Retractable Window Screens
Open the window.
Keep the insects out.
A retractable screen rolls out of a slim cassette housing in seconds. When you're done, release the clip and it rolls back on its own. No fixed grille blocking your view all year. No mesh sitting there in January collecting dust.
How it works
The screen you won't know is there
A spring-loaded cassette sits at the top of your window reveal. Pull the bottom rail down and the screen rolls out through aluminium side channel guides. Clip the rail into the bottom channel and you have a full insect barrier.
When you want the window clear again, release the clip. The spring pulls the mesh back into the cassette in under three seconds. Nothing to fold, nowhere to store it.
Spring-loaded cassette
A pre-tensioned spring inside the cassette housing returns the mesh automatically. No winding required, no manual effort at all.
Side channel guides
Extruded aluminium channels on each side keep the mesh taut and tracking straight from top to bottom as it extends.
Clip-in bottom rail
The bottom rail has end clips that hook into a base channel, holding the screen at full extension until you choose to retract it.
What makes them different
Six things worth knowing before you buy any fly screen
Invisible when retracted
The cassette housing is typically 25 to 30mm deep and sits flush inside the reveal. When the screen is rolled up, you'd have to look twice to notice it's there. Nothing sits across the window face when it's not needed.
Spring-return operation
Release the bottom rail clip. The spring does the rest. The mesh rolls back into the cassette in under three seconds without any rolling, folding or assistance from you. It's the thing customers mention first in reviews.
Cut to your reveal dimensions
We measure width, drop and reveal depth at the survey. Every screen is cut to those exact figures before it leaves the workshop. No adapters, no gaps, no trimming required on the day of fitting.
Four mesh options
Standard fiberglass handles the vast majority of UK insects. Solar-shade mesh reduces heat and UV as well. Pet-resistant vinyl-coated mesh takes daily clawing without tearing. Charcoal mesh gives a better view-through from inside.
Fitted inside the window reveal
The cassette and side channels both mount inside the reveal. Nothing protrudes past the frame face. The screen doesn't interfere with curtains, shutters or external joinery, and it's hidden from outside.
Works on most UK window types
Casement, top-hung and fixed-frame windows in uPVC, aluminium or timber are all straightforward. Tilt-and-turn is possible but needs an assessment first. We confirm suitability at the survey.
Three positions
One screen. Three useful states.
Most window coverings are either open or closed. A retractable screen has a third option: retracted and out of the way. Here's what each position gives you in practice.
Position 1
Fully retracted
The mesh rolls into the cassette housing. Nothing crosses the window opening. Full light, full view, no visual interruption. This is the default state for most of the year in the UK.
Position 2
Partially extended
The screen can be extended partway and clipped at any point along the side channels. Useful when a window is open at the top only, or where a full drop isn't needed.
Position 3
Fully extended
Bottom rail clips into the base channel. The mesh covers the full window opening. Midges, flies and mosquitoes stay out. The window can stay open as wide as you like behind it.
Mesh types
Four meshes. One right answer for your window.
The mesh is what does the actual work. We'll talk through the options at the survey, but here's a quick guide to what each one is suited to.
- Standard
Standard Fiberglass
Light grey mesh with around a 1.2mm aperture. Handles flies, midges and mosquitoes. The right choice for most situations.
- Solar Shade
Solar Shade Mesh
A tighter, darker mesh that reduces solar gain and UV as well as keeping insects out. Worth considering for south-facing windows.
- Pet-Resistant
Pet-Resistant Vinyl
Heavy vinyl-coated fiberglass with a reinforced grid structure. Built to take daily pawing and scratching from cats without tearing.
- Charcoal
Charcoal Mesh
Dark charcoal colour with a slightly finer mesh aperture. Gives a noticeably better outward view than standard grey mesh.
Frame colours
Six standard frame colours
Cassette housing and side channels come in the same colour. All frames are powder-coated aluminium. White is the most popular for uPVC windows. Anthracite is the go-to for grey and black frames.
- White
- Cream
- Brown
- Grey
- Anthracite
- Sage
Where they work best
Six windows where a retractable screen earns its keep
The right product in the right place. Here's where our customers are getting the most use from retractable screens.
- 01
Bedroom windows
Night ventilation without moths and midges joining you. Pull the screen down at dusk, retract it in the morning. The cassette takes up nothing when you don't need it.
- 02
Kitchen windows
Cooking with the window open on a warm day without every fly in the area picking up the scent. A kitchen window is the one place a fixed frame screen genuinely pays for itself.
- 03
Living room windows
Garden air on warm days without what lives in the garden coming in. The retractable design means the window looks completely normal when the screen is up.
- 04
Children's bedrooms
Overnight ventilation that parents don't have to think twice about. No mosquitoes, no moths near the light. The spring-return mechanism is also simple enough for older children to use.
- 05
Home offices
Background airflow without a fan running all day. If your office has a window that faces the garden or a green space, a retractable screen is quieter and less disruptive than the alternatives.
- 06
Conservatory side windows
Extra ventilation for the windows that don't have the main roof system. Additional screened opening windows make a real difference to how usable the space is.
Fly screen range
All our fly screen options
Retractable Window Screens
Spring-return cassette design. Rolls away when not needed. Current page.
Window Fly Screens
Fixed frame fly screens for windows. Always in place, no moving parts.
Pet-Resistant Fly Screens
Heavy-duty vinyl-coated mesh built to survive cats. Fixed and retractable options.
Door Fly Screens
Keep doors open without the insects. Retractable and magnetic door screen options.
Customer reviews
What our customers say
"Had retractable screens fitted on all three bedroom windows. The cassette housing is genuinely tiny. The spring return is so fast it surprises you the first time. Slept with the windows open every night this summer without a single midge getting in."
"The kitchen window was the one I really needed sorting. We cook with it open from May through September and the flies were a constant problem. The charcoal mesh they recommended gives a clear view out into the garden too. Really pleased."
"My daughter's room faces the back garden and we'd been losing sleep over mosquitoes coming in through the open window. The screen has completely solved it. The fitter was quick, tidy and explained exactly how to use the clip mechanism before he left."
FAQ
Questions we get asked most
If your question isn't here, the survey is a good place to ask it. We'll have seen your exact window type before.
Will a retractable screen fit my window type?
Casement, top-hung and fixed-frame windows are all straightforward. Tilt-and-turn windows can work, but we need to assess the mechanism first to confirm the screen can clear the window hardware when it swings open. We check this at the survey before anything is ordered.
What's the difference between a retractable screen and a fixed fly screen?
A fixed fly screen stays in place all year. A retractable screen rolls into a cassette housing when not in use, so it doesn't block light or collect dust through winter. The trade-off is a slightly higher cost and a cassette housing at the top of the reveal.
How do I choose the right mesh type?
Standard fiberglass handles the vast majority of UK insects and suits most windows. If the window gets strong afternoon sun, solar-shade mesh reduces heat and UV at the same time. If you have cats, go for pet-resistant mesh. Charcoal mesh gives the best outward view.
What's the maximum size you can make?
Most retractable window screens go up to around 1400mm wide and 2000mm drop as standard. Beyond those dimensions, the spring tension becomes harder to control reliably. We'll tell you at the survey if your window sits at the edge of those limits.
How do I clean the mesh without taking it down?
A soft brush along the surface deals with dust and debris during summer. A damp cloth handles anything more stubborn. Fiberglass mesh won't degrade with water. Avoid abrasive cloths or anything solvent-based.
Can I fit a retractable window screen myself?
We offer supply-only and some customers do fit them. The cassette and side channels need to be perfectly level and the reveal dimensions need to be accurate, otherwise the screen won't retract cleanly. We always recommend professional fitting.
Ready to open the windows again?
We'll come to you, measure every window, walk through the mesh and frame options, and give you a fixed price on the day. No obligation. No call centre. Just the person who'll fit the screens.
Free home survey. Fixed price quoted at the visit. North East and North West England.