Ok guys and gals, I need some guidance. I'm trying to decide between putting solar screens or solar window tint on my windows to decrease the amount of sunlight/heat trasmitted into my house. I've looked all over the internet, and can't find anything definitive regarding either option. The screen companies bash tint, and the tint companies bash screen. Other consumers seem to go either way, mainly based off of what they have on their own home.

So, OB, enlighten me with your info/experiences/recommendations on the subject...

Thanks in advance.

Well.... I have solar screens on the west and south sides of my house.... and my neighbor across the street put tint on his west facing windows.

I can't attest to how effective the tint is on heat reduction in the home. But I can say the solar screens made a noticeable difference. Prior to them, you could feel the heat radiation in through those windows where now you cannot. It has made a difference... how much? I couldn't quantify that. I got 80% screens on my downstairs windows and 90% on the upper windows. While they don't block vision much, it does give almost a pixelly look while looking through them if that makes sense. Doesn't bother me in the least but that's just me. Overall I'm quite please with them.

Regarding the tint... again, I have no idea how much they block heat. And obviously vision wouldn't be affected. But he installed a semi-mirrored tint... and frankly I don't like how it looks from the outside. It gives teh windows a glazed dirty look... as if they haven't been washed in some time.

JMO.....

I may have to follow this thread. My house faces west and I have been pondering tint, I really just don't like the appearance of the screens, though I know they work very well.

quote:

---

and frankly I don't like how it looks from the outside. It gives teh windows a glazed dirty look... as if they haven't been washed in some time.

---

I'll second this on solar tint. I can't say if it helps, but I don't like the way it looks from the outside at all.

I bought a house last winter with solar screens on all the windows. Last summer I never noticed the sun radiating through the windows. The electric bill stayed palatable all summer too. Granted I don't have anything to compare it with, but I'm a fan of them.

I have solar screens in my house in Phoenix and recently some branches from my tree fell and cut up one of the screens. I can notice a big difference in the heat that comes into the bedroom with that screen removed. Getting it replaced is high on my priority with summer around the corner. I dont know how tinting compares, but getting the screens replaced seems like a simple DIY job. Also you can take them off in the winter to allow for some radiant heat on the cold days. As stated above, I think they look better than tinting anyway.

Solar Screens here as well. LOVE THEM. Can tell a huge difference in both the heat and my wallet come Summer.

A tip.

If you get film, put it on the outside. Yes, It will reflex the radiated heat back out if placed on the inside. But Then you are double heating the gas inside the window traveling in and back out. (I am assuming double pane but worse if single). This does not sound all that bad because the radiated heat did not get into the room. The problem is the other two forms of heat transfer, conduction and a much lesser extend convection. Conduction is the heat transfer from warm to cold. The temp inside the window can get to 150+F ( I did evidence work on this). All that heat will transfer to the colder temp (inside) with only the insulating properties (U values or R values) of the glass to stop it. When added to the conduction from the ambient temps, it becomes a lot of heat.

I am a fan of the films but you have to replace it as it wears.

I like my sun screens.
It allows me to open the windows and still have bug screen protection.

If you have the original bug screens plus tint, that might be too dark.

Best Solution is about a 4' long overhang kind of like a front porch. That way you block the direct sun in the summer but get it in the winter.

If you can't afford or don't want to do this do the solar screens. you can do them yourself and then take them off in the winter when you want the solar heat in your house.

We had the film and replaced it with screens. We werent the ones that put on the film, but I read since they attract the heat, they can actually damage your double paned windows.

I built my own solar screens last summer. it was a piece if cake. they have probably paid for themselves already.

quote:

---

I built my own solar screens last summer. it was a piece if cake. they have probably paid for themselves already.

---

Where did you get your supplies, I've been planning to do this...

I used solartex 90 from home depot, I bough the frames there too. the only thing I would change would be to go online and buy metal corner connectors. on some of my bigger windows the plastic connectors I got from HD allow the longer frames to flex a little to much.

Thanks for the replies guys! I actually just built some screens for all my upstairs windows (10 windows) and it cost around $300. I have another 8 downstairs windows, so my total price should be under $600.

This thread came about because a friend of mine was looking at getting the film on his windows, and we were discussing how it would compare. He just had a guy do an estimate for his house for the film (full service, installed, warranty) and it would be between $2500-3500!

In full disclosure, my house has double pane windows. His has single pane windows, and the screen would have to be cut and installed indiviually for each small divided section of every window. The installer said that the labor was a major portion of the price, but still. I'm pretty sure he has decided that we will be building screens for his house as well.

ttt for the weekend crowd. Anyone else have any experience?

On tall windows, you should put a center bar. Also, the yellow roller tool with the built
in hook works great...