A common question we hear from BC homeowners: "Do I need blinds or bug screens?" The honest answer is usually both — but they do very different jobs, and understanding the difference helps you spend your money where it counts.
What bug screens do
A bug screen's job is to let fresh air in and keep insects out when the window is open. They don't block light or provide privacy. If your goal is airflow without the bugs, screens are the answer.
What blinds do
Blinds control light, heat, and privacy. They're about what happens when the window is closed. Quality blinds (especially blackout-rated ones) can dramatically reduce summer heat and winter cold loss, and give you privacy at night.
When one replaces the other
The one place these overlap is patio sliding doors. Some homeowners remove an old, torn screen and want to replace it with a shade solution instead. But for a door you actually want to open for airflow in summer, a screen is still the better fit — a blind over an open door just flaps.
For most rooms, the ideal setup is both: a screen for open-window airflow, blinds for closed-window light control.
Pricing: it's not either-or
Because we build both, we can quote screens and blinds together and often combine them into one install visit across the Lower Mainland. Our blinds are priced per square foot with a 3-inch square metal head rail, light-filtering or blackout fabric, and a range of colour options.
Not sure what you need? Get a combined quote — tell us the rooms and we'll recommend the right mix.