How to screen a balcony in a rental?

brittm

Hi Bunnings Workshop team,

I’m trying to create a bug-proof “alfresco” zone by screening the open section of my upstairs balcony so we can leave the sliding door open without insects/cockroaches getting inside.

Opening size

Width: 3630mm
Height: 1150mm (measured from the inside balcony ceiling down to the bottom edge of the glass balustrade, where the glass meets the concrete below)

Balcony construction / surfaces

Glass balustrade sits on top of a concrete upstand/half-wall.
The area I want to screen is the open void above the concrete upstand (up to the ceiling).
Side returns/walls are concrete.
The ceiling surface I can access is the inside balcony ceiling (there’s a recess on the outer edge, but it’s not practical/safe to use).
Balcony floor is timber decking, but I’d prefer the screen to stop at the concrete upstand line below the glass, not run down to the floor.

Constraints

We rent, so I want something strong but also removable later.
I’m OK with a small number of screw holes (can patch), but I’d prefer to avoid adhesive-only solutions that can damage paint or fail in heat/humidity.
Needs a good seal (minimal gaps) and should handle normal wind movement.

Options I’m considering (haven’t bought materials yet)

Wire-hung mesh “curtain”: flyscreen mesh hung from a tensioned wire fixed to the inside ceiling, then sides/bottom mechanically clamped to concrete with battens/strips.
Aluminium flyscreen frames + spline: build 2 (or 3) framed panels and mount them around the opening; possibly add a centre mullion/post if using 2 panels.

Questions

For a 3630mm wide opening, which approach is more robust and easiest DIY: wire-hung mesh or framed panels?
If using framed panels: could I make one full-width frame, or would you recommend two panels (~1815mm each)? If two, what’s the best way to do the centre join/mullion (timber vs aluminium joiner) and fix it to concrete cleanly?
If wire-hung mesh: what’s the best way to seal and secure the bottom edge at the concrete upstand line below the glass (without leaving gaps)?
Any recommended renter-friendly concrete fixings (anchors/screws/brackets) and seals (foam/brush strip etc.) to minimise gaps?

Happy to add photos or a rough sketch if helpful.

Thanks!

JacobZ

Hi @brittm,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is wonderful to have you with us.

Is it possible to get some photos that show where the screen would need to be mounted from closer? Seeing what we are working with will definitely help.

To tell you the truth, there is no such thing as a "renter-friendly concrete fixing" as they all require you to drill into and damage the concrete. Unless you had explicit written permission from your landlord, I wouldn't even consider it. There's also a good chance that if you are in a Body Corporate building, you would need the approval of the committee to make a change like this, as it is altering the external appearance of the property.

Realistically, creating a truly bug-proof space is going to be difficult with these limitations, and I can't think of a way to do it that would be safe.

Unfortunately, unless you could get permission from your landlord to screw some h3 framing around the opening, which you could then attach your flyscreen to, I don't see a way that this is possible.

Allow me to tag our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their thoughts.

Jacob

Dave-1

Good Afternoon @brittm

I was heading towards screwing a length of H3 timber across the top of the ceiling above the glass, that way you can have multiple points of securing the flyscreen material. Tho I think wind should be factored in with any netting/xscreen across the are. It will also leave marks on the plaster I would thin even if you find the ceiling battons first go.

Second option I just thought of while looking at your bacony.

See that metal stand on the left of the photos. If you could purchase two or three of those stands but tallerto just under ceiling height. So you could place them along the glass baulstrade. Then you could run a timber beam across the top of them so you can secure your flyscreen or shadecloth. I would go flyscreen a sits lighter. I would weight the base of these with bags of sand so they cant tip over in wind.

Dave

Nailbag

I have to agree with @JacobZ on this @brittm that being a rental its going to be a struggle to make it bug-proof.

You could make up 3 manageable treated pine (70 x 35) square frames that had flyscreen fixed to them. The sizing would be such that they might press-fit into place. You would have to be conscious though this might damage the house render each side. Plus you would still need to seal around the edges where the frame meets the house to prevent crawling insects.

Of you could use an outdoor scrawling insect barrier spray like this. I use it and find it very effective. Plus I have a similar mozzie deterrent like this that we use when sitting in our alfresco area and take it camping. And there are these if you have issues with flies.

Nailbag