SolarPowerNerd
Solar screen fabric is one of the most cost-effective ways to control heat and UV exposure in your home. It cuts cooling bills, protects furniture, and still lets you enjoy the view.
Here’s what you need to know before buying.
Solar Screen Fabric and Solar Shades
Solar screen fabric is a distinct window screen mesh designed for sun control. It blocks the sun’s harmful UV rays before they enter through your window.
Beyond UV protection, solar screen fabric reduces glare, making reading or watching television easier during the daytime. Solar shades also shelter your furniture, floors, and household objects from a significant amount of harmful UV rays (around 50%).
As a bonus, solar screen fabric preserves your views of the garden, street, or city. Advanced versions are extremely resilient and pet-resistant.
Solar shades are roller shades manufactured from material that reduces glare, lowers electromagnetic heat gain, offers daytime privacy, and maintains an outside view. They also keep pets safely inside your home by preventing falls from open windows.
What Are Solar Shades Made Of?
Solar screen fabric is made of vinyl-coated fiberglass yarns. Some styles combine vinyl-coated fiberglass and polyester yarns, woven into a special ribbed pattern for a unique look and color combination.
Does Solar Screen Fabric Reduce Heat?
Yes. Having solar screen fabric installed can block over 45% of the heat that would otherwise enter through your windows during summer.
The reduced heat load lowers your cooling bill noticeably.
Do Solar Shades Retain Heat in Winter?
In colder months, solar screen fabric helps save money by retaining warmth. Insulating window materials like honeycomb shades create an additional barrier of protection.
Insulated solar screen fabric shades contain one or more air layers in a honeycomb cross-section. The air pockets act as insulators, increasing the R-value and reducing heat transmission through the window.
In cooling seasons, cellular shades can decrease unwanted solar heat through windows by up to 80%, reducing total solar gain to 15% or less with a tight fit. Solar shades, window blinds, and similar fabrics regulate sunshine and reduce heat loss or gain significantly.
Is Solar Screen Fabric Worth It Financially?
The real benefit is that solar screen fabric shades are one of the most inexpensive solutions available today. If you handle the measuring and installation yourself, screens may cost less than $50 for an average 35 x 70-inch window.
Solar screens save cooling and heating money since they retain heat in winter and block it in summer.
How to Attach Solar Screens
Solar screen fabric shades can be attached to either the window glass or window frame, depending on your preference. Each screen comes with Easy-Attach Dual-Lock Pads that connect to both the screen and the window surface.
This allows precise placement wherever you want.
Solar Screen Fabrics vs. Window Tinting
Solar screens mount on the exterior of the building, slightly elevated from the windows like regular insect screens. Window film or tint is applied directly to the inside of the glass.
For heat reduction, sunscreens stop more heat than window tint.
Cost Comparison
Solar screens typically cost between $115 and $480 per window or door, roughly $7.50 per square foot. Home window tinting averages $5 to $8 per square foot, with most homeowners spending $300 to $750 for professional installation.
DIY tint kits cost under $100, but specialists warn that applying tints requires great accuracy and skill. Michael Williamson of Alexander Automotive Detailing in Tucson, Arizona notes that improperly applied film often starts peeling within a year.
For professional tinting services, many businesses on Angie’s List and elsewhere offer reasonable prices. The final cost depends on window size, material quality, and whether you choose professional installation.
How Long Does Solar Screen Fabric Last?
According to modern studies, sunscreens pay for themselves within two to four years on average. Considering they typically last over fifteen years, it’s widely considered an investment worth making.
Does Window Film Cause Windows to Crack?
Glass breakage during window film application shouldn’t happen under normal circumstances. Extremely rare instances of cracking have occurred when window glass was already in bad condition or had extensive wear.
Consulting the right experts before installation avoids this problem.
Fiberglass vs. Aluminum Screen
Aluminum screens are more rigid than fiberglass, making them slightly harder to install but more long-lasting. However, aluminum is prone to creasing during application and denting at any time.
In coastal regions, aluminum will likely oxidize.
These screens typically come in gray, black, and charcoal, with black usually offering the best visibility.
Standard fiberglass window screens are elastic, economical, and easy to install. Unlike aluminum, fiberglass doesn’t crease, dent, or unravel.
Best Solar Screen Fabric
According to online research, Textilene 90% Solar Screens are a top choice. They block up to 90% of the sun’s heat, putting them among the highest-rated solar screens for heat reduction.
Does Solar Screen Material Offer Privacy?
Solar screen shades offer partial privacy depending on the time of day. During daytime, you can see out, but passersby can’t see in (depending on the material and openness percentage).
That’s one of the best benefits, along with reducing solar heat gain and protecting you, your pets, and your interior from UV damage.
The effect reverses at night. With lights on inside, the shades become transparent, allowing people outside to see shadows and silhouettes.
What Is Solar Shade Openness?
Openness indicates how big the gaps are in the woven fibers of the screen fabric. It refers to how much you can see through the shade.
Openness comes in diverse percentages ranging from 1% to 14%. This variance also controls how much light enters the room.
Shades typically come in 3%, 5%, and 10% openness factors.
Textiles with higher openness allow more light and a clearer outside view, but provide less privacy.
Top Solar Shade Companies
Sunscreen Mermet
A French company and world leader in external and internal screens, flexible constructions, and acoustic fittings. They adapt their expertise in solar shade fabric technology to meet diverse solar protection needs.
Their range covers both external and internal spaces, and their products can be found in homes, hotels, health centers, and railway stations worldwide. They offer a five-year warranty and use coated fiberglass yarn technology for durability.
Insolroll
Insolroll Solar Screen Shades allow maximum natural sunlight into closed spaces while controlling heat and glare. They offer a wide selection of solar screen materials and hardware for office, school, healthcare, retail, and restaurant applications.
Their products increase comfort, reduce heat gain and cooling loads, eliminate glare on screens, and protect valuables from UV degradation.
The Shade Store
The Shade Store provides handcrafted solar shades made in the USA with shipment within a week. Their website lets you choose by collection, solids percentage, designer, textures, and patterns.
They offer free professional measuring and have 85+ showrooms nationwide. Contact is available via phone, email, live chat, or in-person visits.
Blinds.com
Blinds.com produces solar shades that preserve outside views while reducing glare and heat. Available in various materials and colors including sleek modern fabrics, textured knits, and tailored wovens.
They handle large and special-order sizes at reasonable prices. They also offer periodic discounts.
Some reviews note occasional quality issues, so check return policies before ordering.
WindowShades.net
A family-owned store offering custom-made window shades since 1930. They produce washable, handmade products in Chicago, USA.
Their featured products carry a vintage aesthetic. They even offer discounts for customers who send old rollers to be recycled into new shades, saving materials and money while benefiting the environment.
HunterDouglas.com
Hunter Douglas produces custom window blinds, shades, shutters, and drapery. Their Design Studio line includes side panels, drapery, and roller and roman shades.
They offer a curated fabric collection with signature textiles ranging from silk blends and sheers to velvets and jacquards. Local experts are available for consultation through their website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What openness percentage should I choose for my solar shades?
The right percentage depends on your priorities. A 3% openness blocks the most light and provides the best privacy, ideal for bedrooms.
A 5% openness balances view and light control well for living rooms. A 10% openness gives you the clearest outside view with maximum light but the least privacy during daytime.
Can solar screen fabric be installed on any type of window?
Yes. Solar screen fabric works on most standard window types including double-hung, casement, sliding, and fixed windows.
The screens attach using clips, tracks, or adhesive pads depending on the mounting method. Custom sizing is available for non-standard windows, making this a versatile solution for virtually any home or building.
Do solar screens affect indoor plant growth?
Solar screens reduce the amount of light entering your home, which can affect light-loving plants. Plants needing direct sunlight may struggle near screened windows.
Shade-tolerant species typically do fine. If you have indoor plants that need maximum sunlight, consider leaving those specific windows unscreened or choosing a higher openness percentage.
How do I clean solar screen fabric?
Most solar screen fabric cleans easily with mild soap and water using a soft cloth or sponge. Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive scrubbers that could damage the coating.
For removable screens, rinse with a garden hose and let them air dry. Regular cleaning every few months maintains appearance and keeps UV and heat blocking performance at its best.
Final Thoughts
Solar screen fabric is excellent for sun control, protecting you from harmful UV rays while cutting cooling costs in summer. Fabric color doesn’t affect the openness factor, but it plays a huge role in shade performance.
For the best view and glare reduction, choose dark colors for your window shades. Dark shades are great for reducing solar heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter.
Keep in mind that dark colors do transfer more heat into a room, though they protect your interior from UV damage much better.
Now that you know the advantages of solar shades and where to find them, it’s worth making the switch for both your comfort and your energy bills.
