Make Your Own Sun Screens
Every time Ive walked into our new kitchen during the late afternoon / early evening with its west facing windows, I think to myself its time to make sun screens. Well, I finally got around to it so now the sun doesnt blind us and we have improved energy efficiency, which is important in sunny and hot Texas. Because the built-in screens for our windows only cover the part of the window that opens, I had to create new screen frames for the windows, rather than just simply using the screen frame that was there. Converting existing screen frames into sun screens is much easier, something Ive done before as well.
Ugh, the sun shines right through the kitchen window on the west side of the house!
To make a sun screen, first measure your windows and head to the store to get supplies. Lowes and Home Depot sell screen frame kits that basically have everything you need, except the screen material and the screen spline roller tool. Since I had some screen frame pieces left from our previous house, and I needed to create two frames, I bought my supplies separately. Heres what you need:
Heavier Frames For Higher Quality
Our solar screens, also called shade screens for windows, are made with a 5/16″ x 1″ screen frame. This heavier frame provides you with a higher quality product for greater longevity and durability. All of our solar screens are made-to-size with your choice of solar mesh, frame color, and hardware. Our pre-made solar screens for windows are shipped direct to you, fully assembled and ready-to-install. Solar screens are made within 1/16″ of the dimensions you provide.
Need help measuring for your new or replacement window screens? Check out or measuring FAQ page or ! Denver-area customers can also visit our showroom for free measuring assistance.
Ordering in bulk? Shop here.
What Color Solar Screen Is Best
Solar screens come in a variety of colors, but the color matters more than just for design purposes.
A lighter color solar screen is typically thicker, making it more difficult to see through and making it better for privacy. Darker colors, like black or brown, are more transparent, making them easier to see through.
Looking around Home Depot, charcoal sun shade screen in a 90% sun blocking mesh seems to be the most popular choice.
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Online Vs Local Contractor
While you cant buy custom solar screens from Amazon , you can buy solar screens online from us here at Solar Screen Outlet. This kind of goes without saying, but if you buy solar screens online, youll have to do a bit of the work yourself. From assembly to installing them on your home, putting in a little DIY effort can certainly save you hundreds of dollars or more.
If you purchase solar screens through a local contractor, they will do the measuring, assembly and install so expect to pay them for all that labor. Heres what one of our recent customers said about how much he saved buy purchasing solar screens online at Solar Screen Outlet:
Weve had customers report savings of up to 80% vs buying from a local contractor.
Measure The Dimensions Of The Solar Screen
The solar screens width and length need to be measured by holding a measuring tape as straight as possible. The tape is put on the left side of the window and measured til the right. The width of the clearance needs to be subtracted from each side. The tolerance should not be measured too tight to allow insertion and removal.
The height is measured by putting the tape at the top and standing straight down. It needs to be determined where the screen should be at the top and the bottom.
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Are Solar Screens Expensive
Compared to replacing an entire window with a brand new low- e and double-paned window, a solar screen is an absolute bargain.
According to South West Exteriors, if you take the measurements and install them yourself, a solar screen can cost less than $50 for an average 35 X 70 window. If you choose to hire a contractor to install them, you can spend around $7.50 per square foot.
If you install solar screens on several windows at the same time, youll save some money, so its worth upgrading every window in your house at the same time if you can.
Custom Diy Solar Screen Kits
Solar window screen kits are a great way to reduce energy costs and add graceful insect protection to your home. Solar screens work by blocking out the suns rays before they have a chance to enter your home and they can be mounted on the outside or inside of your windows. Solar screen material can block out up to 90% of the suns heat and UV rays, making it easier to keep your home cool in the summer without sacrificing your view. Some people worry that solar screens will make their home look dark or dreary but this is not the case. You can still see out clearly and youll gain all the protection solar window screen mesh has to offer. In addition to reducing your cooling costs, solar screens can also help to protect your furniture and floors from fading. DIY window screen kits for sale online are easy to order and installation is a relatively simple process. If youre looking for an effective way to reduce your energy consumption and keep your home cool this summer, a DIY window screen kit is a wise investment for any homeowner.
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Installing Solar Screen With Screws
A 1/4″ driver attached to a drill makes it easy to install the screws in one easy step. The screws are Color Matching and Self-Drilling.
Picture of screw head after solar screens installation is complete.
Quality Screen Co. Offers These “How To” Guides to Provide Some Guidance and Tips on Various Activities Related to Measuring, Ordering or Installing Window Screens, Attaching Solar Screens, Roll-Away Retractable Window & Attaching Door Screens, Porch & Patio Screening Systems and Other Do-It-Yourself Screening Projects. Remember That We Cannot See Your Windows or Doors and That You Are Responsible For Determining Your Own Installation Specific Needs. If the How To Guides Do Not Seem to Describe Your Project or You Do Not Understand Our How To Guide, Feel Free to Contact us.
How To Install Solar Window Screens In An Aluminum Frame
Step 1 – Lay the aluminum on a flat surface.
Step 2 – Cover the frame with the solar screen fabric that is cut a little bigger than the frame.
Step 3 – Push the spline along with the solar screen fabric into the groove found around the inside of the aluminum frame
Step 4 – Trim away excess solar screen fabric
Step 5 – You can now install the aluminum frame in place over the window and secure it in place with the turn clips.
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Reasons Why Solar Screens Are The Highest Recommended Upgrade For Home Energy Efficiency
Summer heat is on its way, and energy prices are on the rise. With this combination of factors, most property owners are looking for cost-effective ways to lower their energy bills. To combat the heat of the sun without entirely losing your view, consider a solar screen. They are fabric screens mounted on the exterior of windows and doors, and they prevent 90% of sunlight from touching the glass of your windows, keeping your homes interior cool and comfortable. You could even be extra energy efficient by using this Comparison Of Solar Storage Solutions and efficient solar panels! Here are 5 reasons why solar screens are the most highly recommended upgrade for home energy efficiency.
Get An Exact Price For Your Solar Screens
Here at Solar Screen Outlet, you can purchase your solar screens directly through our website. Our product ordering pages contain a form where you can put in the exact size you need and the price will auto-update based on the sizes you put in and the options/upgrades you choose.
As we mentioned above, you could pay as little as $29 for a custom solar screen kit, but the average price for an 80% Solar Screen Kit w/ Frame is about $55. If you want a 90% solar screen, youll pay about 15% more.
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Calculate How Many Solar Window Screens You Need
Calculating how many solar window screens you need is a fairly simple process. You first need to measure the size of each window in your home. Once you have that measurement, you then need to find the right size solar window screen for your needs.
Once you have both numbers, simply divide the size of your window by the size of the solar window screen. This will give you the number of solar window screens you need to purchase.
For example, if your window is 12 square feet and the solar window screen is 24 inches by 36 inches, then you would need two solar window screens to cover that entire window.
Keep in mind that most windows are not a perfect square, so you may need to adjust your calculations accordingly.
If you have any questions, be sure to consult a professional before making your purchase. With a little bit of planning, you can easily find the right number of solar window screens for your home.
Solar Screens Provide Daytime Privacy
Solar shades have an open weave fabric that allows light and air to pass through. During the day, when its brighter outside than inside solar screens block the ability to see inside the home.
It should be noted, however, that at night the effect is reversed. When the lights are on in your home at night, it makes the shades transparent.
With any project, 80 percent of the work is done in the planning stage. We have simple checklists to help you get organized and make sure youre prepared for every step along the way. Download them now for FREE:
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Should I Hire A Professional To Build Solar Screens
You may be wondering if its worth it to hire a professional to build your solar screens.
It depends. If you have the time and patience to do it yourself, then go for it! However, if youre not confident in your ability to do a good job, or you simply dont have the time, then it might be worth hiring someone.
The most important thing is that youre happy with the end result. Whichever route you choose, make sure to do your research so you can be sure youre making the best decision for your home.
Solar Screens Are Far Superior To Insulating Drapes
Another window treatment often used by homeowners to block sunlight and lower home cooling costs are insulated drapes. Solar screens are less expensive, do not contribute to dust in your home, are easy to clean and maintain, block the suns rays from the outside rather than the inside for greater energy savings, and still allow sun into your home.
Prepare yourself for summer by insulating your home with solar screens. They will provide you considerable energy savings by keeping your home cool, allowing you to use your air conditioning far less often.
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A Review Of Solar Screens: Pros And Cons You Should Consider
San Antonio homeowners have tried various ways to keep the summer sun from blasting into their windows, overworking their air conditioning unit, and driving up their electricity bill. Well explore the options of solar screens, tinted window film, and Low-E glass for reducing heat transfer into your home through your windows, and well look at the benefits and disadvantages of each. Todays topic is solar screens.
How Do I Make An Arched Solar Screen
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Staple gun
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Staples
Making arched solar screens will save money over ordering them from a manufacturer. The special screen mesh will protect your furniture and flooring from the suns harmful rays and cut energy consumption by keeping the house cooler in summer. Solar screens provide more privacy and block glare. A quality screen that will last a long time can be made in about four hours with materials you can find at any home improvement center.
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For A Vinyl Window Solar Screens Installation Be Careful Not To Cover Up The Windows Drain Holes
You do not want to cover up the weep holes for vinyl windows. These weep holes are here to allow water to drain out.
Its not just that you dont want to cover up the weep holes with solar window screens. We see all the time these weep holes clogged with mortar. Many vinyl windows that we come across have clogged up weep holes. Clogged with the mortar used to lay the bricks and stone.
Custom Solar Window Screen Kit
Current lead times are 2-3 weeks.
This listing is for our Medium sized Solar Kits up 60.
Our Custom DIY Solar Window Screen Kits are manufactured to your specifications using our heavy duty 7/16 x 1 frame. Comes with everything you need to complete your screen. We do all the cutting and drilling and punching, all hardware is installed and ready for you to assemble and install. We offer the largest selection of color and hardware options on the market.
Included in your kit:Screen Frame 4 pieces 7/16 X 1Solar Screen Cloth Suntex 80% or 90% in a wide variety of colors4- Screen CornersScreen Hardware your choiceeconomy roller one per order.
This is a custom item by adding this item to your shopping cart you verify that all sizes and information are correct as listed.
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Should I Put Solar Screens On My Back Patio
For this back patio, the customer could have gotten away with not putting solar screens on some windows. Like that patio door and that small horizontal sliding window there. But because the customer wanted this installation to look as best as he possibly could, he chose to put solar screens on those pieces of glass.
And, the customer could have gone through with a patio roller shade screens Austin Texas installation. The cost would have been around $300 to have manufactured a roller shade. We could have made the roller shade out of the same fabric we made the solar window screens out of.
Having an Austin TX exterior patio roller shade would have enhanced this back patio nicely.
Its hard to tell by this picture but that chocolate brown fabric and tan framed solar screens look outstanding on this home with the wood trim color for this home.
And for the accents like these people have on their back patio here, they match well.
The picture almost makes the solar screens look like they are black in color, theyre not. These screens are a dark chocolate brown. And it almost looks like these frames for the solar screens are white, they are not, they are Tan.
How Much Do Solar Screens Cost
To arrive at an average, your overall solar screens cost should fall between $110 and $480 per window or door. This amount equates to roughly $7.50 per square foot.
Lets break the amount for you:
Material cost: $40 $280 per window/door
Labor cost: $75 $200 per window/door
Total solar screens cost: $115 $480 per window/door
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However, theres more to it than an exact amount. The price of solar screens varies widely depending on the area you live, how large your windows or doors are, the number of screens required, the labor rate in your location, and a host of other factors. Lets look at some of these.
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Choice Of Solar Screen:
- 65% Solar Insect Screen – Blocks 65% of the sun’s harmful UV rays and is a 20×30 mesh count. Screen openness is approximately 32%.
- 80% Solar Screen – Heavy-duty, pet-resistant with 80% sun and UV blockage. Openness is approximately 25%.
- 90% Solar Screen – Heavy-duty, pet-resistant with 90% UV blockage. Openness is approximately 10%.
- Super Solar Screen – Blocks 90% of the sun’s rays. It is a 40×40 mesh, vinyl-coated fiberglass that also provides protection from insects and is pet-resistant.
- 95% Solar Screen – Heavy-duty, pet-resistant screen with 95% blockage of UV rays. Openness is 5%.
How Vinyl Windows Are Made To Drain Water Gapping Between The Glass And The Vinyl Window Framing
A big thing that people dont understand about vinyl windows is where the glass meets up with the vinyl framing. That area, is extremely susceptible to water getting in.
Because a manufacturer knows this, they make their windows so that if water does get in, it can drain out. The water will drain out the bottom of the vinyl framing through weep holes.
So, the only way to really damage a window by screwing into the window would be to use some really long screws. Really long screws that would poke through inside layer of the window framing.
Our screws will go in maybe a quarter of an inch. And all of the areas, for all of the different types of vinyl windows we have in this Austin Texas area, all have plenty of room within that vinyl framing for us to put our small screws into.
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For This Vinyl Window Solar Screens Installation We Matched The Color Of Window Framing
For this installation, for this Austin solar screen installation, we used our brown chocolate fabric and tan frame. The window frames for this home are Tan in color. Our tan framing for our solar screens is a dead-on match to the window manufacturers tan.
The picture above shows the left side of the home which is the Northside of this home.
Compare what this home looks like with other installs that put solar screens on just some their windows and not all. All solar screen installations look best when you put them on all the windows, like what this homeowner did.
