Living life insect-free

Isn’t summer in New Zealand great? Long, languid days punctuated by the occasional cooling southerly breeze—not too hot but definitely warm enough to have all the windows and doors open. Shame about the insects—flies, mozzies, midges and sandflies.

A simple yet tried and true solution to keeping unwanted nasties out of your home is to install mesh insect screens. Only, not all screens are created equal and the result can often end up looking tatty in a very short space of time, bringing down the whole look of your house.

“The Centor S2 Insect Screen takes screening solutions to a whole new level,” says Russell Hunter, general manager of Unique Hardware.

“The Centor S2, which has been designed for openings up to 2.6-metres wide, offers protection from insects while maintaining airflow through the home and uninterrupted views—as, like all Centor screening systems, there are no pleats or fixed panels, rather a single plane of mesh screening.

“The S2 can be paired with all new and existing doors and windows in a renovation or new build, making it an ideal whole-house solution.”

The secret to the Centor S2 Insect Screen lies in its integrated design and retractable screen, says Russell.

“While the S2 is highly suited for retrofitting, it’s real advantage lies with new builds where it can be specified at the design stage to achieve a totally concealed finish. This is because, when it’s not in use, the screen—which is fully retained on all sides to allow total control of insects—retracts discreetly into the frame, thereby minimising any visual distractions to the view outside.

“This also has the benefit of protecting the screen from dust, dirt and damage—one of the downsides to traditional fixed screen coverings—greatly prolonging is lifecycle and reducing the amount of ongoing cleaning and maintenance required to ensure it stays in optimal condition.

Each Centor S2 Insect Screen is manufactured in Australia to its specific site measurements with single-screen options being suitable for openings of up to 1300mm and double-screen options being suitable for openings of up to 2600mm.

A full track system along the top of the frame allows the screen to glide smoothly across the entire opening, while the load-balancing technology means the screen can stop at any desired position without retreating back into the frame. A magnetised end rail means the screen will remain attached even in windy conditions.

“Other features include: two different weave options—standard weave keeps out flies and mosquitoes (ideal for urban and rural areas), while tight weave keeps out sandflies and midges (ideal for coastal environments); it is easily operable with one hand from any height, so the youngest of family members can operate the screen; the screen canister can be removed and replaced if needed—the screen itself has gone through a fair amount of testing for durability and while it is impact resistant, it’s important to note that the S2 is not a security screen.

“Additionally, the S2 can be mounted internally or externally. Drainage holes are added to the sill for externally mounted systems. Being aluminium, the frame of the S2 can also be colour-matched to the neighbouring joinery. For openings up to 1300mm, the single screen retracts from the jamb while for openings greater than 1300mm, up to 2600mm, the double screen meets in the middle of the opening.”

Unique Hardware has been offering the Centor S2 Insect Screen for a couple of years now and Russell says it provides similar features to its big brother the S4, but was specifically designed for applications requiring smaller extrusions.

“It’s quite a versatile wee product being suitable for both windows and doors and while it’s not the cheapest solution on the market, the price point reflects the higher quality of its manufacturing. The Centor S2 comes with a five-year general warranty and is available nationwide.”

Learn more about choosing the right insect screen solution for your next project.