Solar screens intercept the sun’s glare and reflect heat that could accumulate in your home. Besides, they obstruct the outside view and are practical for homeowners who need more privacy.
However, it’s good to understand how to install solar screens for expert-quality output. This guide offers insight into finding, installing, and maintaining perfect solar screens.
Table of Contents
Defining Solar Screens
Solar screens are dark panels that help reduce the sun’s glare. They’re available for various standard window measurements, but sometimes it requires getting more customized types from multiple shades and specific sizes available.
Dedicated companies specializing in solar screen manufacturing can be handy. Arrowhead Solar Screen & Roofing is one of these companies, but you can find others within your home’s vicinity.
Solar screens have become incredibly sought-after for the benefits they offer. These window fittings can be temporary or fixed, depending on a homeowner’s preferences.
However, most people prefer temporarily installing them using casement-turned clips. Notably, some companies create solar screens with permanent brick clips that only require simple fitting on window frames.
Choosing Your Solar Screen
It helps to choose a more fitting solar screen, and that’ll depend on a few factors, including mesh density, window orientation, and frame material.
Moreover, color choice plays in when shopping for window solar screens, and tastes may vary. While black is the standard color, the shades available may suit you depending on how much light you want to block or the extent of view obstruction you need. Below is a checklist for selecting an ideal solar screen for your windows and glass doors:
Choose suitable materials
The various solar screen materials available help you select one that fits you well. The most typical aluminum solar screen is lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and durable.
They’re mostly meshed and feature various roll lengths and widths. Fiberglass can also be practical for its flexibility and strength. Moreover, polyester and vinyl-coated solar screen materials can offer more versatility.
Measure your windows
It’s prudent to always get your window’s dimensions before acquiring a solar screen. That guarantees a proper and accurate fit that won’t leave gaps and leaks that compromise your solar screen’s efficiency. Besides, a vaguely fitting solar screen isn’t aesthetic and might make your window appear poorly done.
Identify and select the correct color
The most conventional solar screen color is black since it perfectly filters UV light. However, you can choose from various available hues, including gray, beige, brown, or other custom colors. You might also want to consider their shades, determining their sun-filtering efficiency.
Gauge the market prices
Various companies retail window solar screens at different prices. It helps to know the budget you can work with and the quality you need in a solar screen. Therefore, compare multiple vendors and choose one that offers a more reasonable price.
It’d help if you considered getting your window measurements and providing them to your vendor to create more customized solar screens for your installation process to offer the best results. You need a tape measure to get more accurate points to fix the casement-turned clips. Try measuring your window frame’s length and width and subtracting about an inch from each.
Installing Your Solar Screen
It’s wise to read through your installation manual if your vendor offers you one, especially for solar screens that fit standard window sizes. You might need a little acquaintance with the installation to achieve a professional-level outcome. Below are the steps you need to follow to install your solar screen:
Tidy up your windows
Your windows should be clean to avoid masking dust and grime that might have formed. Solar screens may not be likened to car tints glued to the window. Instead, they come in their frames and must only be attached separately. Most homeowners prefer not to clean their windows for various reasons. However, that dirt can mix with condensed moisture and degrade your windows over time.
Install the screens
Dry-fitting the framed solar screen to your window frame can offer a clue about the points you may need to fix your clips. However, you can set the casement clips about six to eight inches from the top and bottom. You’ll need to use a fitting nut driver to fix the casement clips, but first, please fit in your solar screen before proceeding.
It’s way easy to install custom solar screens if your window size isn’t typical and known by your vendor. Specific standard window measurements are used in commercial buildings, including bay, casement, sliding, picture, and single-hung windows. Vendors create solar screens that fit such windows and allow room for creating custom sizes.
Maintaining Your Solar Screen
Proper solar screen maintenance ensures it’s in its best shape for a long time. The sun can be damaging, and pests, including rodents, can tear them away and create holes. Moreover, children can claw at them or run into them, damaging them.
While manufacturers design these windows to last longer, they’ll be more durable if you properly maintain them. Below are the various feasible ways to keep your door and solar window screens in good shape:
Inspect for damage
Always check if your solar screen is consistently in perfect condition. Damages like holes and tears can minimize their efficiency, and you may need to identify and eliminate the cause. You may not have to detach framed solar screens from your windows, but keenly observing can enable you to identify faults quickly.
Clean the screens regularly
Cleaning your solar screens from the outside can be prudent. Remember, these screens lie on the first line of defense for your windows and shield all the dirt. Leaving the dirt to stick for a while might make them less aesthetic. Moreover, dust can combine with other atmospheric elements, including condensed moisture, forming grime that’s typically more challenging to remove.
Replace the screens when necessary
Remember, your solar screens may not last long despite manufacturers using more hardened materials like aluminum. The sun’s degrading effect compromises their structural integrity and may become frail with time. Replacing them can be ideal for consistently boosting your home’s energy efficiency.
Remove screens when not in use
Removing your solar screens during winter when the sun isn’t constantly exposed can guarantee longevity. During such times, the various shades in your home can take over solar screens’ work—blocking sunlight.
Proper solar screen maintenance will ensure that they serve you longer and give you the best value for your money. Although vendors create them to last on your windows and doors, that’s hardly guaranteed if you fail to take good care of them.
What To Look For In An Excellent Solar Screen Vendor
Choosing a proficient solar screen vendor will guarantee getting the best products of high quality. However, a perfect solar screen manufacturer should exceed customer service and customization expectations. Below are what you should look for in an ideal solar screen vendor:
Customization options
Despite a few standard windows existing, it’s not guaranteed that your solar screen vendor knows them off the top of their heads. If so, you won’t possibly get the sizes you need without giving them the measurements. A good manufacturer should be flexible enough to customize your solar screens, fitting various sizes, frame styles, materials, and colors.
Experience
You can be better off working with a solar screen vendor who has been around for quite some time. That’s not to say that new players aren’t capable enough to serve you. However, it’d be best to ensure they understand their work and can offer practical advice on installing the correct solar screen sizes on your windows and doors.
Material quality
It can be unpleasant to install low-quality solar screen materials that may need replacing quickly. It’s even more irritating if they retail at high prices, making it unreasonable. An excellent solar screen manufacturer should prioritize quality and help clients find a near-permanent solution to their home solar filtration needs.
Installation services
It’d be way more seamless to install solar screens if your vendor can do it. Even if it means digging further into your pockets, the results can be worth the shot. If you find installing solar screens more challenging, you’ll be better off with a company offering the services.
Customer service
Your questions need prompt and helpful answers, and your concerns should be addressed comprehensively. An excellent solar screen vendor will have a dedicated customer service section to attend to customer needs quickly, and that’s who you should go for.
Choosing a proficient vendor will guarantee quality work and expert-level solar screen installation. Moreover, they can offer practical advice to make your solar screen installation a breeze. It’s vital that you consider the factors above if you want the best value for your money.
Conclusion
Solar screens help filter sunlight and obstruct outsider views of your home, especially at night. These shades are beneficial if you don’t prefer using shades or want to complement their sunlight filtration or improve their ability to maintain your home’s privacy.
However, knowing how to install and maintain them can go a long way, giving your home the appeal you desire. It also helps to understand how to select the best solar screen vendor. It’ll be handy if you want quality materials to work with.
