I've got nine windows across the back of my house that get tons of sun and Was just thinking about these, couldn't find it on of what I would call reliable cost-saving calculators. What is everyone's experience? Is this a DIY project? What percentage of solar screening should I get? How costly is it?
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In my experience, not worth doing yourself, but it had them on my previous house and was very happy with them. Could def tell a difference

Second getting them professionally done. I did some myself in my first house (knowing how to, and having practice at making screens) and they did not turn out as well as I would have liked. The material is really thick and hard to work with.

Have had professional ones at my last house and current house. I think they make a HUGE difference that is noticeable both just being in the house and on my bills.

I recommend them. Lonestar is a solid contractor if you are in a major Texas city.

Highly recommended. And if you DIY, make sure you get a METAL screen roller tool and not a plastic one.

Just had them installed on my house. Can tell a noticeable difference. After the city doles out the rebate, should pay for themselves in 24 months.

Definitely think they are worth the cost thus far, but the utility bills will have to come in first to prove how efficient they are.

ETA I paid 4/sq foot installed in New Braunfels/SA area

[This message has been edited by TXAGChick06 (edited 6/6/2014 11:52a).]

Does Houston offer any rebates for these? I am also considering getting them on 3 sides of our house (all but the front).

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Does Houston offer any rebates for these? I am also considering getting them on 3 sides of our house (all but the front).

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Seconded. Also, recommend a contractor in Houston?

$4/sqft?? That's like $60 window for me. Is this a typical price? If so I'd be willing to DIY mainly b/c I'm looking for a project. In DFW any recs other than above?

Look up the price of the fabric. It isn't that cheap.

Trust the other people here who have said it is worth paying someone else to do it. They were done in a couple hours, it looks great and will end up saving me money. I've made screens before...it's a huge PITA.

For rebates look online with whoever provides your utilities. Mine was through my utility provider and was $1.50/sq foot.

[This message has been edited by TXAGChick06 (edited 6/7/2014 7:31a).]

Agree with all the other posters. They are worth it. I live in north FW and got a good deal on mine. I had 7 screens made, but 3 were for double windows. I paid around $300. I believe it was Absolute Comfort Solar Screen in Fort Worth.

I researched the DIY process and I would have maybe saved $50 if I did it myself. The time and effort to do it was not worth it to me. And I didn't have the right equipment (have a two story house but only have a 6 foot ladder). Oh, and they made a noticeable dent in our energy bill.

Anybody know who is best in waco area and price? Interested in doing this to from windows facin the Western sun

I used Lone star in dallas. Good price and lifetime warranty.

I will always have solar screens on any home I own. I've saved thousands since becoming a homeowner 15 years ago.

Having some quotes done now, had one guy try to talk me out of them in favor of the film on the windows.

Tried to say they (screens) will fade within 6-8 years in the Texas sun. Any thoughts on that?

I wanted to call BS, but figured it'd be worth checking here too.

2K

This is a relatively easy/cheap DIY project. Not sure why you'd pay someone if money is a concern.

I've had mine for about five years in direct sunlight, and they still look the same.

I am not a huge fan of the film. Mainly for the reason that the screen stops the heat OUTSID of the house. . Whereas the film I have seen is in the inside pane. Your main goal here is to keep that heat outside so you are not paying to move it back outside with your ac.

I also used LoneStar and was happy. I know they are in many cities in tx. Ery easy to work with and the screens are still great 8 years later.

Screens are much more effective than film.

I just got a free estimate from Lone Star this past week. Total price quoted for 39 windows with grids on the front of the house and without elsewhere was $1800. Roughly $3 per square foot. I think I'm going to do the west and south facing windows now and maybe do the rest down the road.

[This message has been edited by joeaggie8888 (edited 6/10/2014 11:15p).]

Film worked great for us when we lived in SA, FWIW. The windows were in a place that wasn't very accessible from the outside though. I plan on using it again at our new place, but solar screens are very rare here.

I just closed on my house this week and can't wait to remove the screens. They're from the 90s thought so they're really dark and block a lot of light. I assume the newer ones aren't as dark?

The film didn't work for us at all. We pulled it off and put screens up 7 years ago and they haven't faded. Still in great condition.

I paid 2 - 3 buck per square foot. Depends on what kind of dividers you need.

It was not exactly cheap because of the ridiculous number of windows this house has. But well worth it many times over since.

I did it on my previous house, which was a 1950s house in central Austin with the original windows. I put screens on the windows with afternoon sun and blew in some more insulation in the attic. It made a big difference. Not sure what the payback was (or would have been had I stayed), but it was more comfortable in my house and that it worth a lot in the summer months. Before, my AC would always run and had trouble keeping the house cool in the hottest days of summer.

I did all of mine myself and am pleased with them.

Only negative is when it rains it creates a thin layer of water on the screen and you can't really see out of the window. I thought about spraying it with rainx. Anyone tried that?

Thanks all, ended up going with lone star and got 11- 3'x5' windows and one door for around $450 @ 90%. Their model is quite nice, the come and measure and show you samples and then you simply approve the estimate, then is about a week they install them (with or without you being home) and then you pay for them. Can't wait for installation. Went with their own "buffalo brown" color, half brown half black.

Wow, that is an amazing price. I guess I need to call them.

How well do these hold up to animal abuse? Our stupid cats like to get on the window sills outside and have stuck their claws through the basic screens. Also have had squirrel damage on one or two on the upstairs windows. I'm interested in the product, but don't want to replace every year because of rodents (I'll group the cats in this category too).

One more thing I like about the screens is that I can take them off in the winter and put them in the garage. Allows the sun to warm the house and also lets more light in when the days are shorter.

[This message has been edited by agnerd (edited 6/22/2014 6:08p).]

I just decided to go with Lone Star also. Doing the West and South facing windows, four 3'x7', two 3'x5', three 3'x6' and one 4'x5' window. Six of them are on the second floor. $450 total, $2.40 a square foot, installed and with a warranty as long as I live in the house. Seemed like a no brainer after reading reviews of how effective they are. I'll post again once they're installed