The Pet-and-Screen Math
A standard fiberglass window screen, in a household with a cat or a dog that gets agitated at the window, has a service life of about one season. Sometimes less. Most of the damaged-screen calls we get in pet households are repeat customers calling about the same screens we fixed 12 months ago.
There's a better way: replace the mesh with Phifer PetScreen the first time.
Phifer PetScreen - What It Is
PetScreen is a vinyl-coated polyester mesh, woven heavier than standard fiberglass and engineered specifically to resist claws and teeth. The numbers:
- 7× stronger than standard fiberglass mesh
- Tear-resistant under load (a standard screen tears at ~30 lbs of force; PetScreen holds at 200+)
- UV-stable - same outdoor lifespan as standard mesh
- Transparent enough for normal use
- Same install - fits in the same aluminum frames as fiberglass
We stock it in the trucks. The upgrade is usually $15-25 extra per window screen.
When PetScreen Makes Sense
- Cats that scratch at first-floor windows watching squirrels.
- Dogs that lean or paw at sliding patio screens.
- Households where pets have already shredded one or more screens.
- High-traffic screen doors where pets push their way through.
When PetScreen Doesn't Make Sense
- Second-floor and higher window screens that pets can't reach.
- Indoor-only cat households where the cat won't get to the screen.
- Picture windows that don't open (the mesh wear isn't the issue there).
Pet Door Installations
If your dog or cat is shredding the screen door because they want to go outside, the answer isn't a tougher screen - it's a built-in pet door.
We install pet-door accessories sized for:
- Small cats (up to ~8 lbs)
- Medium pets (8-25 lbs - most cats and small dogs)
- Large dogs (25-65 lbs - labs, goldens, shepherds)
- Extra-large (65-100 lbs - bigger breeds)
Schedule
Call (302) 365-5562 to schedule a free on-site quote. We service Delaware, southern PA, southern NJ, and eastern MD.