Can I Use Window Screen to Reinforce Resin?

Fiberglass Resin

• In order to make fiberglass, a vinyl-like resin is applied to a fiberglass backing made of matting or mesh material. The backing used to give fiberglass strength and structure is sometimes described as like a window screen. It may have the same general shape and appearance as window screen, but a fiberglass screen is an entirely different product. The two products should never be switched.

Primary Issues

• Fiberglass screens and meshes are designed for resin applications. Window screens are designed for basic filtering purposes. Window screens will not provide the necessary strength to hold up fiberglass resin. They may encounter eventual corrosion problems that will ruin fiberglass applications over time. Window screens are not designed with the same flexibility as fiberglass meshes. So they cannot cover many fiberglass materials.

Fiberglass Creation

• Making a fiberglass product from scratch begin with wrapping the object you are layering with a fiberglass cloth. The mesh is made in different thicknesses and weaves. A strong weave has a thick mesh, but it is less flexible than a weaker weave, which has a thinner mesh. Always match the fiberglass cloth or mesh choice with the epoxy resin you use. That factor is another reason why window screens will not work; not all meshes are suitable for every resin combination.

Material Repair

• If you want to repair or restore materials with fiberglass, choose a fiberglass mat. The thin matting allows you to patch serious damage in fiberglass or bridge gaps between plastic-based walls. A chopped strand mat is one of the less expensive options, but a woven cloth or thin screen may work best for more flexibility.