The screen tent is a collapsible enclosure that comes in a bag, just like a tent. It is erected just like a tent with poles and guy wires. The screen tent is practical for the cottage, for campers and for people just having fun in the park, who don’t want to be bothered by bugs. The tent remains a safe refuge where you can get respite from the mosquitoes and even shade from the hot sun.
Screened tents can be quite large but most will cover an area sufficient to surround a picnic table or park bench. That’s usually enough for a family outing. Larger screened tents can cover several picnic tables but then the screened tent becomes more difficult to set up and pack away.
Screened in tents are also wonderful play houses for children, they can set up their toys inside the screen tent and you can be at ease knowing that your children are protected from mosquitoes and the threat of west nile virus and also sheltered from the direct ultraviolet radiation of the sun.
So many of the tents brought in from China and other countries, use cloth that does not meet this standard. If you are concerned about using a tent close to a campfire, seek out those tents that are made in North America or have documented fire resistance.
If its a big tent, throwing it away can be an expensive proposition. Look for models that have seperate screened panels less than 4 feet wide. That way you might be able to find a local tailor who can patch in new material if a panel gets ripped.
Plastic hinges and joints can crack in half as you try to assemble your screened house. Aluminum framing would be better, even if it does make the tent a little heavier.
In these cases you may need to fix the screens in place, which can be done. The instructions are the same as my instructions for fixing storm door screens in-place when you cant get those out. Click on the navigation bar link at the left of the page that says "Storm Door Screens"