What Is a Solar Screen?
What is a Solar Screen?
Many people are looking for ways to get more enjoyment out of their outdoor living areas and keep their homes at a comfortable temperature year-round without always turning to cooling and heating systems. Solar screens, especially retractable screens, make excellent additions to porches, covered patios, and pool decks that can help homeowners meet both of those goals. Often these screens can be used to create almost a temporary room that provides many of the comforts of an indoor space.
Solar screens, sometimes called solar shades, are manufactured from mesh fabric that’s typically synthetic and specially designed to control sunlight. The tightness of the weave will determine how much sunlight, air, and rain can penetrate the screen. Thus, homeowners who wish to block the elements as much as possible will choose a tighter weave. Those who want to enjoy a view of the outdoors, along with protection from the sun’s rays and from insect attacks, may opt for a more open weave. Homeowners who have retractable screens installed on their patios or decks can create shade on demand with either motorized or manually operated controls. And that means they have an easy solution when intense sun, swarming insects, or a summer shower threatens their outdoor patio party or their desire for quiet reflection on the back porch.
In addition, strategic use of retractable screens on windows as well as patios can help homeowners rely less on their HVAC systems for indoor climate control. For example, a homeowner would roll down the screen to block the sun’s rays in the summer, which helps indoor areas stay cooler, while retracting the screen in the winter to harness the sun’s heat to warm the indoors. This practice can potentially help homeowners lower their monthly energy bills.
Sunesta is a leading manufacturer of American-made retractable screens and awnings that are custom-made to fit the needs of individual homeowners. We offer a wide variety of solar screens in colorful, fade- and mildew-resistant fabrics that include fiberglass, polyester, monocryl, or PVC, and we’re happy to help homeowners throughout the United States evaluate the options and select the best one to meet their needs. Indeed, no one knows retractable awnings and screens better than Sunesta. Contact us today to learn more about the advantages of having a solar screen installed on your patio or deck.