Irving Solar Screens For Windows

Position. By the time sunlight reaches a blind it has already come through the glass and turned into heat inside the room — the blind is managing a problem that has already arrived. A solar screen sits outside the glass and stops the radiation before the window sees it. Blinds are good for privacy and light control; they are simply not an effective tool for heat rejection, which is why so many Texas homeowners have blinds and still have a room they cannot cool.

How much light and heat each blocks, and how the room feels afterward. The 80% screen — nearly transparent — keeps the sun out while still letting enough light through that the room does not feel stuffy and dark. The 90% option is semi transparent and blocks considerably more, which is right if your place gets very hot during the day or you would rather not see much outside. We usually mix them across a house rather than applying one to everything.

Yes, though the effect is smaller than in summer. Screens reduce heat transfer in both directions, so they help keep warmth in during winter as well as heat out during summer, which is why they lower energy costs year-round rather than seasonally. Be realistic about the balance though — North Texas has a long cooling season and a short heating one, so summer is where you will notice the difference.

Yes — single hung and double hung, sliders, awning windows, casement and hopper windows, and sliding glass doors can all be screened. The mounting method varies by window type, which is why we assess on site rather than quoting from a photo. Casement and hopper windows in particular open outward, so the screen has to be arranged around that operation.

Dimmer, and it depends which shade factor you choose — which is exactly why we specify per room. At 80% you keep meaningful daylight. At 90% the room is noticeably darker. You still see out clearly during daylight either way; the effect from inside is more like good sunglasses than a blackout. If a room's brightness matters to you, say so and we will specify accordingly or leave it unscreened.

Less than they would on single-pane glass, and we would rather tell you that upfront. Low-E glass is already doing part of the solar control job, so the incremental benefit from a screen is smaller. That said, on a bad west elevation taking direct afternoon sun, screens still make a noticeable difference even over low-E. In older south and central Irving homes with single-pane or early insulated glazing, the change is far more dramatic.

Yes, and it is a benefit worth counting. UV fades hardwood floors, rugs, artwork and upholstery, and the damage accumulates slowly until it is obvious and permanent. Solar screens cut the UV reaching your interior substantially. If you have a west-facing living room with flooring or furniture you care about, that protection often justifies the cost on its own.

Quality screen fabric generally holds up for many years, though direct exposure is exactly what wears them and west-facing screens always age fastest. Frames typically outlast the fabric considerably, which is why rescreening — putting new fabric into your existing frames — is the usual repair rather than buying whole new screens. Hail and storm damage is a more common cause of early failure here than simple UV aging.