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Using screen to block wind?

xxPaulCPxx | Posted in General Discussion on October 31, 2009 05:34am

I was wondering if anyone had any insights here – I’d like to use floor to ceiling screens to reduce the airflow of the breezes that blow through my open porch. Sometimes it might be used to keep out flys too – they really like the sushi even when it’s fresh!

The openings are 90″ high by 11′ wide. My thought was to have a roll against the wall I could pull out when it was too cool and breezy out for comfort. I would sew on velcro to seal against the top and the sides. Maybe sew a chain in the bottom for some weight.

How much does a standard 18×14 screen reduce wind flow?… and would I be better off with a 20×20?

Tu stultus es
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!

Look, just send me to my drawer.  This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.

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  1. gstringe | Oct 31, 2009 05:53am | #1

    This is just one of many companies that make these.

    http://www.screenamerica.com/index.html

    Nobody gets in to see the wizard...not nobody...not no how!
  2. Dave45 | Oct 31, 2009 05:10pm | #2

    I suspect that you'll need a much stronger attachment method than velcro. You're talking about ~80 sq. ft. of surface area per screen, and even a slight breeze will put a lot of force on them. Think sails. - lol

  3. Grier | Oct 31, 2009 05:57pm | #3

    We will be wrapping our porch this weekend, as it seems we are in a wind tunnel, due to our experience with the recent wind/storms. (NorCal, yep Durham, look up from you.)

    Anyway, when we built our patio cover in Citrus Heights, for winter we wrapped it with heavy clear plastic so we could still see out. It provided a wind break and nearly turned it into a green house, as we parked our frost-sensitive plants there.

    Use 1bys. Roll and staple the plastic to them. Then use screws to attach to your porch. As we did, you should be able to re-use this system for several years if you take it down and store it properly.

    Work for the greatest vital intensity - the greatest solidity and aesthetic reality. Finally, eliminate everything non-essential. Reduce to the absolute essence. ~ F.C. Trucksess
    1. User avater
      xxPaulCPxx | Oct 31, 2009 08:02pm | #5

      That's what we did on my parents house back in N. Illinois. We are not that cold though here, we just need to cut the wind down to a light breeze. It was surprising how much heat that room had after it was plasticed in!

      Tu stultus esRebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!

      Look, just send me to my drawer.  This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.

      1. brownbagg | Oct 31, 2009 08:08pm | #6

        I see alot of bamboo screen here.

        1. User avater
          xxPaulCPxx | Oct 31, 2009 10:43pm | #9

          Something I left out: the direction that the wind is coming from is also where a flower garden is planted. Any solution here has to be clearly see thru - another reason not to do the plastic.

          Tu stultus esRebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!

          Look, just send me to my drawer.  This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.

      2. Grier | Oct 31, 2009 09:00pm | #7

        It sounds like screen it is then. If you do it how I suggested, you should be able to re-use it for many years.

        Work for the greatest vital intensity - the greatest solidity and aesthetic reality. Finally, eliminate everything non-essential. Reduce to the absolute essence. ~ F.C. Trucksess

        1. migraine | Oct 31, 2009 10:22pm | #8

          I have done framed panels and they seem to work quite well.  The down fall is having a place to store them when not needed.

          Making a frame with 1x3 and making the joints with a krieg jig.  Use poplar (from hughes hardwoods in chico)

          lay the screen over the frames and attech a 1/4" x 1" trim over the screen around the opening and nail/staple it down.  Cut the left over screen off.

           

          1. Grier | Nov 01, 2009 12:24am | #10

            Well, what we did was nearly that complicated. We just used standard 1 x 2's. At the end of the windy season, we simply clean and remove the horizontal, then roll up the plastic on the verticals. Easy to store.

            Paul, the plastic we buy is easy to see through.

            I'll try to get some pictures, since it is our afternoon activity.

            (Somebody may have to resize for me though. Can't seem to do that.)

            Work for the greatest vital intensity - the greatest solidity and aesthetic reality. Finally, eliminate everything non-essential. Reduce to the absolute essence. ~ F.C. Trucksess

  4. Grier | Oct 31, 2009 06:00pm | #4

    Paul, I forgot to mention that we used shade cloth for the lower half (because we had a bunch leftover). It helped break the wind too.

    Work for the greatest vital intensity - the greatest solidity and aesthetic reality. Finally, eliminate everything non-essential. Reduce to the absolute essence. ~ F.C. Trucksess

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