Today, I am going to talk about window screens! What? Window screens? Am I crazy? Well, some people say that I am crazy, but that’s a whole different story! But, yes, I have something I want to say about window screens.
You know what I mean when I say window screens, right? I mean the screens that are on your exterior windows in the house, the ones that keep flies and other insects from entering your house when the windows are open.
I have lived in six different houses here in the Philippines, and every one of them had something interesting about the window screens. They were on the inside of the windows! In the States, the window screens are on the outside of the windows.
Why is it a big deal? Well, think about it!
When the screens are on the inside of the windows, they are not as effective. The reason is that if you want to open the window, you must first open the screen, then open the window, then close the screen. During this process there is a time when the window is screenless, and bugs can enter your house! Yes, it is a short time, but mosquitoes and such do come in the house during that short time. If the screens were on the outside of the windows, you can just open the window and be done. There is never a time when the house is fully open to the bugs, because the screen is always in place.
If you live in the Philippines, is this what you have encountered as well? I’d be interested to know if I have just had an unusual experience in living in 6 different houses like this, or if this is the normal way of doing it here. Let me know!
Hey – Bob
It's highly unlikely that you are "Crazy"
Could it to do with the fact that houses in PI have metal bars on the outside of the windows for security. In Cavite I once stayed in a house with NO screesn at all, the Mozitos were so bad that we had a fan under the table blowing on our legs to keep the Mozitos from biting our legs as we ate. "Kinky"
Good screening should be a priority there because of all the possible sickness spread by the Mozitos. Do you at least sleep under Mozito nets like I did in the 80's
Hi Neal from RI – Here's the funny thing… I am sitting here at my desk, looking at the window in front of me…. first thing on the inside is the screen. Second thing is the bars, and third are the glass window panes! Yep, the bars on INSIDE the glass panes! Ha ha…. 🙄
Bob
I would say that is definately another fine example of "The Filipino Way" You gotta love that kind of stuff. ❓
All my screens are on the inside of the window. Doesn't give me a problem though unless my brother in law forgets to close the screen… which hapens all the time. Then I have a whole crew of flies buzzing around the place until the gekkos get them.
Hi Neal – Ha ha.. yep, I learn a little more about the culture every day!
Hi BrSpiritus – Gotta keep food in the mouths of the lizards! Maybe that's why they put the window screens on the inside! It's a humanitarian thing! 😉
Bob, it's because Filipinos like putting grills or iron bars on their window for aesthetic and security reasons. It's a fire hazard though. I don't iron bars so our screens are on the outside. They're easier to clean that way too.
Hi Cathy – That still doesn't make sense to me, though… because I've had houses abroad with iron bars, but the bars and the screens were both on the outside! Ha ha… it's just an odd difference that I notice from time to time!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting! Hey, I noticed you joined my new Friendster group too, "Friends of Mindanao Bob." Thanks for the support! 😀
Bob,
Even in America some window styles have screens on the inside.
After saying that I will add that they do not have to be opened to opperate the windows.
Some of the windows here are Casement style and swing out. In that case the screens have to be on the inside. Unfortunatly there is no mechanism to open and close the window except a turn lock and manually operating them.
I have seen 2 peice screens on a slide track here. I realized there is no brush or rubber gaskket to stop something crawling through.
Well, as you have said "we are not in Kansas anymore"
There are a lot of things different here, but how do you change a mindset.
Hi Bruce – Very true about different window styles. The ones here in my house are sliding windows, and the screens are on a slide track here too.
You're welcome Bob! You make me realize some things about this country that we're not obvious to me before (imagine me, staring to the right of my monitor with a slight frown hehe!).
Hi Bob – up in the province where we spend our time, windows are normally old, metal frame affairs that swing out and screens are unheard of! 😯
We're putting screens on the windows and doors of our "retirement bungalow" – talk about comments and queries from neighbors and friends! Screens, windows and doors will have to be "imported" from Manila's Home Depot – they don't really exist in the provincial supply stores! 😕
While spending time there without the benefit of screens, I use the "San Miguel" method for mosquito repellant. ❗ A Lolo told me of the method a number of years back (i.e., mosquitos don't enjoy the smell of sweat or skin of someone drinking San Miguel Beer) so I follow it fanatically. Either it works extremely well or, with a few SMBs under the belt, I don't mind a bite or two (or ten)! 😆
I don't think the san mig method of mosquito repellant works cuz I tried it last year and still caught dengue.
After my first visit to my wifes family and he Papa found that where I lived in the US screens he installed screens in their house. We will have the pleasure of using them for the next three weeks on our stay.
hi bob.. one things for sure my window screen is outside the window 😀 . i guess having the screen inside the window also got to do with the people who installed the thing.. you see, many workers are not properly oriented with screen intallation so they just put it in a way that is convenient for them.. and if the home owners dont complain then you are stuck with the screen inside the window.. another thing if the house was build with iron bars first before the home owners decide to put a screen, so to make things easier, they just put the screen inside.. 🙂
Hi Cathy – Ha ha… sometimes it takes a fresh set of eyes to realize things that other people don't notice. I bet that if you came to the States, you would point out things to me that I never thought of! 😉
Hi Paul – For the most part, I don't drink, so the San Mig method won't work for me! 😆
Hi BrSpiritus – If the mosquitoes like beer, I would think it might attract more of them!
Hi Wayne – Enjoy the screens, and everything else on your trip!
Hi athena – That's great news, I'm glad that there are at least some windows in the Philippines with the screens positioned as I am used to! Thanks for visiting!
Well bob, they are Philippine mosquitoes… how could they not like San Mig? 😆
Hi Bob – The truth of the San Mig is, if you're drunk you don't mind the mosquitoe bites anymore. Let the mosies be driven away by your snores
Hi Bob – Imagine if you have a two-storey house or more. do the installers have a high rise ladder to install the screens and grills? Or to easily access in cleaningthe screens. Again imagine not cleanig it, can the fresh air passes through?
Hi BrSpiritus – Exactly! Exactly.
Hi Ida – Ha ha.. I guess it's true that you won't worry about the bites if you are drunk! Regarding the building height, I have seen the way they rig up scaffolding here, and even in a 10 storey building it wouldn't be a problem! 😆
Hi Bob,
I think the reason why the screen is installed inside the window so it does not block the view of the window from outside. I have my house built in Samal right now, a sliding window has been installed with the screen inside. I thought it's the norm here to install the screen from inside, it was not discussed whether i have an option to install inside or outside the window. Either way, it looks alright to me. there's one issue though that my husband won't agree..i want window grills installed and he reject it outright saying it looks like a jail. I'm still in the process to convince him to have window grills for added security or he'll wait when he experience an intruder inside his house…God forbid.
HI Bob …..Phil here from Gingoog city I'm sorry to say my house doesn't have windows yet just openings and no screens eather but we do have bars over the opening . 😆 ..and no windows in the bedroom . my wife doesn't like stealers coming in the house ..i don't blame her eather ..
Hi Bob – Grills are good only on one storey house whether installed in or out, depending on your choice. But hey! Be sure to have a little veranda to serve as a fire scape if you plan to have grills on a two-storey house. Or else, the occupants will turn up into a human lechon.
Hi Peachy – Well, for me, I would side with your husband. I feel that if you have a good wall, no need for security bars on the windows. It does spoil the view, no doubt!
Hi Ida – Oh, I thought you were talking about screens before! Personally, I would choose not to have bars.
Hi Phil – Ha ha… openings are OK! No need for screens! (or bars!)
Pinoy always do it the way they are used to do it. I always do it my way! Just yesterday I had a windowscreen installed and I let them do it outside!
Pinoys are always somehow surprised and don't understand when I want to have it done my way!
I don’t understand the obsession with screens being in or out of the window!!! It all depends on your window. If it swings out, then the screen should be in. If it swings in, then the screen should be out. I was looking for screen installers in google and somehow ended up here. Does anyone know a reliable screen fabricator in the Quezon City area? The mosquitoes are driving me insane!!!
When the house was originally built, it has sliding glass windows only. Then our neighbors suggested to have iron grills installed to deter future thieves, lol. Wow! So I had iron grills installed outside the windows. Now, swarms of flies by daytime, and mosquitoes both daytime and nightine are problems and irritating,so we decided to have the window screen installed. Where do you think is the right place to install it? Outside? Then you have to remove the iron grills then install the screen, then return the iron grills? You can do this but cost a lot of pesos, unless you are rich. So we decided to have the screen installed inside..