Solar Screens

[Barbie]

I need new screens for several windows and thought I might as well get solar screens because I like the look, the privacy and the energy savings. Does anyone know about how much they cost? I have 8 windows I need done standard size (if there is such a thing)

links and/or references appreciated!

[Sgt Beavis]

You can get the materials to make them yourself at Lowes or Home Depot.

I priced them out last year and figured it would cost roughly $25 per window.

[bcoop]

You can get the materials to make them yourself at Lowes or Home Depot.

I priced them out last year and figured it would cost roughly $25 per window.



Yep. I had Texas Solar Screens come out and give me an estimate. 10 windows, for $400. Not bad at all considering how expensive they were when they first came out. This was lifetime warranty screen material as well.

[TexasX03]

Yep. I had Texas Solar Screens come out and give me an estimate. 10 windows, for $400. Not bad at all considering how expensive they were when they first came out. This was lifetime warranty screen material as well.


I used Texas Solar Screens when I lived in Plano, but paid quite a bit more (more and large windows). Great workmanship and a fair price. they're not as popular here in Missouri, but I'm planning to make some for the front of the house (western exposure).

[wesman]

Yep. I had Texas Solar Screens come out and give me an estimate. 10 windows, for $400. Not bad at all considering how expensive they were when they first came out. This was lifetime warranty screen material as well.


Yeah, they seem to be $40-$50 a window depending how many you get, I got about 20 windows done on my last house and it was a little over $1k, but that was 5 yrs ago. They seem to have dropped a bit in price.

--wes

[BOOSTED32V]

I did 25 windows, Lonestar Solar Screens did mine, free estimate and lifetime warranty. They work wonders!, especially if your windows face the south and west. Texas can be brutal! They have 80% and 90%,(Black) I went with the 90%, you can see out just fine...'Henry

http://www.lonestarsolarscreens.com/

[Chopped54]

I did 25 windows, Lonestar Solar Screens did mine, free estimate and lifetime warranty. They work wonders!, especially if your windows face the south and west. Texas can be brutal! They have 80% and 90%,(Black) I went with the 90%, you can see out just fine...'Henry

http://www.lonestarsolarscreens.com/


They are who I used. Good product, on time, and reasonable. My largest window was 40x96 and I think it was only $40-50..

[BOOSTED32V]

7 of my windows are 96x42 :eek:

They gave me a great price and I've had no problems with them in 7+years...'H'

[Barbie]

our master faces west and is already getting warm. Do you have enough privacy with these screens only or do you have blinds as well? So its worth it for the energy savings right?

[DFWtechie]

during the day you can't see in but at night with a light on inside you can inside, so blinds are needed at night.

[Dawkins]

Do HOA's ever give anyone crap about them? I live in HOA hell and rather than call them I would see if anyone else has had a problem with a product like this.
It looks like something I would love to have, so I probably can't. :(

[Chopped54]

Do HOA's ever give anyone crap about them? I live in HOA hell and rather than call them I would see if anyone else has had a problem with a product like this.
It looks like something I would love to have, so I probably can't. :(


Probably so, check your restrictions before dropping the coin.

[BOOSTED32V]

our master faces west and is already getting warm. Do you have enough privacy with these screens only or do you have blinds as well? So its worth it for the energy savings right?
If its your bedroom, you are still going to need shades. The big windows I have in the picture do not have shades, but it's our formal living area. I have them in my bedroom too, but at night you can still see in.

Dawkins, ride around your hood and if other people have them, I wouldn't worry about contacting your HOA.

[blkscorpion80]

7 of my windows are 96x42 :eek:

They gave me a great price and I've had no problems with them in 7+years...'H'


Make that pic smaller so that I can see it. :D

[Sgt Beavis]

Do HOA's ever give anyone crap about them? I live in HOA hell and rather than call them I would see if anyone else has had a problem with a product like this.
It looks like something I would love to have, so I probably can't. :(

That is a good question. I've submitted a question to my HOA's Architectural Committee to find out if thats the case or not...

[Sgt Beavis]

Apparently my HOA does require Architectural Committee approval.

[wesman]

Apparently my HOA does require Architectural Committee approval.


lol...that's just ridiculous.

[Barbie]

got a quote from Texas Solar Screens 8 35x60 windows at 33% (winter sale) is $42 each. I figure they will pay for themselves in savings. :)

[Sgt Beavis]

lol...that's just ridiculous.

true..

I'm going to walk around the neighborhood and see if anyone else has them. See if they got ARC approval and what they went through..

I really don't have a problem with getting permission as long as they aren't assholes about it. The only thing that bothers me is that it takes 30 days.

[GE]

Blacked out windows? Looks like shit, IMO... at least in the photos to the place Henry posted up.

[Barbie]

Blacked out windows? Looks like shit, IMO... at least in the photos to the place Henry posted up.


Well, I'm gonna get them at least on my west facing windows which are on the back of the house, I like them

[BOOSTED32V]

Blacked out windows? Looks like shit, IMO... at least in the photos to the place Henry posted up.
To tell you the truth they do look like shit, but the alternative is high ass cooling bills. It's also uncomfortable to sit in front of the windows and have the sun beating down on you. Two inch blinds is what I have on most of my windows, you can also use window treatments (drapes). The house in front of me has the custom grid look. I chose the regular look, from the inside you can't tell and I have big ass windows everywhere, so only my south and west windows have the treatment. It makes a big difference when it's a 110* outside...'H'

[wesman]

Blacked out windows? Looks like shit, IMO... at least in the photos to the place Henry posted up.


I think it depends on the house.

I think it looks really good on some houses. It definitely improved the look of my old house. I got the exact same setup that my windows had in each location (my screens were made to the grid of each window) and I think it looked great.

You're entitled to your opinion, but let's se some houses before and after and see what the masses like.

--wes

[jluv]

I think it drastically improves the look of a house.

[Red 342 H.O.]

got a quote from Texas Solar Screens 8 35x60 windows at 33% (winter sale) is $42 each. I figure they will pay for themselves in savings. :)

Not bad. Got the materials at Lowes to do them myself and it will cost me about $25 each. I will save about $140 doing it myself and I don't mind it as long as i don't run out of beer. :D

[Barbie]

I got Lone Star coming out tomorrow, my estimate per their sq ft quote puts it at $32 each, if thats the price w/ no add. fees I'm signing up!

[wesman]

I got Lone Star coming out tomorrow, my estimate per their sq ft quote puts it at $32 each, if thats the price w/ no add. fees I'm signing up!

Awesome, let us know how it turns out and post some pics. I plan on doing them on my new house really soon.

--wes

[Barbie]

Awesome, let us know how it turns out and post some pics. I plan on doing them on my new house really soon.

--wes

Its 33.75 per window for me, I signed up I'm getting 90% on my west wall and 80% everywhere else. The 80 has better view and breeze and I plan on opening my windows on nice days instead of air condtioning. The price is including tax and install. They said the price is 2.25 per sq ft if you want to calculate your own price. All colors and % is the same $. Thanks Henry!!

[AdamLX]

I've got tan ones on the back of my house facing west. I have windows like Henry does and only have them on the top half and along the windows of the game room and west facing bedroom upstairs. They blend in more than the black ones do and work like a charm.

[wesman]

Its 33.75 per window for me, I signed up I'm getting 90% on my west wall and 80% everywhere else. The 80 has better view and breeze and I plan on opening my windows on nice days instead of air condtioning. The price is including tax and install. They said the price is 2.25 per sq ft if you want to calculate your own price. All colors and % is the same $. Thanks Henry!!


Cool...did you get grids or plain?

I'll be getting some grids and some plain ones depending on the windows they go on.

I'll be calling them this week.

--wes

[02gtpony]

they colors other than black, my grandma has like a greyish beige color on their victorian style house and it looks pretty good

[Barbie]

Cool...did you get grids or plain?

I'll be getting some grids and some plain ones depending on the windows they go on.

I'll be calling them this week.

--wes
no grids, I only have 2 windows on the front and they have bushes in front of them so I just got plain, it was $15 extra per window for grids.

[Mychael101]

It was $430 to have our entire house done with gridwork back in 04. Lonestar is who we went with and the did a great job. We used the 90% but should have gone with 80% since airflow is almost non-existent.

[BOOSTED32V]

Thanks Henry!!No problem, I'm glad they hooked you up!There company makes everybody elses screens, so when you deal with Lonestar you are dealing with the mfg. and you save $$$! I've had them on my house for 7+ years and I have no problems, even after that bad storms that came though the other night they are all still there...'Henry

[slow84lx]

I got the 80% screens put on the west facing windows last summer and they made a big difference in helping the house stay cool in the late afternoon. I wish that my contractor had offered a 70% option though as I like to have the windows open in the cooler times of the year and there is very little airflow that goes through the solar screens compared to the normal screen.

The guy who did my screens builds them himself and has done most of this subdivision. They are built much sturdier than my next door neighbor who had a family friend who sells them install them. He has also had a couple of them come off in bad weather. No problems at all with mine in bad weather or not.

And the HOA hasn't said a word either. About half of the houses here have them.

[OC]

What kind of drop in your energy bill did you guys see when you had these installed?


I like them and if they drop the bill enough I am thinking about getting them installed.


Thanks

[ChevyMan63]

I think the best screen company around with the fairest pricing is American Solar Screen, he builds his own screens and is pretty knowledgable about the product call and ask for Wes he is the owner.. 817 605 8881

[97ssconvertible]

there is a guy that i work with who is running special pricing right now. his name is dave, he owns huebs solar screens. give him a shout at 817 501 1809

[Barbie]

got my screens installed yesterday, I love them already! my west facing bedroom still feels cool and its 4pm!

[Sgt Beavis]

Called Lone Star and I've got them coming out on Monday for an estimate.

I'm really curious to see how much they'll charge to do a 4ft diameter circle window that is on the front with the grid work. I've got three windows on the front that will be getting grids. Four windows are on each side of the house but those don't need grids. The back windows are pretty much in the shade all day, so I don't care.

[Vertnut]

Before my daughter went away to school, she had a huge window in her bedroom, which faced west. We struggled to keep the room cool in the summer months until we put the solar screens on the whole west side of the house. Worked like a charm! It made a HUGE difference in her bedroom.

[Sgt Beavis]

Hot damn.

Lonestar installed the solar screens on Monday. I had them installed on three sides of the house. The effect was almost immediate. Yesterday the temps got into the low 90's but we didn't turn the AC on at all. We just ran a couple of ceiling fans.

This is going to have a HUGE impact on my electric bill this summer.

Next up, radiant barrier. EAS is coming out to give me a quote later in the week...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2039/2513115099_46d20a664e_b.jpg

[BOOSTED32V]

Man that looks kickass! I wish I would have done mine like yours, it looks more custom. I really couldn't find any houses in my hood that had those so I just went without. It still works though, it is going to maker a huge difference especially when it's a 108* in a few more weeks! ;)

[centexchick]

wow, that looks great. That does it, I am getting this done when I get back from Alpine. I looks really nice!

We have a 9'X9' window with the arch above it in our living room. This would so help keep it cool. When the rest of the house is 78, the living room is close to 90.

[DamonH]

Hot damn.

Lonestar installed the solar screens on Monday. I had them installed on three sides of the house. The effect was almost immediate. Yesterday the temps got into the low 90's but we didn't turn the AC on at all. We just ran a couple of ceiling fans.

Looks good Beavis. How much extra is it for the gridwork, and did you go with 80 or 90%?

[8mpg]

EAS came out and did my parents house... they added 10" of insulation and radiant barrier. I havent noticed that much of a difference, the attic is still freakin hot. We will see when the electric bill comes in.

[Sgt Beavis]

Looks good Beavis. How much extra is it for the gridwork, and did you go with 80 or 90%?

I went with the 90%.

They charged me $252 for four windows that have grids (I think the 4' circle window counted as two) and they charged $150 for four windows that don't have grids (on the sides of the house)

I think those prices vary based on the size of the windows but that should give you an idea...

[Sgt Beavis]

EAS came out and did my parents house... they added 10" of insulation and radiant barrier. I havent noticed that much of a difference, the attic is still freakin hot. We will see when the electric bill comes in.


Interesting.. I think I'll do some more research before making a final decision. I know that they use the spray on barrier instead of the foil sheeting..

Since installing the solar powered attic fan, my attic has gotten noticeably cooler. I guess I should compare the outdoor temperature with the attic temperature to figure out how much of a difference it really makes. Then decide if the barrier is worth it..

[97ssconvertible]

it also depends on the way that they installed the barrier. if they used it on the floor it will be no cooler. if it is up on the rafters it should help alot

[Sgt Beavis]

it also depends on the way that they installed the barrier. if they used it on the floor it will be no cooler. if it is up on the rafters it should help alot


I could be wrong but my understanding is that EAS only applies the Spray on barrier and it is only sprayed up on the rafters and the bottom of the roof decking...

[tray]

I think it depends on the house.

I think it looks really good on some houses. It definitely improved the look of my old house. I got the exact same setup that my windows had in each location (my screens were made to the grid of each window) and I think it looked great.

You're entitled to your opinion, but let's se some houses before and after and see what the masses like.

--wes
I AGREE IT DOES DEPEND ON TH HOUSE

[STRONGNUFF]

I just called to have Lonestar come out on Tuesday for an estimate.

Those of you who did use Lonestar recently, what was your experience with them? Now that July has been a hot month, what are your electric bills now vs same time last year withour solar screens?

Thanks

[Barbie]

I just called to have Lonestar come out on Tuesday for an estimate.

Those of you who did use Lonestar recently, what was your experience with them? Now that July has been a hot month, what are your electric bills now vs same time last year withour solar screens?

Thanks

I can't really compare because we have gotten lower rates and also had insulation and ducts sealed by Daywork (see insulation thread) but I do notice that our bedroom (back of house facing west) is MUCH cooler than it used to be. I got 90% on all windows on the back of the house and 80% everywhere else for better airflow

[Sgt Beavis]

I just called to have Lonestar come out on Tuesday for an estimate.

Those of you who did use Lonestar recently, what was your experience with them? Now that July has been a hot month, what are your electric bills now vs same time last year withour solar screens?

Thanks

My electric bill was $120 for mid May to June. According to the bill, my electrical use is up only a little from last year. However, I started telecommuting last year during the second half of June. Also, last year was pretty cool for May to June. Now I'm working from home everyday, running three laptops, and the AC. My bill is up only marginally and electric rates are fairly high.

I'll get a better idea when my July bill gets here...

[slow84lx]

It's hard to compare apples to apples when you compare one year to the last. My usage was up a little this July over last July but I didn't spend much time at home last July and this year I had family in from out of town for a week and ran the A/C every day for them.

The solar screens on the west side of the house definitely make a difference in the indoor temps in those rooms. That was a difference that I felt from the first day of installation.

[STRONGNUFF]

Well Adam came out today and showed us our options and we decided to go ahead and sign up. I will post up before and after pics in about 16 days (when he said the job would be done if not sooner). Looking forward to seeing how much these do drop temps and save on energy.

Thanks for everyone's help

[BOOSTED32V]

Well Adam came out today and showed us our options and we decided to go ahead and sign up. I will post up before and after pics in about 16 days (when he said the job would be done if not sooner). Looking forward to seeing how much these do drop temps and save on energy.

Thanks for everyone's help
You will not be dissapointed Andre, it makes a huge difference, especially on the windows that face the South/West. I can walk near my windows that face the sun and its a soothing warmth, instead of a searing heat like before. Not sure about comparing electric bills since I did mine during the winter and couldn't compare it, but I know it has helped...'Henry

[mpulsive81]

You will not be dissapointed Andre, it makes a huge difference, especially on the windows that face the South/West. I can walk near my windows that face the sun and its a soothing warmth, instead of a searing heat like before. Not sure about comparing electric bills since I did mine during the winter and couldn't compare it, but I know it has helped...'Henry

I never thought about these til i saw this thread. I've got 9 windows on my house total, 6 on the south side and 2 on the west side....so i'm thinking this may really help out some.

My house has been good to us so far, my last electric bill was $142, we got an energy efficient washer, dryer, a/c unit, & thermostat so i'm sure that helps. Plus it's just me and my lady....so it's not like we use a ton of electricity. If i could cover my windows with this stuff, I'd be interested in seeing how much lower we could get that bill :D

[66Deuce]

Another idea for cooling your home's openings....

I've got a door on the West side of my house that has a glass storm door in front of it. The door is hot to the touch on the inside of my house during the afternoon. I painted the door white hoping it would help cool it, but it only made a small difference. I am going to go to Oreilly's and buy their DIY limo and apply it to all the glass on the storm door. I have done this before to the windows on a west facing garage of an old house and it made a huge difference. If you've got windows that you aren't worried about how tint would look on them, it's a great option. The limo tint is only $10 a roll.

[Green-Jimmy]

Anybody ever have solar film installed?

http://www.solarwindtec.com/tint.php

[Vertnut]

Anybody ever have solar film installed?

http://www.solarwindtec.com/tint.php
The only problem I have with it, is many window companies will void their warranty when you use a film. It tends to trap heat inside the windows, and pop the seals.

[Green-Jimmy]

I know there was an option for tinted windows ( blue color I think ) when I had my house built... I assume those windows have the tint film in the middle, ie between the panes of glass? Or is the glass colored blue? I don't recall how much extra they cost, but they didn't appear to be very reflective...more cosmetic than an energy saver.