Fly screen with magnets
Flexible window attachment thanks to magnets or magnetic tape
Online since: 16/09/2013,
Number of visits: 2140052
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If you are looking for a flexible solution to attach fly screens to your windows, you have come to the right place.
Find inspiration from three different projects where magnets serve as the mounting solution for the insect screens.
Attaching fly screens with magnets offers you the following advantages:
- You can quickly attach or remove the fly screen at any time.
- You don’t have to awkwardly attach the mosquito netting to a hook and loop strip.
- You can attach the fly screen without drilling any holes – a particularly tenant-friendly solution.
Table of Contents
Attachment with magnetic tape
Attaching a fly screen made easy with magnetic tape! We show you how you can easily attach an insect screen to the window in a way that allows you to quickly remove and reattach it when needed - all without drilling any holes.
Material needed
- Self-adhesive magnetic tape, 3 cm wide
- Fly screen
- Fabric tape (also known as duct tape) in the colour of your choice
- Folding yardstick
- Scissors
Step 1
Measure the window with a folding yardstick or measuring tape. Then cut the self-adhesive magnetic tape so you have 4 strips for the outside of the window and 4 strips for the fly screen. Glue the four magnetic strips from the outside around the window frame. Make sure the frame is clean and free of grease and press the magnetic tape firmly on the frame. Ideally, the magnetic tape should be pressed on well overnight to achieve the best possible adhesive performance. For example, weigh it down with a heavy object and allow it to rest like that. Only then should you put any weight on the adhesive.
Measure the window with a folding yardstick or measuring tape. Then cut the self-adhesive magnetic tape so you have 4 strips for the outside of the window and 4 strips for the fly screen. Glue the four magnetic strips from the outside around the window frame. Make sure the frame is clean and free of grease and press the magnetic tape firmly on the frame. Ideally, the magnetic tape should be pressed on well overnight to achieve the best possible adhesive performance. For example, weigh it down with a heavy object and allow it to rest like that. Only then should you put any weight on the adhesive.
Step 2
To determine the measurements for the flyscreen, add 6 cm each to the measured length and width of the window. This allows you to attach the net to the 3 cm wide magnetic tape, leaving enough room for the window space. Cut the net to size and smooth it out on the floor.
To determine the measurements for the flyscreen, add 6 cm each to the measured length and width of the window. This allows you to attach the net to the 3 cm wide magnetic tape, leaving enough room for the window space. Cut the net to size and smooth it out on the floor.
TIP:
If possible, carry out the following steps on a carpet.
It's easy to smooth out the fly screen on a carpet and it stays in the desired shape.
Step 3
Now glue the four magnetic tape strips onto the fly screen and press on firmly.
It may happen that the magnetic tapes on the fly screen and their counterparts on the window are not flush on top of each other. If you want to avoid that, test if they fit before Step 3. Shape the magnetic tape into a makeshift frame for your fly screen and place the individual tapes on the desired counterparts on the window frame. If two tapes are not flush on top of each other, just rotate the tape by 180 degrees.
Now glue the four magnetic tape strips onto the fly screen and press on firmly.
It may happen that the magnetic tapes on the fly screen and their counterparts on the window are not flush on top of each other. If you want to avoid that, test if they fit before Step 3. Shape the magnetic tape into a makeshift frame for your fly screen and place the individual tapes on the desired counterparts on the window frame. If two tapes are not flush on top of each other, just rotate the tape by 180 degrees.
Step 4
Place the fly screen including the magnetic tapes on the floor with the adhesive side of the magnetic tapes facing up. Glue the Ductape over the magnetic tapes and press it on firmly. Overhanging parts of the Ductape may be folded over or cut off. Now, the adhesive side of the magnetic tapes is protected from the elements.
Place the fly screen including the magnetic tapes on the floor with the adhesive side of the magnetic tapes facing up. Glue the Ductape over the magnetic tapes and press it on firmly. Overhanging parts of the Ductape may be folded over or cut off. Now, the adhesive side of the magnetic tapes is protected from the elements.
Step 5
Finally, you only have to attach the magnetic fly screen to the window. For larger windows, it is advisable to have another person there to help you.
Finally, you only have to attach the magnetic fly screen to the window. For larger windows, it is advisable to have another person there to help you.
With this practical magnetic solution, you can keep mosquitos, flies, and other insects out.
And if you don't need the fly screen, you can easily remove it and put it back on later.
Please note: Over time, the adhesive of the self-adhesive magnetic tapes and the cloth tape may begin to dissolve due to UV-rays and weather conditions.
As a result, you can expect having to replace the tapes after extended use.
To ensure the cloth tape lasts longer on the magnetic tape, you can also glue it on with UHU MAX REPAIR adhesive.
Mounting with glue-on magnets
Addition from customer Bence Buday, Budapest (Hungary):
I live on the seventh floor of an residential building in Budapest.
During the summer it gets unbearably hot in the room, so I like to have the window open.
If it wasn't for the annoying mosquitos! They bugged me night after night, until I decided to do something about it and install a fly screen.
My application has the following advantages:
- You don't have to drill any holes that can damage the insulation of the windows.
- It is much easier to just glue the magnets on the window frame than embed them.
- It takes two seconds to attach or remove the fly screen.
- It is much cheaper than having a company install a custom-made screen.
- It is fun!
First, I built a wooden frame.
Simple wooden slats from the home improvement store are suitable.
Screw them together at a right angle and screw in a thin metal piece in four places.
They are for attracting the magnets.
Then I bought fabric for the fly screen and attached it to the frame with a staple gun.
Then I glued four block magnets 15 x 15 x 3 mm
on the outside of the window frame.
I used your adhesive UHU MAX REPAIR.
The adhesive had to dry over night.
In order for the magnets to stay in place during that time, I placed another block magnet of the same type on the inside of the window.
After it was dry, I could attach the screen to the window and do some advertising for you guys :-).
The magnets attract the metal pieces and so the fly screen is fastened tightly on the window frame.
The fly screen stays perfectly in place and keeps the annoying mosquitos out.
Note from the supermagnete team:
- Depending on the size and weight of the wooden frame, you should use more than four magnets (6 - 8 distributed evenly), so the frame stays in place even during strong winds.
- Our magnets are made for dry indoor use. Extended outdoor use causes them to rust and lose their magnetisation. Therefore, it is best to treat the magnets with a rust-protective finish or use waterproof magnets.
- The UHU adhesive is extremely strong. The window frame may be damaged when you try to remove the magnets later. If you are a tenant, check to see if the magnets can stay on the window frame permanently.
Mounting with countersunk magnets
Addition from customer Thomas Hennemann, Harsum (Germany):
Every year it's the same story with these annoying fly screens on the windows.
Everyone needs them but the process of getting them into or out of the window with the sticky hook and loop strip brought me nearly to despair! Initial remedy from the hardware store: aluminium window frames (not exactly cheap) which can be adjusted to the size of the window.
Unfortunately: mounting the frames is done with cheap plastic clips which not only damage the window seal but don't even hold well.
Once again despair!
My idea: use a few super magnets instead to make the installation and removal of the screens in the spring and autumn a fast and simple project.
I purchased a standard fly screen (in my case from Windhager) at the hardware store.
If the window-frame magnets are countersunk, they won't be a problem when cleaning and still offer adequate hold in a limited amount of space.
You then will need only 4 S-15-08-N
disc magnets for the window frame and 4 Q-15-15-08-N
cube magnets for the fly screen.
To drill the holes in the window frame, you will also need a 15mm countersinking drill without a point (to ensure that you don't mistakenly drill clear through the window frame).
Measure the thickness of the window frame and drill your holes accordingly, but be careful not to drill clear through! In my case, the magnets will be a mere 5mm from each other when the fly screen is mounted.
Place the S-15-08-N
in the four holes (they are hardly visible).
Tip: Use a scrap piece to check the correct polarisation and positioning of the cube magnets to ensure that the magnets in the window frame will attract to the magnets in the fly screen frame.
(It will look rather silly and be very ineffective if the fly screen is pushed away from the window frame by a magnet facing the wrong direction ;-) ) Then measure the size of the fly screen frame and cut the pieces accordingly.
Insert a piece of foam (in this case foam rubber) into each end of the horizontal frame pieces.
This limits the space in which the magnet can move inside the frame.
Then insert the magnet.
The magnet should be able to move flexibly within it's defined space so that it can position itself correctly when the fly screen is mounted.
Finish constructing the fly screen.
Hold the fly screen in front of the window.
You will hear how the magnets slide into position and hold the screen in place.
Once constrcted, you'll never have a problem again with mounting or removing your fly screens.
When my "government" gives the order: "The fly screens need to be put on!", only 5 minutes later I'm once again in my garden chair enjoying a cigarette :-) .
Frequently asked questions
Attaching fly screens wit magnets is definitely among the most popular customer projects on our website. For that reason, we gathered the most commonly asked questions on our FAQ page.More project ideas for the summer
Discover other practical and summer-themed customer projects:- Making a fly screen visible
- Attaching a shade sail
- Sun canopy for the pram
- Minimalist pergola with shade sail
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