There is something a bit counterintuitive about securing the base of your curtain. At first, you might think the best way to secure the bottom is to pull it straight down and perhaps tie it down or weight it, however the key to securing the base is horizontal tension. Weights do not work for outdoor curtains because they aren't heavy enough and weights drive the base of the curtain into the floor wearing it faster. Instead, use Marine snaps to secure the base as the curtain passes a support column. More detail
Imagine for a moment, we laid a 20ft belt from the Jolly Green Giant on the side walk. If you step on one end, and Martha Stewart stands on the other end, it would be hard to lift the middle of the belt. The little bit of horizontal tension would be enough to keep the belt down. Marine snaps every 6 - 10ft help to maintain horizontal tension along the base. If you can secure any three sides of a curtain panel, the fourth side really has no where to go. The top is secured when the curtain is hung. If you secure both sides, particularly at the two bottom corners, the base is very stable. When a curtain panel DOES NOT turn a corner, horizontal tension is easy to achieve since the curtain panel stretches across a single plane.
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An outside hang that follows a path around your support columns is very effective for maintaining horizontal tension along the base, but what about an inside hang? If a curtain turns an inside corner, you can marine snap the bottom binding of the curtain to the base of a corner support column. In addition, elastic cord attached from ceiling to floor, pinches the curtain to the support column. The elastic cord gives the curtain something to go around so that the curtain maintains continuous horizontal tension.
Outdoor curtains are designed for a relaxed fit. They aren't stretched taut like a drum nor are they sloppy loose. The relaxed fit will animate your curtain allowing it to wave a bit in the breeze, but will maintain just enough horizontal tension to keep the base down. In the PLAN section we will discuss some measurement adjustments. |
Don't be concerned about tiny gaps around the edges of the curtain
A mosquito is D-U-M-B. It smells certain chemicals and vectors right towards you. Insects in search of food vector directly towards the food. Bees, on the other hand, don't see you as food and are geographically oriented. When faced with an obstacle, bees will move laterally. Nonetheless, we want you to feel safe and secure on your porch and want the very best seal possible.
 
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This photo to the right shows tiny gaps in the lapped siding. If a mosquito enters these tiny gaps, it is dumb luck, not intentional, and extremely rare. While it won't be worth your time, a wood strip (like a 1" x 2") can be wedged into place between ceiling and floor and further secured with "L-brackets". To perfectly seal the "lapped siding", you can place weather stripping between the wood strip and the siding as is done for a traditional framed and stapled screen porch.
Very windy with no attachable surface We do come across this situation once in awhile and while this solution may be less than optimal, it is your only solution. Simply marine snap the base of the curtain to a 2" x 2" wood strip. The wood strip need not be attached to anything and can be unsnapped should you need to draw your curtains open with a tracking attachment. The wood strip is more than just a weight, it distributes the load evenly. This is also a common solution for keeping crafty kitties inside.
Screen Porch & Screen Porch Benefits
With a mosquito netting curtain, you can enjoy a warm summer day without the constant bother of bugs. A vibrant and alluring addition to any home, a screen porch does more than provide protection from the relentless pestering of hungry bugs. Mosquito netting curtains will differentiate your home from those with a permanent screen porch and create an eye catching improvement to your home. Protect your family from mosquitoes, no-see-ums, and other flying insects with attractive mosquito netting curtains for a screen porch enclosure you can be proud of. Any area around your house with a covered roof can be converted into valuable outdoor living space with a mosquito netting curtain. A screen porch does much more than just add value to your home. Use your mosquito netting curtain to add living space, enclose a gazebo, deck, or patio. A screen porch is a versatile addition to any home, especially if you can remove it during the cooler months. With a screen porch you are able to enjoy the beauty of nature without the burden of outdoor discomforts. |
