Creating a beautiful outdoor space is one thing, but making sure it’s safe for your family and pets is another. If you have a second-floor porch or balcony, choosing the right screening material matters more than most homeowners realize. That’s where mesh guard screen solutions come in.

Recently, home renovation creator @renorowhome shared how they restored their 1960s screened-in porch using MeshGuard from Metro Screenworks to create a safe space for both their baby and their cats. Their project is a perfect example of how the right screened-in porch safety materials can protect what matters most while still preserving the charm of an older home.

Why Standard Porch Screens Aren’t Enough for Upper-Level Spaces

Traditional window and patio screens are designed for insects, not for impact or fall protection. On elevated porches and balconies, this creates a serious safety risk, especially for:

• Babies and toddlers
  
  
• Cats and small dogs
  
  
• Homes with guardrails that need infill protection
  
  

Standard screen mesh can stretch, tear, or pop out under pressure. That’s why building codes often require guardrail infill materials that meet higher strength standards than typical insect screens.

This is where MeshGuard for porch safety becomes essential rather than optional.

What Is MeshGuard and Why It’s Used for Guardrail Infill

MeshGuard is a heavy-duty, vinyl-coated polyester screen specifically engineered to meet building code requirements for guardrail infill. Unlike traditional screening, it’s designed to resist:

• Impact from pets or children
  
  
• Pushing, leaning, or climbing
  
  
• Stretching that creates dangerous gaps
  
  

In the @renorowhome project, MeshGuard was installed on the lower sections of the screened porch where fall protection was most important, helping turn the space into a safe family hangout and a fully approved catio!

Key benefits of MeshGuard include:

✔️ Meets guardrail infill building code standards

✔️ Significantly stronger than standard porch screen

✔️ Ideal for second-story porches and balconies

✔️ Helps prevent falls without blocking airflow or views

For homeowners restoring older properties, this makes it possible to preserve original porch designs while upgrading safety to modern standards.

Creating a Safe Catio With Super Screen and MeshGuard

Because this porch also functions as a catio, the homeowners layered their protection:

• MeshGuard on the lower sections for fall prevention
  
  
• Super Screen on the upper areas for extra claw and tear resistance
  
  

This combination is smart for multi-use outdoor spaces that need both:

• Structural safety
  
  
• Long-term durability against pets
  
  

Cats love climbing, jumping, and testing screen strength. Using pet-resistant screening materials helps prevent damage that could eventually compromise safety.

A Smart Home DIY Upgrade That Adds Peace of Mind

This project also highlights why home DIY porch upgrades are about more than aesthetics. When you’re working with:

• Second-floor patios
  
  
• Historic porches
  
  
• Multi-pet households
  
  
• Growing families
  
  

…choosing structural-grade screening materials is part of responsible renovation, not just design.

Instead of replacing the entire porch or adding bulky rail systems, MeshGuard allows homeowners to:

• Maintain open sightlines
  
  
• Keep airflow and natural light
  
  
• Meet safety requirements discreetly
  

That balance of function and design is exactly what makes screened-in porch renovations feel livable, not restrictive.

When Should You Use Mesh Guard Screen on Your Porch or Balcony?

You should strongly consider mesh guard screen if your space includes:

• Upper-level porches or decks
  
  
• Railings that need infill to meet code
  
  
• Areas accessible to children or pets
  
  
• High-traffic outdoor living spaces
  
  

While standard screens work for insects, they are not designed to act as safety barriers. MeshGuard fills that gap by offering both visibility and strength.

If you’re unsure whether your porch needs guardrail-rated screening, it’s worth reviewing local building codes or speaking with a professional installer before starting your project.

The @renorowhome porch renovation shows that restoring older outdoor spaces doesn’t mean compromising on safety. With MeshGuard for porch safety, homeowners can create secure, comfortable areas for kids, pets, and everyday life — even on upper levels.

Whether you’re building a catio, upgrading a screened-in porch, or improving balcony safety, MeshGuard provides strength you can trust without sacrificing the look of your home.

Ready to upgrade your porch with code-compliant safety screening?

Request a MeshGuard screen sample from Metro Screenworks and see the difference in strength and quality before you start your project.