Sheri: The Aluminet stretches in one direction only, so when you order it, make sure you have the fabric cut to stretch in the direction it will hang from top to bottom. When the sales rep from IGC (where I ordered mine) told me the vents would open under the fabric, I was a bit doubious, but she was right. The key is to mount the fabric without stretching it tightly. My husband was concerned that the corners of the vent windows might punch holes in the aluminet fabric and wrapped rags around them. So far, even with the vents opened full and pulling the fabric, no holes, but I'm looking for a more elegant solution. Fat, self adheseive foam bumpers come to mind. But I didn't suggest that you use the aluminet AS a screen, only that when it's draped over the ROOF vents, it serves as one, which I found ironic, because we made screens for the roof vents, that will soon serve as storm panels for winter, as we can use them to hold bubble wrap in place under the vents. For your intake vents, use standard screening material, in a frame. To screen the powered intake vents on my GH, we used white vinyl house trim materials to create a box frame, 5- 1/2" deep, to allow the vents to open out, then just made screens using the screen channels, corners & spline sold in any home center. The box is made of 1 x 6 vinyl trim board, (actually 3/4 X 5- 1/2) so the edge facing out is wide enough to accomodate the screen frame, that is mounted to the box face with screws. To give a surface to mount the box to the GH, we used vinyl brickmould. The box sits inside brickmould, attached with small screws. The brickmould was fitted tightly around and to the fan frame, sealed with silicone. Once we fiddled the design, they were pretty easy to make and give me the ability to both remove the screens for cleaning, and in late fall, when we seal up the GH for winter, we can seal the vents by placing insulation in the boxes, then use the screens to hold it in place. My inspiration was shadowboxes, which, when you look at them, are no more than a picture frame with a second frame inside of it that projects out, with another frame on it's face, to hold the glass. From the craft shop to the GH. LOL!

I believe the fibre you are referring to is coir, coconut husk fibre. Yes, it can handle being constantly wet, for about a year or two. It has been known to just completely fall apart after that point. A much longer-lasting (but less environmentally friendly) option is treefern root panels. If you use lots and lots of silicone, I believe that the coir holds together longer. As for paints, all acrylic paints are non-toxic. And why are you worried about the fumes? You're not going to be painting the foam while the frogs are in there, and once the paint has cured, it doesn't give off fumes anymore. Also, acrylics don't really give off fumes. That's oil paints that do that (and the 'acrylics' used for painting houses, but that's not what you want). Just use any artist's acrylics. Brands: Windsor & Newton, Grumbacher (Galeria), Steven's, Crayola. . . =) If you do use acrylics instead of patio paint, you will want to seal it after it's all dry. Acrylics can turn liquid again with water running over them (they're water-based), and that would be bad! So seal everything with a water-proof sealant, and you won't have to worry. If you can't find one that's non-toxic when cured, try painting a thin layer of Marine Goop (it's a super-strong, non-toxic glue that dries clear) over everything. Do that outside though, because that stuff sure is toxic! You do NOT want to breathe those fumes in! Totally harmless when cured though. Wait. . . why do you want to paint the foam if you're going to cover it with coir? If you're worried that the foam will show through, it probably won't. Just make sure you use black silicone to attach the coir, and everything will be fine. Never use clear silicone. It dries white, and is pretty obvious, especially when wet.

Nancy...GOT IT!!!! Thanks everybody for participating and hope you all got something you could use. Nancy thanks for your special additions, they will all get used, and as for everything else...it has either found a home in my supply closet or will be set aside for the next Craft Supply Robin. THANKS Nancy...and thanks eerybody else. I will be sending Janet another email...we'll see what happens....this is just a little frustrating since she was the last stop before the Robin comes home. Cross you fingers for me! Netta

"Its" not "it's". Thank you for your answer. I asked another friend and she said she has some that has retained its color also.