing through, then Florida Glass is probably not suitable, as it completely reduces the airflow wherever it covers and can only be used in small areas.
We will now take a look at any possible drawbacks of using Florida Glass to secure your patio. We talked about dust blockage, and that is a direct result of air blockage. Florida glass is basically vinyl, meaning it permits no airflow and therefore is not suitable for large areas of coverage. Panel placement must be well thought out and strategically positioned to minimize wind blockage and maximize air flow. You can generally screen lowermost panels around the entire enclosure with minimal wind blockage, but if you want to screen an entire wall, it’s best to do just that wall and possibly leave the uppermost panels out to permit more airflow. It is important you work closely with whomever is installing your screen to ensure optimal placement of Florida Glass or any other privacy screen.
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!
