DIY Solar Screens?

[jluv]

I'm finally going to get this checked off the list this summer. No central air and several large windows makes for a house that's way too hot. Plus the glare on the TV sucks.

Looking for recommendations on brands, websites, helpful tips, what to avoid, etc.

Thanks in advance!

[Rick Modena]

If you can read a tape measure, you might want to take measurements of the windows you want, send them to a place in Denver and have them shipped and install them yourself. The company I used did exactly that, except they came back and installed them which was pretty easy, except for the second story windows.
Or you can 5% window tint them, that shit is cheap and plentiful, you might fuckup a few windows but you have plenty in the roll to re-do them.
David over at Tri-tek is doing home and office windows, he uses UV tint and I saw his house and it came out bad ass. I'm going to have him do this to a few windows that face the east and west on my house like that.

[jluv]

If you can read a tape measure, you might want to take measurements of the windows you want, send them to a place in Denver and have them shipped and install them yourself. The company I used did exactly that, except they came back and installed them which was pretty easy, except for the second story windows.
Or you can 5% window tint them, that shit is cheap and plentiful, you might fuckup a few windows but you have plenty in the roll to re-do them.
David over at Tri-tek is doing home and office windows, he uses UV tint and I saw his house and it came out bad ass. I'm going to have him do this to a few windows that face the east and west on my house like that.

I'm definitely planning to do them myself. Doesn't need to be from Denver, as I'm not really close to there, anyway. I'm sure there are several sites I can order from, just looking or personal recommendations.

Wanting screens and not tint, mainly for easy removal. I need the solar heat gain in the winter, so they'll come off and go back on every year.

[ELVIS]

i tried to do them myself years ago, and couldnt get it right. then again im an idiot. If CO is anything like TX its most likely cheaper to have it done than do it yourself. Lone Star Solar screens has done 3 homes for me now.

god bless.

[johnboy]

I bought some static cling window tint and use it in the summer and pull it off in winter. You can find it on amazon. I use the 5% and it makes a hell of a difference in the master bedroom and bathroom which face the west, where I have no tree shade.

[GeorgeG.]

I've done mine in the past using the frames and screen material from HD. It's fairly easy to get the hang of it as far as not having any waves or wrinkles in it. If I did it again though, I'd definitely price it out and compare with paying someone just to see what the price difference would be.

[jluv]

If CO is anything like TX its most likely cheaper to have it done than do it yourself.

If I did it again though, I'd definitely price it out and compare with paying someone just to see what the price difference would be.

Getting anyone to come out here to do it isn't really an option. I'm 3.5 hours from anything resembling a real city, and 5 hours from any major city like Denver or Albuquerque. Even if I could find someone to come out, they'd have to charge a giant premium to make it worth their while. There's not a single house in my town that has them, and no one I have talked to up here has ever heard of solar screens. LOL! I don't mind doing it myself.

I bought some static cling window tint and use it in the summer and pull it off in winter.

Static cling tint? Hmmm... Does it look good around the edges and everything? Any bubbles? Goes on and off several times with no issues? This might be an option. I just don't want it to look like doodoo. Do you remember the brand you went with?

[johnboy]

I went with the Gila brand. As long as you prep everything it looks and stays on fine. I originally bought it to cover the little side windows in my regular cab 08 f150. When I bought it, it had 35 all way round. This will be the 3rd summer and still looks fine.

One caution per manufacturer is if you have certain double pane or storm windows, you have to tint the outside glass due to heat possibly cracking the outer panel. They have a website about it on the amazon ad. I did my on the inside double pane without reading all the instructions and it was fine.

I keep the original backing and just roll it back up when I take it down, i write what window it was goes to on backing.

[jluv]

I went with the Gila brand. As long as you prep everything it looks and stays on fine. I originally bought it to cover the little side windows in my regular cab 08 f150. When I bought it, it had 35 all way round. This will be the 3rd summer and still looks fine.

One caution per manufacturer is if you have certain double pane or storm windows, you have to tint the outside glass due to heat possibly cracking the outer panel. They have a website about it on the amazon ad. I did my on the inside double pane without reading all the instructions and it was fine.

I keep the original backing and just roll it back up when I take it down, i write what window it was goes to on backing.

Thanks for the info!

[johnboy]

No problem. The top review has the info for the website.

[CWO]

building window screens is quite easy. I spent a few summers building them for apartment complexes when I was working at a glass company just out of high school.

You'd need:

- a hack saw and miter box to chop the aluminum rails to size

- a roller tool https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Line-75...0B9SQ8P5GB3MJ4

- aluminum frame material https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Line-Pr...GAA1KCC51Z8FJ7

- screen material https://www.amazon.com/ADFORS-Premiu...27&s=hi&sr=1-8

- corners - https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Line-MP...2&s=hi&sr=1-18

- spline https://www.amazon.com/ADFORS-Spline...00&s=hi&sr=1-3


That's basically it

tape measure (obv)
blade to cut the screen material (obv)


Hope that helps

[jluv]

building window screens is quite easy. I spent a few summers building them for apartment complexes when I was working at a glass company just out of high school.

You'd need:

- a hack saw and miter box to chop the aluminum rails to size

- a roller tool https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Line-75...0B9SQ8P5GB3MJ4

- aluminum frame material https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Line-Pr...GAA1KCC51Z8FJ7

- screen material https://www.amazon.com/ADFORS-Premiu...27&s=hi&sr=1-8

- corners - https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Line-MP...2&s=hi&sr=1-18

- spline https://www.amazon.com/ADFORS-Spline...00&s=hi&sr=1-3


That's basically it

tape measure (obv)
blade to cut the screen material (obv)


Hope that helps

Awesome! Very helpful. Thanks!

[CWO]

Awesome! Very helpful. Thanks!

Sure thing.

The one thing I remember is that the material tends to twist/rotate as you spline it.

You may also want something like these, but not required. https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Line-Pr...69SJV6TGSS78W0

[jluv]

Sure thing.

The one thing I remember is that the material tends to twist/rotate as you spline it.

You may also want something like these, but not required. https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Line-Pr...69SJV6TGSS78W0

I think I'll need some kind of spring tabs or something to keep the screens in place on the windows.

[CWO]

I think I'll need some kind of spring tabs or something to keep the screens in place on the windows.

I've never used them, but not a bad idea. They tend to stay in place with the top channel in the window ledge. The springs would be nice when you may cut a bit short on the height though, for wiggle room.