guide
Six window screens: compare short rolls and long kits
A complete batch example showing roll counts, leftover area and a price comparison that can change with your store.
Keep the same batch for every comparison
This example repairs four frames measuring 16 by 34 inches and two frames measuring 24 by 40 inches. Measurements are the outside dimensions of removable rectangular window-screen frames. The tool's initial example uses this batch, so you can reproduce the comparison.
Choose the allowance specified for your material. With Phifer's window-screen method of half an inch beyond each edge, the four smaller blanks become 17 by 35 inches and the two larger blanks become 25 by 41 inches. The combined blank area is 4,430 square inches, including trimming allowance.
Compare the actual layouts
| Nominal roll | Rolls found | Purchased area | Unassigned area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 × 84 inches | 2 | 6,048 sq in | 1,618 sq in |
| 48 × 84 inches | 2 | 8,064 sq in | 3,634 sq in |
| 36 × 300 inches | 1 | 10,800 sq in | 6,370 sq in |
| 48 × 300 inches | 1 | 14,400 sq in | 9,970 sq in |
These are the best results found by the tool's four tested shelf layouts with rotation allowed. They are not a proof of optimal packing. Unassigned material may contain useful remnants; it is not all necessarily waste. The cut map identifies each piece and shows full-width ends and side strips separately.
Fewer rolls does not necessarily mean a lower bill
For a purely hypothetical price example, suppose the four candidates cost $12, $17, $28 and $34 per package in the order shown above. Buying the quantities in the table would cost $24, $34, $28 and $34 before tax or delivery. Two short 36-inch rolls would be the least expensive of those entered options.
Those figures are invented arithmetic inputs, not advertised prices. Replace them with your current local prices. A longer roll may still be preferable if you will use its remainder on later projects, but do not treat the entire leftover area as an immediate saving. Check package contents because a mesh roll and a kit may include different supplies.
Now change the allowance
ADFORS' window guide specifies two inches on each side. Applied to the same six frames, the blanks become 20 by 38 inches and 28 by 44 inches. The tested plan then needs three short 36-inch rolls or two short 48-inch rolls; either 25-foot candidate still needs one roll. Do not reduce the allowance merely to force the cheaper plan. Follow the chosen product's instructions.
Check before cutting
Confirm usable roll width, material suitability and whether rotation is acceptable. Print the labeled plan, then make one trial screen before cutting the whole batch. A piece must fit continuously; joining remnants is outside this method. Spline diameter, spline length, tools, tax and shipping are separate checks and are excluded from the price comparison.
Compare the six-screen batch →