Are you thinking about purchasing solar screens for your home or building, but aren’t sure if it’s worth the cost? Solar screens can help reduce your energy bills, save the environment, and reduce damage to textiles and other furniture.
But, are they really worth the price? How much do solar screens cost?
Read on to learn if getting solar screens is worth the price.
What are Solar Screens?
Before we discuss whether or not solar screens are worth the price, we first need to talk about what exactly solar screens are. Solar screens are dark screen panels that are placed on your home or office windows.
They deflect the sun’s brightness so that the glare from the sun can’t enter your home. In this way, solar screens are very similar to window films. Window films are also used for blocking out UV rays.
However, solar screens slightly alter the appearance of the window, whereas window film is 100 percent transparent and doesn’t make your windows look any different. But, you can really only tell that a window has a solar screen if you’re standing really close to it. If you’re far away, the window will look exactly the same.
However, solar screens offer a higher degree of energy efficiency, so if energy savings is what you’re after, solar screens are your best bet. Additionally, window film is more expensive than a solar screen.
It’s also important to understand that solar screens don’t block sunlight from entering your home. Installing solar screens doesn’t mean that your rooms will be dark.
All solar screens do is take away the negative parts of sunlight- namely, the glare that accompanies the bright day sun. This is why solar screens can be especially useful for windows that face the west or the east, as this is where the sun shines the brightest in the morning and afternoon.
Pros and Cons of Solar Screens
So, why do people get solar screens? And why do others avoid them? Let’s talk about some of the pros and cons of solar screens.
Here are some of the biggest benefits of solar screens:
- Offer UV protection
- Provide insulation
- Add durability to your windows
- Reduce heat and glare
- Reduce energy costs
- Can be easily adjusted or removed
- Add privacy
- Economical option
And, here are some of the downsides to installing solar screens:
- Partially obstruct your view of the outside world
- Make your home feel slightly darker
- Can get damaged by weather
- Can be expensive
As you can see, the advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages, which is why solar screens are becoming more and more popular.
How Much Do Solar Screens Cost?
So how much should you expect to pay for solar screen installation? Solar screens can cost anywhere from $115 per window to $480 per window.
How much you pay for your solar screens will depend on a variety of different factors, including:
Number of Windows
The more windows you have, the more you can expect to pay for solar screen installation. However, some companies offer discounts if you purchase multiple solar screens.
For example, a company may offer three solar screens for the price of two. If you don’t have it in your budget to cover all of your windows with solar screens, be strategic about which windows you do choose to cover.
As we mentioned earlier, the sun shines its brightest through windows that face the east and the west, so you should focus on covering windows that face in these directions first.
Additionally, consider which rooms of your home you spend the most time in. Most people place solar screens in living room, kitchen, and bedroom windows.
Window Size
In addition to considering the number of windows, you also need to consider the size of your windows.
The larger your windows are, the more solar screen material you’ll need to cover it. This means your final cost will be higher. Some solar screen companies have standard-issue solar screens that don’t need to be custom fit and can be placed over average-sized windows.
If you have average-sized windows in your home, you could end up paying slightly less for your solar screens.
Time of Installation
When you have your solar screens installed can also have an effect on the final price. Typically, late spring and early summer are the most popular times for installing solar screens.
If you can hold off installation until the fall or the winter, you’ll likely get a better deal.
Local vs Online
There’s also the matter of purchasing your solar screens from a local company like Allstar Solar Screens or buying them from a large online manufacturer.
While buying your solar screens from a large online manufacturer may give you a better deal upfront, it also means you have to install the screens yourself or hire a contractor.
While installing the screens yourself is more affordable, solar screen installation is a very difficult DIY project, and there’s a good chance you could end up causing damage to the screens or hurting yourself in the process.
This is why it’s usually best to go with a local company, as they’ll also take care of the installation. What’s more, most local companies offer a warranty for their labor. This means that if there is damage to your solar screens due to faulty installation, you’ll be entitled to some type of refund.
Are You Ready to Install Solar Screens?
Now that we’ve answered the question, “How much do solar screens cost?”, it’s time to decide if installing them is the right decision for you.
If the answer is yes, then it’s time to look up installation companies in your area. And, be sure to check back in with our blog for more home improvement-related tips and tricks.
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