Life span of external screens (1 Viewer)

[Scattycat]

Just as it says in the title
How long do you expect external screens to last?

Over the last 4 years we've had 2. The second a replacement for the first one.

We bought them from a local motohome accessory outlet.
Grey fabric on one side and silver on the other.
On both covers the grey side began to crack within a dozen or so times of using it. now on the the second one the silver has started delaminating.
Okay, it may have been on the front of the van for about 8 weeks in the summer and I put it on, silver side out, because the grey is split, about a week ago.
Given the price of these things I'd have thought they should have lasted a little longer.
What are other folks experiences with these screens?
Is it normal that they only last a couple of years or is it that the French supplier, Midland, are just rubbish?

 

[Forestboy]

My Silverscreens are 4 years old and are used all year round in summer to keep the van cool and in winter to keep condensation out and warmth in. Been used in the Alps for weeks on end at temps as low as minus 20 put away frozen and wet and are still as good as the day I bought them.
Oh forgot never a drop of condensation either.

 

[wiljoy]

Have used Silverscreen products for over 20 years now and they NEVER wear out. My first screencover is still in use after three owners and lots of action.
Got a screencover given from another manufacturer but it wasn't very good and the fit was terrible. They may be expensive to start with but Silverscreen are the best for my money.

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[tonyidle]

My last Silver Screens were starting to wear after 9 years use by me. No idea how long the previous owner had had them though

 

[Jaws]

Our old ones I sold to nemo, they are several years old, get used constantly and are as good today as they were when bought
The ones we use on the new van I bought from Dux', no idea how old they are but are perfect

 

[MitchandJenny]

Silver screens seem to just go on year after year unchanged in appearance and very efficient.

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[Puddleduck]

They should last longer than a couple of years, if you can find proof of purchase take them back.

 

[JeanLuc]

Our Silver Screens are over 6 years old. Some indications of wear around the edges of the fitting flaps but I expect them to go on for many more years yet.

 

[Scattycat]

As,I thought, the Midland ones are rubbish
I'll have to try and get some from the UK

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[Bobby22]

I see German brand Hindermann for sale at a reasonable price, has anyone got any experience of them?

 

[JockandRita]

Our Taylor Made external screens are now over nine years old, and still going strong, however they only get used between autumn and spring to keep the heat in, and prevent a build up of condensation internally.
We wouldn't be without them in winter.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[normanandsue]

Did you leave your screens on all the year or just when you occupied your motorhome?

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[wizzer59]

Take em off when your driving and they should last a bit longer

 

[Ber090]

Hi Bobby22, If Hinderman screen covers are anything like their bike covers they will not fit and will be badly made and if you ask them to look at them they go instantly deaf!
CCheers
Bernie

 

[JockandRita]

Did you leave your screens on all the year or just when you occupied your motorhome?

Just when occupied during winter months.

Our internal concertina blinds come into their own for keeping the heat out during summer months.

Cheers,

Jock.

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[CazPaul]

The problem with Silver Screens(Cleckheaton ones) is that, like most things these days, they are not made like they used to be.

Silver Screens themselves fully admit and tell you this. They said it was some strange EU health and safety and the material had to be changed. They could not tell me when this was, just saying about 6 or 7 years ago. I had rang up to to complain that ours were perishing badly. We were full timing at that point and they were on every night during the winter.

Silver Screens said they are not suitable to be left on every night during a UK winter. They likened them to a winter coat, saying you wouldn't leave your coat out in the rain every day, the screens needs to be fetched in after rain to dry out, just like your coat.

The old screens, before the material was changed, were wonderful, much more robust.

I think its a load of rubbish about the health and safety aspect, they just found out a much cheaper way to produce them and make even more profit.

So don't chuck away your 9 or 10 year old ones and think that by buying new ones you are getting as good a product, you are not.

Paul.

 

[GJH]

Our Taylor Made external screens are now over nine years old, and still going strong, however they only get used between autumn and spring to keep the heat in, and prevent a build up of condensation internally.
We wouldn't be without them in winter.

Cheers,

Jock.

Similar experience here - though ours are only about 7 years old.

 

[Minxy]

It sounds like the OP's screens are some thin/crappy ones and nothing like the Silver Screen or Taylor Made ones, we've had both SS and TM and they last ages and ages and ages!!!!!

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[Scattycat]

Did you leave your screens on all the year or just when you occupied your motorhome?

We use our screens for about 20 odd weeks of the year

 

[Scattycat]

It sounds like the OP's screens are some thin/crappy ones and nothing like the Silver Screen or Taylor Made ones, we've had both SS and TM and they last ages and ages and ages!!!!!

If they were thin and crappy they wouldn't have been as effective as the have been, it's just that the material seems substandard.
It seems that may be as CazPaul said companies are now using a cheaper material nowadays.

Silverscreens themselves now say that they shouldn't be used on a full time daily basis which seems to contradict what folks who have had their screens for many years and find they are still looking good and working well

 

[Minxy]

If they were thin and crappy they wouldn't have been as effective as the have been, it's just that the material seems substandard.
It seems that may be as CazPaul said companies are now using a cheaper material nowadays.

Silverscreens themselves now say that they shouldn't be used on a full time daily basis which seems to contradict what folks who have had their screens for many years and find they are still looking good and working well

I'm confused now ... you said they were made by French supplier Midland ...

Is it normal that they only last a couple of years or is it that the French supplier, Midland, are just rubbish?

so exactly what have you got?

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[Bertie Bassett]

I see German brand Hindermann for sale at a reasonable price, has anyone got any experience of them?

Yes, we got them from Vancomfort. Wish we'd stayed with Silverscreens, the Hindermanns are overpriced, more difficult to fit and do not provide the same level of insulation that our old SScreens did.

 

[Scattycat]

I'm confused now ... you said they were made by French supplier Midland ...

so exactly what have you got?

A bit aggressive aren't we?

Sorry, I should have made it clear that Silverscreens themselves have said that 'their' screens shouldn't be used on a full time basis.

 

[CazPaul]

A bit aggressive aren't we?

Sorry, I should have made it clear that Silverscreens themselves have said that 'their' screens shouldn't be used on a full time basis.

Yes Scattycat, that's exactly what silver screens say themselves, I was thinking for a minute that people had not read my post until I saw your replies.

I,ll repeat it again. Silver screens are NO WHERE NEAR AS GOOD as they used to be.

Who says so. SILVER SCREENS themselves. They fully admit and tell you this.

And me too, I wondered why they went mushy after a winter in northern uk, that's why I rang to complain.

Paul.

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[Welsh girl]

We use Taylor Made and have done summer and winter for the last 4 years, the colour seems to have gone dull but the thickness is still good.
The fit was good when we owned a Fiat which is what we bought them for but not so good on the transit but that's not their fault, it's ours for being tight and not getting the correctly fitting ones for our vehicle, we just manage with these.
I wish at the time I had bought silver screens as they seemed to be less bulky but we have managed.

 

[Minxy]

A bit aggressive aren't we?

Sorry, I should have made it clear that Silverscreens themselves have said that 'their' screens shouldn't be used on a full time basis.

Not sure why you are accusing me of being aggressive! All I said is that I was confused and asked you to tell me what you had ... which I still don't know as you haven't confirmed WHAT they are!!! You've just mentioned Silver Screens not being as good as they were but you previously said you have some which were made by a French supplier/Midland or something ...

If you don't want o answer that's fine but please do not accuse me of being something I wasn't ...

 

[Debs]

Yes, we got them from Vancomfort. Wish we'd stayed with Silverscreens, the Hindermanns are overpriced, more difficult to fit and do not provide the same level of insulation that our old SScreens did.

Oh Bertie I'm a bit worried now - we are booked in at VanComfort next week for ours - but only because the others don't supply for an Adria A class

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[Khizzie]

I have a fiamma external screen ,not padded but effective. Its now 8 yrs old. I use it all through the winter months and when its hot in the summer,best buy other than my duvalays hat I have bought for my MH.

 

[Minxy]

I have a fiamma external screen ,not padded but effective. Its now 8 yrs old. I use it all through the winter months and when its hot in the summer,best buy other than my duvalays hat I have bought for my MH.

Wow ... they make hats for motorhomes now! That is seriously posh!

 

[Khizzie]

Hahaha typo....

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