Horizontal Sliding Window Screen

[Jan]

I have horizontal sliding windows in my apartment but no screens. No screen frame. I want to be able to keep my windows open at night and I cannot figure out how to put a rat proof screen on the windows.

Rats enter the windows and sliding glass door at night. I think they like my dog food. It's happened often so I have to keep the windows closed at night. But it's getting hot and the living area is hot at night. I have air conditioner in the bedroom but when the power goes out at night I want to open the window and can't.

How do I get the least expensive screen frame that I can put rat proof mesh on. That I can either slide or remove as needed?

 

[JD Jones]

I'm guessing any screen shop can fix you up. They have frame material with rollers in it.
If you have a magnet you can check to see if it will stick to your frame then you may be able to use a magnetic screen.

 

[Notengo]

If you have a surrounding ridge on the outside of the window you can make a timber slat frame exact the same size that will press fit in. Buy a roll of mesh, cut the shape oversize and staple it around the frame before pressing the frame in. It is a bit more permanent solution but you can still push the frame out from the inside while it can’t be pushed in from the outside.

 

[JD Jones]

Now that I think about it, I think I'd go with cage wire before I'd use screen. Rats will make quick work of screen if they're hungry.

 

[windeguy]

I'm guessing any screen shop can fix you up. They have frame material with rollers in it.
If you have a magnet you can check to see if it will stick to your frame then you may be able to use a magnetic screen.

I have never seen anything but aluminum used to make such windows here. Magnets won't work.

I have screens on all of my windows. Plastic screens in an aluminum frame that fit in those outer window frames. They would not stop rats, but then that has not been an issue.

 

[JD Jones]

I have never seen anything but aluminum used to make such windows here. Magnets won't work.

I have screens on all of my windows. Plastic screens in an aluminum frame that fit in those outer window frames. They would not stop rats, but then that has not been an issue.

Exactly. That's why I say cage wire mesh. They're not chewing through that, and much better air flow.

 

[windeguy]

Exactly. That's why I say cage wire mesh. They're not chewing through that, and much better air flow.

And certainly would let all the mosquitos pass as well, but you can't have everything.

 

[JLSawmam]

I wonder if it's feasible for whoever makes the screens to use both cage mesh and mosquito screen? With the mesh on the outside, maybe the screen won't get damaged by the rats. Certainly worth asking!

 

[windeguy]

I wonder if it's feasible for whoever makes the screens to use both cage mesh and mosquito screen? With the mesh on the outside, maybe the screen won't get damaged by the rats. Certainly worth asking!

If they are the same as my windows, and likely they are, you would have to lay the cage mesh over the screens aluminum frame on the outside and screw it in to hold it. That way you could have the fine mesh plastic screen for mosquitos inside and the wire the rats cannot bite through outside.

 

[reilleyp]

I think these panels would work the best. It would be harder for them to chew through but would still give you some air. I have not seen them in the DR. You may need to ship them.

M-D Building Products 57042 24 in. x 36 in. x .020 in. Mill Aluminum Sheet Cloverleaf​

https://www.amazon.com/M-D-Building-Products-57042-Cloverleaf/dp/B007JD4QF6/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?crid=H2X1K9AJ34R9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JBfCf6EG4CmGARTpSHFKwzna75VfieWchhkMVZgh3XY47Fp5ZyPvqeJe6xboOcpZGdN8HnljOwswGYDOvRopcPiBIg_UmcVumCJKhucvq8dzi_KVu8bSR8tSOugzfS44UWHfnbM3QQF2r_WKrrrSVXT4QOCpQVjPDTYVCx8hu18wwvkG4nXpMPwz_362EJktWA5GE_9oh3GugLjQqqnNRA.BoiL4SDOJSfSwDx8nbhVu8Uiqua07JaACWTZjjYG1Is&dib_tag=se&keywords=aluminum+radiator+screen&qid=1715001842&sprefix=aluminum+tadiator+screen%2Caps%2C94&sr=8-2

 

[Big]

rats coming into the house via an open window. You may want to prioritize that infestation problem

 

[Buzz65]

Do you have a cat? Once I got a cat, not even roaches entered the house. That cat was nice for pest control

 

[JD Jones]

I think these panels would work the best. It would be harder for them to chew through but would still give you some air. I have not seen them in the DR. You may need to ship them.

M-D Building Products 57042 24 in. x 36 in. x .020 in. Mill Aluminum Sheet Cloverleaf​

https://www.amazon.com/M-D-Building-Products-57042-Cloverleaf/dp/B007JD4QF6/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?crid=H2X1K9AJ34R9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JBfCf6EG4CmGARTpSHFKwzna75VfieWchhkMVZgh3XY47Fp5ZyPvqeJe6xboOcpZGdN8HnljOwswGYDOvRopcPiBIg_UmcVumCJKhucvq8dzi_KVu8bSR8tSOugzfS44UWHfnbM3QQF2r_WKrrrSVXT4QOCpQVjPDTYVCx8hu18wwvkG4nXpMPwz_362EJktWA5GE_9oh3GugLjQqqnNRA.BoiL4SDOJSfSwDx8nbhVu8Uiqua07JaACWTZjjYG1Is&dib_tag=se&keywords=aluminum+radiator+screen&qid=1715001842&sprefix=aluminum+tadiator+screen%2Caps%2C94&sr=8-2

Those would work, but I was trying to give Jan a locally available alternative.

And she's not worried about mosquitos, just rats. The wire mesh I mentioned would only cost a few pesos and could be adapted to her window with a pair of pliers and be virtually invisable.

 

[Northern Coast Diver]

I have horizontal sliding windows in my apartment but no screens. No screen frame. I want to be able to keep my windows open at night and I cannot figure out how to put a rat proof screen on the windows.

Rats enter the windows and sliding glass door at night. I think they like my dog food. It's happened often so I have to keep the windows closed at night. But it's getting hot and the living area is hot at night. I have air conditioner in the bedroom but when the power goes out at night I want to open the window and can't.

How do I get the least expensive screen frame that I can put rat proof mesh on. That I can either slide or remove as needed?

If you have a bit of interior window ledge and space on sides and top, you can have a wooden frame made to fit. Staple wire mesh on the outside, and staple screen on the inside. Install a couple of cheap drawer pulls, so you can easily remove your new screen. Good luck!

 

[JD Jones]

BTW, this is the chicken wire I'm referring to for Jan:

 

[Jan]

rats coming into the house via an open window. You may want to prioritize that infestation problem

It's happened about 5 times in the last 7 years but that is 5 times too many. The last time I heard it and ran to the window and closed it. He sat in the planter outside the window and had his nose on the glass looking at me. That bold little bugger didn't even flinch when I hit the window. Since then I close everything down before we beden down.

 

[Jan]

BTW, this is the chicken wire I'm referring to for Jan:

I found the wire but just trying to figure out how to put it up. I do need to get to the plants out the window to water and such. Maybe just scrunch it into position and place a board or pvc pipe across the top, bottom and the outside to stabilize so the rat can-t squish in on the sides.

 

[Jan]

Do you have a cat? Once I got a cat, not even roaches entered the house. That cat was nice for pest control

Can't have a cat. My dog Buenagente is not cat friendly. I think the neighbors outside cats chace the rats into my windows. I just don't know.

 

[Jan]

This is one of the windows

 

[chico bill]

Buy a cat !