Josh Hobbs - Austin, Texas
512-351-5762
5,000+ Installations in the Austin TX area.
Solar Window Screens -> Questions & Answers
Page Menu - Solar Window Screens - Questions & Answers
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How many solar screens install per window? How many windows does one solar screen cover?
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How are the solar screens installed? How do you put them on windows?
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Will sun shade screens for windows keep bugs out? Replace the need for insect bug screens.
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Do we need to put solar screens on all windows, or can we just do some windows?
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Visibility looking through the sunshade fabric. How well can I see through the fabric?
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What kind of privacy to expect. Can people see in from the outside?
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What's the difference between window tint/film and solar screens?
Question : If I have side-by-side windows (windows that are installed next to each other, fitted together), will you mount one solar screen over all of them, or will you build one solar screen for each window?
& Answer : We will build and install a solar screen for each window. Each window takes its own solar screen. In rare cases of non-opening windows like when there is a rectangular non-opening window with a ½ circle window above it, we can build one large solar screen to fit over the two of them together. Watch this video, as once you do, you will have a clear understanding of how we install our solar screens on side-by-side windows. If you have multiple side by side windows that you want one big solar screen for, you WILL lose bug protection. With one big screen, you will not be able to fit the screen framing flush around the windows, so you will get gapping, thus will lose bug protection.
& my Video Answer : Here my explanation of why solar screens will install on each window, not over multiple windows.
Solar Window Screens - INSTALLATION Q&A's
Question : Can a Solar Screen be installed on a Door ?
& Answer : Absolutely! Pictures A & B) For swing doors, we mount the solar screen within the molding of the window frame. Picture C) For a flat installed rate of $150 (if accompanied with a solar window screen order for your house) we can custom build you an aluminum-framed sliding solar screen door out of either our 80% or 90% fabric. We custom build our sliding solar screen doors specific to the measurements of your sliding door frame out of roll-formed Aluminum, not out of steel. The steel framing which is widely used will rust unlike that of the sturdy and heavy-duty aluminum framing that we use. Our cost to build doors out of this heavier duty aluminum framing is more, but it is worth it (aluminum will not rust). The framing we use is unlike anything you can buy off the shelf, it's very sturdy and heavy-duty. And, we of course can roll any of our six colors of fabrics within the frame. Optionally, if you would like to cover the non-opening portion of the door, we can build you a pocket (as shown in picture c). The pocket we will mount to the outside of your sliding door frame covering the non-opening panel. The solar screen door when in the open position will slide behind this pocket. The installed cost for the pocket is a flat rate of $150 as well. For the sliding screen door and the pocket both made out of the same heavy duty frame, rolled with either our 80% or 90% solar screen fabric, when accompanied with a 613" or over solar window screen order, is a minimal flat installed cost of $300 regardless of the sizes. If you do not have a need for solar window screens, and only want the sliding door and pocket, the installed cost of $300 will apply, however there is an added measuring and installation trip cost of $130. (Ex. If you want 1 pocket and door set, the cost will be $430, if you want 2 pocket and door sets the cost will be $730). You can buy to self install my sliding door screens from HobbsScreens.com.
& my Video Answer : Here me discuss installing solar screens for swing doors and sliding doors. How to shade a dorr from the sun.
Question : How will you mount (install) our new solar screens? Are they removable? Can I take the screens off to wash my windows?
& Answer : Our screens are absolutely removable. Most often they are attached with small 3/4" self-tapping screws, look through the below pictures for illustrations. Some windows are made to hold full-sized screens, meaning they have a track at the top and bottom of the window designed to hold a full screen in place. If the window does not have this track, the screen gets attached to the outer part of the window frame using self-tapping screws. See the below pictures for detailed illustrations. For an extensive review of my MANY videos related to installing screens, visit my Josh Hobbs YouTube channel. If you remove the screens within the two-year warranty, the installation side of my warranty expires when the screens get removed.
& my Video Answer : My video answer explains the various ways my solar screens install on to windows.
Question : Will solar screens keep the flying bugs out like my current insect screens do ?
& Answer : Absolutely, in fact the weave of our solar screen material is MUCH tighter than that of your current insect screen material. Keep in mind however that ALL bug screens are for flying insects, not crawling insects. Insect/bug window screens are to keep the flying bugs and insects out. Unless your screens are sealed with say a silicone all the way around the screens, crawling insects will always find a way through. This is the case for our solar screens and your current manufacturer's insect/bug screens.
Question : Do the solar screens fit over our current insect window screens ? Or, do you remove our current insect screens before you install the new solar screens ?
& Answer : We do remove the insect screens before we install your new solar screens. The solar screens will take the place of your current insect screens. . More and more today we are seeing windows that require the bug screens to be taken out from the inside. If this is the case for your type of windows, we will leave the bug screens installed within the windows for you to remove. You can remove them before we get to your home, or after the solar screens have been installed. If you have new builders grade vinyl windows with bug screens that come out from the inside, here are instructions as to how to get them out. A) lift the bottom window pane up around 2" B) Locate the slide latches on the top of that window pane C) Slide those latches inward (towards each other) D) Tilt that bottom window pane toward you E) Turn the acorn latches on the screen and remove the screen toward you.
Question : Do I need to put solar screens on all of my windows? Can I just put a solar screen here and there as I need it? What will it look like if I have windows with solar screens and others without? Will my home look weird if I have some solar screens on some windows and not others?
& Answer : I strongly recommend that you DO NOT put a screen here and there for aesthetic reasons. You do not want a side of your home to look unfinished. So, if you want screens for the front of your home, I recommend you put them on all the windows for the front of your home, not just here and there. The back of the home you can cheat, as the back is not visible from the street. The following pictures will help you see what it looks like to leave windows uncovered. And visit my extensive post that thoroughly goes over installing solar screens on some windows but not all.
& my Video Answer : Watch and hear my video explanation of why you should not leave windows uncovered. Why you should shade all windows.
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Question : When you access my roof, will you protect my gutters? I have had people use ladders that dented and damaged my gutters, can you keep from doing that yourself?
& Answer : Yes, we always use arms for our extension ladders. We use these arms to stabilize our extension ladders and to reach over a gutter, not on it. We will never rest extension ladders against your gutters.
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Question : You have two density options 80% and 90%, what’s the difference between the two? Does 90% mean better? Is your 90% solar screen material much better than your 80% material?
& Answer : The difference is simple; a 90% screen offers 10% more shading than a 80% screen. For West facing windows that are sun-stricken for more than 4 hours of the day, we recommend the denser 90% material. For the rest of your windows, we recommend the 80% material. The 80% solar shade material is a SUPERB shading product. Those West facing windows during the long hot Summers can get pounded for up to 8 hrs a day when the sun sets around 8:30pm. During June through August, it is like the sun never goes away, it just stays up there in the sky pounding on your windows. It's these brutal Summer months that the extra 10% for the West facing windows is very much warranted. You can still see out through the 90% sun shade fabric just fine. And, DO NOT worry about the 90% fabric making the inside of the home too dark. When that sun is pounding on the 90% fabric, PLENTY of good filtered light still gets through. Something that is also important to think about is that with the solar screens shading your windows, you will now be able to draw open your blinds to let light in. This is an important consideration. Because now you will have the solar screens keeping the sun's rays out of the house and off of the glass of your windows. Now that this is the case, you will be able to draw those blinds wide open to let plenty of light in. And, because the screens have great daytime privacy no one will be able to see in, which is huge. Visit this blog posting of mine that I wrote that has a much more detailed explanation and understanding of my 80% solar screen fabric versus my 90% solar screen fabric.
& my Video Answer : Listen to this where I quickly, but in detail, explain the difference between the 80% fabric and the 90% fabric. Just like I would over the phone if you called me.
Solar Window Screens - Materials Q&A's
Question : Does any one color of shade screen fabric work better than the others? Does a lighter material let in more sunlight? Can I see out of one color better than the others? Do all five fabric colors come in the 80% and 90% fabric? Is one color of fabric more difficult to maintain than the others?
& Answer : All six fabric colors work the same, they all either have a 80% weave or a 90% weave, meaning they either let in 20% or 10% of the sun's rays. The difference in colors is strictly for aesthetics, as an option to better compliment your home's exterior. Sure, naturally the darker materials (black & chocolate) will get hotter to the touch, but because the material is installed up to an inch away from the glass, it is non-impactful.
Each of the six fabric colors provide the SAME percentage of shade, either 80% or 90% shade. One color does not work better than another color with regards to the level of shading, that factor is dependent on density of shading which is what the 80% and 90% is about. 90% provides 10% more shading than the 80%. You can see through the darker fabrics (chocolate, mocha and black) a slight bit better than the lighter colors. When looking out, your eyes have a tendency to not notice the darker fabrics, but will slightly notice the lighter colored fabrics, not significant, but yet a slight bit more. And, as for the Stucco fabric, because it is a patterned weave, your eyes have a tendency to notice it a tiny bit more. I will say however that I do not receive complaints from people with regards to the outward visibility of the Stucco, the patterned weave is something I notice, but I have never heard from a customer with negative regards to the product. The lighter color fabrics do require more maintenance over the years, as they show dust and grime easier than the darker fabrics (chocolate, mocha and black). It's easy enough to clean the screens, so if you are okay with cleaning them every two to three years, you can easy enough keep the lighter color fabric looking new. Our solar window screen is super strong and will not get hurt by you cleaning them, and you can always hire our window cleaner to clean the solar screens for you when he cleans your windows. Our window cleaner does not charge very much to clean the solar screens and for that matter wash your windows, so I highly recommend that you reach out to him to clean your windows and screens when you get around to needing such work done, and he is very good at taking the solar screens down and putting them back up.
Question : How well will I be able to see through the solar screen material?
& Answer : You can see through our solar screen material EXCEPTIONALLY WELL. The even weave of the fabric lends the 'best' outward visibility of ALL the solar screen fabrics currently available. Looking through the 80% material isn't too much different from looking through your current bug screens. The 90% material is a bit denser, yet you can see through the material exceptionally well. Here are a couple of great resources from my Blog to take a look at that will help you with questions about looking out solar screens and comparing my 80% and 90% solar screen fabrics.
& my Video Answer : Watch my awesome video explanation here that I made which points out the differences between looking out through the 80% and 90% fabrics.
Question : With regards to privacy, will solar screens replace the need for window blinds or shutters?
& Answer : No, we often install solar screens for new homeowners that do not have blinds, however, while solar screens do provide privacy during the day, they do not at night. Window Blinds and Window Shutters are still needed for evening privacy.
& my Video Answer : Here within this video answer, I explain privacy, what kind of privacy to expect from the solar screens.
Question : How much light will the solar screens cut out in my home from the outside? With the solar screens should I expect the inside of my house to become dark ?
& Answer : I tell people often that a great way to visualize this question is to look at the light that is being let in through the windows that are currently covered by your patio. An additional example is to imagine a full shade tree between your windows and the sun, that's the same effect a solar screen will have with regards to letting light through. You'll gain shade, not darkness. You will get plenty of filtered light. Often this question is brought up by our customers and is 'always' pleasantly dismissed as a concern once the screens are installed. Visit this blog article of mine for shade illustrations to get an idea of how dark the solar screens will make it inside the home and shade comparisons of 0%, 80%, 90%, and 100%.
Question : What kind of solar screen fabric do you use? What are the best solar screen fabrics out there to make solar window screens out of?
& Answer : We use a sun shade fabric manufactured by Twitchell called Textilene. It's as strong of a solar screen fabric as you can get. You CAN NOT tear it, pull it apart, with your bare hands. It's a woven yarn coated with a very durable super-strong PVC coating. It's made to also be a pet-resistant fabric for durability. In the sun you want as strong of fabric as you can source, and the Twitchel Textilene is that fabric. Our Twitchell Textilene fabric is manufactured here in the USA in the state of Alabama. There are three primary PVC Coated fabrics out there. Twitchell Textilene, Phifer Suntex, St Gobain Adfords Sunshield. I know Twitchell makes their fabric here in the USA, and Phifer used to but I don't know for sure that they still do, and St Gobain Adfords makes theirs in Mexico. All of these fabrics are super strong and very well made, you can not go wrong using any of these three PVC Coated fabrics.
Question : I hear and have read a lot about frame size for the solar screens, what do you use?
& Answer : For all assemblies that exceed 30" x 50" I use the stronger heavier duty 1" wide framing. For smaller assemblies I use the 3/4" wide framing. For the smaller assemblies you DO NOT benefit from that wider framing and to me it can look odd making a small screen out of that wider framing because visually that framing is WAY TOO emphasized being as big as it is. I see installs around Austin where the 1" frame was used for smaller screens and they look funny because that frame really stands out. It's overly emphasized because of it's size.
For more Q&A's about my Solar Window Screen Pricing"
Visit my Solar Window Screen Pricing page
Question : Can I get grid patterns on my solar window screens? What are grid patterns for solar screens? What is the additional cost for grid patterns?
& Answer : We have made getting Pricing for grid patterns EASY. To Upgrade any solar screen for Austin TX windows to a grid pattern, simply add $40 per upgrade. A flat $40 will get any solar window screen that we make outfitted with a grid pattern. We will follow the pattern on your front windows that currently have a grid pattern. If they do not have a pattern, we can implement one for you.
& my Video Answer : In this video answer of mine, I explain grid patterns. Why you would want them and all questions about them.
Solar Window Screens - PRICING Q&A's
Question : Do you take on small jobs, will you take on a one or two window (solar screen) project? I just want to put shade screens over 2 or 3 windows of my home, will you take on a small project like this?
& Answer : My minimum order project is $430. Any size 80% Fabric order of 613” or less is a flat installed rate of $430, plus 90% fabric upgrade costs at $5ea for each 80% solar screen you want to upgrade to the 90% fabric and $20 for each arch if you have arches. Please see our "Do it yourself Estimate Worksheet" for a clear illustration of our installed pricing. Or, enter the count of windows you want the solar screens for into our Solar Screen Pricing Calculator for a quick estimated installed cost.
Question : What is your Austin TX sun protection screen services installation area ?
& Answer : My Austin Texas solar screen installation area includes the following surrounding areas - Pflugerville, Round Rock, Hutto, Georgetown, Leander, Cedar Park, Lakeway, Bee Caves, Kyle, Buda and Manor. If you would like our installation service for Dripping Springs, Briarcliff, Spicewood, Lago Vista, Jonestown, Pointe Venture, Liberty Hill or Taylor please take a look at our service area map, to see what the additional cost would be to service your area.
Question : Can Sun Control Screens be installed on the windows of my commercial building ?
& Answer : Absolutely, if it is glass, we can install a solar screen over it. Visit my detailed commercial solar screens for windows page. Just like with my Austin TX residential solar screen installations, I do not install the screens on 3rd floor windows. Also, being a commercial building, you will likely want to get permission from the building owner, as these screens are affixed to the outside of the window. Commercial pricing is a little different than residential pricing. For my installed, sales-tax included commercial pricing, please print our
Question : I know you are a Window Shade Screen installer, but how about bug (insect) screens for windows, can you make and install those for me as well?
& Answer : As of 2021 I make all of my window bug screens out of a strong 1" solar framing and the tough and durable Pool and Patio fabric by Adfors. You WILL NOT be able to find a stronger more durable installed bug screen for windows out there. My 1" frame is the same that I use to build my solar screens out of. The durable and tough Pool and Patio fabric is what you use to roll a large patio opening with. The product was designed to be durable and long-lasting. With my strong 1" frame, the frame will not bend when you take the screen in and out of the windows like with that traditional flimsy 3/4" bug screen framing. And, with my 1' frame, the frame WILL NOT flex and bow. Watch the below video. And, will not use plastic corners that can crack from the sun. I have taken off a good 15-25,000 old screens over the past 17 years and I can tell you a thing or two about what lasts and what does not. Never do you want exposed plastic for your corners. All of my corners are miter cut so there is no exposed plastic.
About my insect bug screen pricing. The flat-rate cost is $30 p/ screen when the following conditions are met, a) in addition to a minimum order of installed solar screens, b) an Austin TX patio roller shade order, or b) a minimum order of just replacement bug screens for windows. A minimum order of just bug screens is that the first 11 bug screens run $430, then each bug screen after that is a flat $30ea. Our flat rate bug screen pricing is for bug screens not to exceed 46" in width or 34" in height. Bug screens are designed to fit into just the opening portion of your window with the intention of keeping flying insects from flying into your home. Bug screens do not fit over the entire window, they are just for the opening portion of your window.
For much more information on my insect bug screens visit the following | my installed insect bug window screens pricing | my in-depth bug insect screen Questions & Answers | making sliding doors with insect bug screen fabric | replacement bug screens are for the opening portion of the window | materials I use to build my bug screens for windows | self-installing my insect bug screens for windows | bug screens for back patios | what part of Austin Texas I install my insect bug screens |.how an insect bug screen fits into the window.| what insects my bug screens for windows are going to keep out.
Question : I do not live in the Austin TX area, -will you ship your screens to me ? Can I order the screens from you, then come by to pick them up to install myself.
& Answer : I do not ship screens, however we do have a Pick-Up facility. As a Retail customer or Wholesale customer you can order your screens through our pickup facilities website www.HobbsScreens.com and pick your screens up from our North Austin pickup facility to install yourself. On the www.HobbsScreens.com website, there are thorough measure and installation instructions to guide you through the process of doing a self installation.
Question : What is the Warranty of your solar screens ?
& Answer : We offer a two-year warranty for our installations and screens. Our warranty is limited in the simple sense that we do not warrant personal or storm damage. We warrant our installation for up to two years or when / if our installation gets modified by the removal of the screens. When the screens get removed to wash the windows or for any other reason, our installation warranty ends at the point of removal. Solar screens for windows do not have any moveable parts, therefore once they are installed properly, there's not really anything that can go wrong with them. If a screen gets removed, we strongly encourage you as the homeowner to make sure the screen is 100% put back in the tracks (channels) the screens came out of, do not bend the screens when you remove them, and if you have clips make 100% sure the clips are tightly secured back in place the way they were when we put the screens up for you. We strongly recommend that when a screen gets removed, the person removing the screens does not use a drill unless they are proficient with the drill like we are. Which, frankly, from my experience, is not common. Spinning a screw too fast out of the hole of the window frame can strip out that hole. Or, putting the screw back in and over-torquing it, thus stripping the hole out, is something we commonly see when we remove people's old screens. When the hole is stripped out, the screw is no longer effective at holding the screen. We highly recommend removing screws by hand. I would encourage your window washer to remove screws by hand and not use a drill. Vinyl windows do not have upper and lower tracks designed to hold full-sized solar screens. Solar screen installation methods for vinyl windows and all other windows are explained here. Vinyl window holes are easy to strip out because they are vinyl, not metal. When we remove screens from vinyl windows, we do so by hand; we do not use drills. Vinyl is not strong like metal. Solar screens for vinyl windows are attached by small self-tapping screws. Because the window is vinyl (plastic-like), not metal, a screw can get ripped out of the vinyl from strong, forceful winds. I do not warrant a screen violently getting ripped off a window by a storm. In the event that this happens, you can contact me, and I can source you a new screen for self-installation, or you can hire us to drive one over there to install it for you.
Solar Window Screens - WARRANTY Q&A's
Question : Do your solar screens fade? What's the life expectancy of your solar screens? My West facing windows get a brutal amount of direct sun, will your solar screens last very long?
& Answer : Personally, I have yet to see a faded solar screen made out of our PVC Coated fabric (we have screens up that are nine years old), but at some point lke anything painted or dyed, being exposed to our Hot Texas Sun, you will see some fading. Our Made in USA exterior solar screen fabric was specifically made for these hot sun-brutal climates. I am always astonished when I drive by installations we have done over the years as to how well the fabric of our solar screens have held up in the direct West facing sun. Of all the solar screen fabrics manufactured, ours is the one, the ONLY one, we chose to use on our own home and it is the ONLY one that I would use for your home. Compromising to save a few dollars makes NO sense to me. Our solar screen fabric is by far the longest lasting, strongest, best out there. Over the years I have seen installed on people's houses every type of solar screen fabric made, and I am often horrified that people have had screens built for them that have faded within a mere 3Yrs. It saddens me, and just kills me that vendors will sell these people this type of inferior product all to sound attractive with a lower price which is often only minimal. The pictures below do not really do justice as to how well our solar screen fabric holds up, as the quality of these pictures was taken with our IPhone as we drove by these houses last week. These houses all face the West. They look as good today as they did the day we did their installations. You can not get a better made solar screen, one that will last longer in the direct sun than ours! "Why gamble with the rest, when you are guaranteed the best with JoshHobbs.com"
Question : Do you dispose of our old screens ? What do you do with our old screens ? Will you haul them off for us ?
& Answer : Absolutely we will haul off your old screens for you. However, if your current insect screens are somewhat new and in good condition, we recommend that you store them for a potential future need. For example when you go to sell your house years down the road, it could be a positive that you have your original insect screens available. If they are not in good shape, and if they are old solar screens, we will by default haul them off for you. If you want to keep your old screens and they are still on your windows when we get there to install, you will need to tell us in advance so that we know to leave them behind for you. Most everyone will clean their windows before we arrive, and they will have the screens either left outside for us to haul away or they will have them put away for storage.
Solar Window Screens - GENERAL Q&A's
Question : What's the difference between Window Tint, Window Film and Solar Screens ?
& Answer : There's a huge difference between the two products. Window Tinting merely blocks the Sun's UV Rays from getting through the glass in to the interior. Yes, to prevent the fading of your interior's belongings, and to cut down on the UV rays from entering your home, window film and window tint works. Window film and window tint only provide a 'FRACTION' of the shade that a Solar Screen does. A Solar Screen not only blocks the sun's rays from entering the interior through the windows, but it ALSO shades the windows themselves from getting hot. The heat from a hot heated-up window, and its glass, will transfer into the home. Envision leaving your oven on, but the door shut, while the heat is captured within the oven, the heat still radiates through the glass of the door. The same applies to your windows when they get hot from the sun's rays. The whole idea of a solar screen is to provide shade for that window so that it doesn't get hot from the sun's rays and that the sun's rays do not make their way through the glass in to your interior. Keep in mind that window film and window tint are installed on the inside pane of your double paned glass window. With this approach, the sun will penetrate the outside pane of glass heating it up, but more importantly, the sun's energy will get absorbed by the inside pane of your double paned window, therefore making that pane of glass get super-hot. Window manufacturers have been known to void the window warranty if it has window tint or window film simply because of this problem. When that inside pane of glass gets that hot it's commonly prone to crack. Why would a window crack that has window tint or window film on it you ask? Because the glass gets so hot from the sun due to the tint on that inside pane stopping most of the sun's energy thus causing the glass to have to absorb it. Window shade screens stop the sun outside of the window, the sun NEVER reaches the inside of the home or the glass of your windows. Why doesn't the glass in my car that has window tint or window film crack this way? Two reasons, 1) with double paned windows, the heat is captured within the two panes of glass making that trapped air HOT adding to the hot inside pane of glass which by the way is very thin, and 2) there' s a gigantic difference between the thickness of your home's windows panes of glass versus that of your car's glass windows. The glass windows of your car are considerably thicker and much more tolerant, as you would expect because the inside of your car can get so hot and the glass for your car is tempered, meaning it's very strong. Considering effectiveness and efficiency, window tint or window film cannot remotely be compared to solar screens. Also, you can read my post "Window Film or Window Tint verses Solar Screens", which goes into more detail about window film and window tint.
Question : For future reference, how do we clean the screens? Do we take them down to clean them? How often should we clean them? Do they even need to be cleaned?
& Answer : If you need to clean them, you can do so with them installed in place using dish soap or the likes of simple green, but you will run the risk of dirtying your glass. Our solar screen fabric is super durable, personally, I take my screens down and spray them with my pressure washer using a wide spread nozzle. I take my screens down and lay them on the driveway with a piece of plywood underneath so I don't scratch the screen framing, and I hit them with the pressure washer. The wide spread nozzle is key, and you would want to do so from a distance of course. Point being, the screen fabric we use is very durable and strong. I would stay clear of chemical base solutions, however, which is why we recommend liquid dish soap if you want to use a soap. Also, simple green being a bio safe product would work if you wanted to use it as a cleaning agent. The lighter color fabrics (Stucco, Beige and Grey), will show dirt and grime quicker than that of the darker colored fabrics (Mocha, Chocolate and Black). If you get a lighter colored fabric, you will likely be cleaning your screens considerably more often than if you had a darker colored fabric. And, my experience is that some of the screens will get much dirty than others, and some can be very difficult to get cleaned really well, depending on what gets on them. With all this said, our recommended window washing services have great rates for cleaning windows and your solar screens at the same time, so I highly recommend that when the time comes to clean your screens, that you get your windows and solar screens cleaned at the same time through one of these recommended services. For your reference, here's a full list of window washers that we approve.
Question : Should we clean our windows prior to you installing our new solar screens ?
& Answer : We do recommend that you clean your windows before we put your new screens up, as it'll be a lot easier to clean them now, and you'll likely not have to clean them again for quite a while once the screens are up. Here is a FULL list of window washers that we approve the work of. When you do clean them, it is okay if you leave the old screens off your windows, and if you set them aside we will haul them off for you (if you like) so you don't have to deal with the disposing of them.
Question : I like to open my windows to let in a breeze during the cooler months, -Will the solar screens allow for a breeze to pass through like my current bug screens ?
& Answer : Absolutely ! The solar screens breathe quite well. You will absolutely be able to enjoy the cool outside air through your new screens when needed.
Question : What are your thoughts on using multiple colors on my house? I have stone on the front of my house, and hardi-plank on the back of the house, can I use one color of fabric for the front and another color for the back?
& Answer : We strongly discourage mixing solar screen fabric colors. We have done this by force of customer's hands several times over the years, and not once did we think what we were told to do looked acceptable. Consistency is what you want, use the same fabric and frame color all the way around your house, it looks much cleaner and nicer.
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Question : Do you know what the major sources of heat gain for my home are in our area here in Austin Texas ?
& Answer : Research from the Department of Energy led me to the following pie chart. Windows are the number-one source of heat gain in the summer, responsible for 48% of the cooling costs for your home. The most effective way of preventing this heat gain is by shading the sun before it heats the glass. Interior blinds, drapes, and window film all block the sun after they have penetrated and heated the window glass, so the heat is free to radiate into the home. Solar screens can block up to 90% of the sun’s energy before it heats your windows, dramatically reducing the heat in your home and the load on your air conditioner
Question : How much money can I expect to save on my electric bill ? What will be my utility savings ?
& Answer : Sadly, this is too broad of question with far too many variables to provide a black and white answer. Never the less, I can tell you with 100% assurance that the ambient indoor temperature surrounding an un-shaded sun stricken window will drop DRAMATICALLY once the window is shaded with a solar screen. If your home has 60% of its windows that receive direct sun-light for the majority of the day, you can expect to see a SIGNIFICANT reduction in your utility costs. If only 10% of your home's windows are impacted by the sun, you won't see too much of a utility cost benefit, however you will see a major improvement in those rooms that are impacted by the sun-stricken windows. A window that is exposed to the sun's rays need to be shaded to alleviate the heat generated by the sun's rays from entering into the home through the windows.
Question : Will I want to take my screens off during the Winter ? Is there a benefit to removing my screens during the Winter ? Do the solar screens provide insulation during the Winter ?
& Answer : No. For one, the cold days of winter here in Austin will come and go before you know it. Secondly, if you do take the solar screens off, you'll need to store them somewhere, and when you do, you will run the risk of damaging them. It's not worth it. Third, you will get very use to the privacy of the solar screens, and will likely not want to do without that privacy. Fourth, in Austin TX there is no solar heat to be gained from un-shaded windows during the Winter. One very important thing to keep in mind about the Winter months here in Austin TX is that on those few days out the year that it is extremely cold, there is NO Sun outside to be found. Those cold days are always dark, cloudy and dreary. We get asked these questions often whereby customers have the idea of wanting to remove their solar screens during the winter months, and the result is always the same with every customer that once the customer has the experience of having our solar screens on their house, they will never want to take them down to store them during the Winter Months.
Question : Air Conditioning Repair, Air Conditioning Service Work, Air Conditioning Modifications, Assistance and Guidance - Do you recommend anyone for my air-conditioning related needs ?
& Answer : We do, his name is David Sutphen 512-789-1003, he's an old-time Austinite that's been servicing the area for 25 years. David is as honest and accountable as they get. He does all the work himself, so you are not paying bloated and inflated costs, he is modestly and reasonably priced for his services. David is honest and will not try to sell you on equipment or repairs to make a buck, if he says something is wrong and needs fixing, you can count it. We trust him 100%. David services the immediate Austin area to include Manor, Buda (not Kyle or Dripping Springs), Pflugerville, Hutto, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander and the Southern part of Georgetown. He's an old-school operator ;) We have David service our home and rental properties A/C Systems once a year in the Spring as a routine annual maintenance checkup, the cost to do so is minimum, it is only $100-$150, but what you get out of it as routine maintenance is huge. We highly recommend having David do a maintenance checkup on your system every year. As part of this service he cleans the drain lines, thoroughly inspects your system, cleans your coils and charges your A/C system if needed. If your A/C system is currently draining outside, that means the secondary (backup) drip pan is being used because the primary drain line that should drain to your plumbing (sewer pipes) is clogged. You need to get that corrected ASAP. I see home after home that has water coming out of the secondary drain line, draining outside. If that secondary drain line clogs, the water will then overflow onto your ceilings. Then you will have damaged ceilings. Your sheetrock will sag and become a water-damaged mess. If you see water dripping outside, call David ASAP. As an alternative, Corey Thrash with Austin Alpine 512-759-4247 corey@austinalpine.com www.AustinAlpine.com is also as fair as they come. Both Dave or Corey will treat you right, they will never try to take advantage of you and the situation you are in. If your system needs to be repaired, they both will do that WAY before they suggest replacing your system, which is what most all the big companies will do. However, rest assured, that if they do suggest for the system to be replaced, you will get a very good price to do so.
Question : How about mixing old solar screens with new ? If I have a damaged old solar screen, can I replace it with a new solar screen ? Will it look the same ?
& Answer : I do not recommend it if your old solar screens are 15+ years old. Solar screens, except for what I was installing, 15+ years ago were mostly made with a Vimco 65% fabric, that looks entirely different from the heavy-duty PVC coated solar screen fabric of today that I use.
