Are Motorized Screens Worth It? What Homeowners Should Know Before Installing Them

# Are Motorized Screens Worth It? What Homeowners Should Know Before Installing Them

A covered outdoor living space can be one of the best additions you make to your home.

But covering the space doesn't necessarily solve everything.

Mosquitoes can still find you.

Late-afternoon sun can make an otherwise comfortable patio difficult to use.

Wind can carry leaves and debris into the space.

Sometimes you want more privacy.

And during cooler weather, you may want more separation from the outside environment without permanently enclosing the patio.

That's where motorized screens become interesting.

At Higher Ground Outdoor Living, we don't look at motorized screens as simply another upgrade to add to a project.

Like almost every feature in an outdoor living space, the right screen depends on what problem we're trying to solve.

For one homeowner, that's insects.

For another, it's afternoon sun.

For another, it's creating a more protected outdoor room around a television and furniture.

And sometimes it's all of those things.

So are motorized screens worth the investment?

For the right outdoor space, absolutely.

But there are several things homeowners should understand before deciding which system and screen material make sense.

What Is a Motorized Screen?

A motorized screen is essentially a retractable screen system designed to cover a large opening when needed and retract when it isn't.

Instead of permanently screening an opening, the screen can be lowered to create separation between the outdoor room and the surrounding environment.

When you want the space completely open again, raise it.

That's the feature I personally find most appealing.

If I were designing an outdoor living space for myself today, I would integrate motorized screens anywhere I wanted the ability to screen a large opening without permanently closing that opening off.

That's the fundamental advantage.

You get the screen when you want it.

And when you don't, you can open the space back up.

What Problems Can Motorized Screens Solve?

There isn't one answer.

Motorized screens can serve several different purposes depending on the screen material and the way the outdoor space is designed.

They can help with:

• Insect control

• Solar exposure and glare

• Privacy

• Wind-driven debris

• Creating more separation between the outdoor room and surrounding environment

• Making a covered space comfortable through a wider range of conditions

That flexibility is why we like thinking about screens as part of the overall outdoor living design rather than as an isolated accessory.

Motorized Screens for Insects

This is probably the most obvious application.

You build a beautiful covered patio.

You add comfortable furniture.

Maybe there's an outdoor kitchen and television.

Then the mosquitoes show up.

Traditional screening can solve that problem, but it also permanently changes the relationship between the patio and backyard.

Motorized insect screens give homeowners another option.

Lower the screens when insects are a problem.

Raise them when they're not.

That can be particularly valuable during the times of year when you want the outdoor room to feel completely connected to the backyard during the day but want more protection in the evening.

Motorized Screens for Sun and Shade

Not every screen is simply insect mesh.

Solar screen materials can help manage sunlight entering the space.

This can become particularly important on covered patios that receive strong sun from one side of the structure.

A roof may provide excellent overhead shade while doing very little about late-afternoon sun entering horizontally.

That sunlight can make seating uncomfortable, create glare on a television and add heat to the space.

A properly selected solar screen can help address that problem while maintaining the ability to retract the screen when those conditions aren't present.

Again, the advantage is control.

You don't have to design the outdoor room for one condition all day long.

What About Privacy?

Depending on the material selected, screens can also provide varying levels of visual privacy.

That's useful when an outdoor room faces a neighboring property or another area where the homeowner wants additional separation.

But screen selection matters.

A material designed primarily for insect control won't necessarily provide the same solar or privacy characteristics as another fabric.

That's why we don't think homeowners should simply ask:

“What motorized screen do you install?”

A better question is:

“What do I need the screen to accomplish?”

Then we can choose the material and system around that answer.

Insect, Solar and Clear Vinyl: What's the Difference?

Higher Ground can incorporate different screen materials depending on how the space needs to function.

Three broad categories homeowners may encounter are insect screen, solar screen and clear vinyl.

Insect Screens

Insect screening is intended primarily to create a barrier between the outdoor room and mosquitoes, flies and other insects while maintaining airflow and visibility.

For homeowners whose biggest complaint is simply, “We'd use this patio more if the bugs would leave us alone,” this may be the logical starting point.

Solar Screens

Solar fabrics are designed with sunlight and heat management in mind.

Depending on the specific material selected, they can reduce solar exposure and glare while providing varying degrees of visibility and privacy.

These can be particularly useful on outdoor rooms with strong western or southern exposure.

Clear Vinyl

Clear vinyl changes the objective again.

Rather than primarily screening insects or filtering sunlight, clear vinyl can create substantially more separation between the covered outdoor space and outside conditions while preserving visibility.

That can be useful when a homeowner wants to extend the comfort and usability of the space during cooler or less favorable weather.

But it's important to understand what we're creating.

A screened or vinyl-protected outdoor room is still an outdoor space.

It should not automatically be treated as though we've converted the patio into a conditioned interior room.

The actual capabilities and limitations depend on the specific system and material selected.

Where Do Motorized Screens Work Best?

Covered patios are an obvious application.

So are pergolas.

Outdoor kitchens, television areas and larger outdoor entertaining spaces can all benefit from them.

But there isn't one “best” application.

The real question is whether there are openings where the homeowner sometimes wants protection and sometimes wants openness.

If the answer is yes, a retractable system deserves consideration.

Large openings are where I think motorized screens become particularly compelling.

A permanent screen wall changes the space all the time.

A motorized screen gives you the ability to span that opening when needed and then make the screen disappear when you want the room completely open.

Should Motorized Screens Be Planned During Construction?

Yes, whenever possible.

This is one of those features that's much easier to incorporate when we know about it from the beginning.

If we're designing the outdoor living structure with motorized screens in mind, we can consider the screen housings, tracks, dimensions, electrical requirements and surrounding finishes as part of the original design.

That can create a cleaner finished installation.

It's similar to planning for lighting, fans, televisions or other integrated features.

It's much easier to make something look intentional when it actually was intentional.

Can Motorized Screens Be Added to an Existing Patio?

Usually there are options.

We frequently can find ways to integrate screens into existing outdoor spaces.

But retrofit conditions can limit what we're able to conceal or how seamlessly the system integrates with the existing structure.

Columns are already where they are.

Beams are already sized and finished.

Electrical may not be where we need it.

Existing trim and architectural details may have to be accommodated.

None of that automatically prevents a motorized screen installation.

It simply means we have fewer opportunities to design the structure around the screen.

If you're already planning a new covered patio or pergola and think there's even a reasonable chance you'll want motorized screens, bring that up during design.

You don't necessarily have to install them immediately.

But planning for them can make future installation much easier.

What Happens When It's Windy?

This is an important question because these screens are installed outdoors.

The systems Higher Ground selects for outdoor applications are designed to operate in exterior environments and can be engineered to tolerate wind within the particular system's specifications.

But that doesn't mean every screen should be described as indestructible or “windproof.”

Wind performance varies by manufacturer, system, opening size, screen material, installation and other conditions.

Homeowners should understand and follow the operating requirements and wind limitations of the particular system installed on their home.

That's another reason proper product selection matters.

We're not simply choosing a fabric.

We're selecting a complete system for a specific opening and application.

Can Leaving the Screens Down Help Keep the Patio Cleaner?

It can help.

One benefit homeowners don't always think about initially is the ability of lowered screens to reduce some of the leaves and wind-driven debris entering a protected outdoor space.

If you've invested in furniture, an outdoor kitchen, television and other features, creating an additional barrier around the room can help reduce direct exposure to some outdoor debris.

That doesn't mean you never have to clean the patio again.

It's still outside.

But screens can provide another layer of separation between the living area and the environment around it.

Are Motorized Screens Expensive?

Motorized screens are a premium outdoor-living feature.

The actual investment depends on the size and number of openings, screen material, motorization, controls, installation conditions and the particular system selected.

Interestingly, in our experience, we don't typically see the same level of sticker shock with motorized screens that we sometimes see with larger features such as motorized pergolas.

Part of that may be because homeowners can immediately understand what the screens are doing for the space.

They can see the large opening.

They understand the mosquito problem.

They know where the afternoon sun comes from.

And they can picture pressing a button and lowering a screen when they need it.

That makes the value proposition relatively easy to understand.

Are Motorized Screens Worth Adding to a Pergola?

They can be an excellent complement to the right pergola or covered outdoor structure.

The pergola addresses what's happening overhead.

The screens address what's happening around the sides.

Together, those systems can give homeowners considerably more control over the outdoor environment.

That doesn't mean every pergola needs screens.

If the homeowner doesn't have an insect, solar, privacy or weather-exposure problem to solve, there may be better places to invest the project budget.

But if the objective is creating an outdoor room that can adapt to changing conditions, screens deserve to be part of the conversation.

Motorized Screens and Outdoor TVs

If a television is part of the outdoor living plan, screen selection becomes particularly interesting.

Sunlight and glare can have a significant effect on the viewing experience.

Depending on the orientation of the structure and the screen material selected, a solar screen can help manage some of that light.

Again, this is why we prefer designing all these features together.

Where does the television go?

Where does the afternoon sun come from?

Where will people sit?

Which openings need screens?

Where do the screen housings and tracks go?

Where does the electrical need to be?

When those decisions happen together, the finished outdoor room usually makes much more sense.

Motorized Screens Are About Flexibility

This is ultimately why I would incorporate motorized screens into my own outdoor living space.

I wouldn't necessarily want every opening permanently screened.

Part of what makes an outdoor room enjoyable is the ability to open it completely to the backyard.

But there are also times when I'd want protection.

That's where the motorized system makes sense.

Screen it when you need it.

Open it when you don't.

The outdoor space doesn't have to permanently choose between being enclosed and being open.

It can do both.

Frequently Asked Questions About Motorized Screens

Are motorized screens worth the money?

For homeowners who have a specific problem to solve—such as insects, sun, privacy or exposure around a covered outdoor space—they can provide significant value.

The key is choosing the screen material and system based on what you actually want it to accomplish.

Can motorized screens be installed on an existing covered patio?

Often, yes.

Existing structures can frequently be retrofitted for motorized screens, although the existing columns, beams, electrical and finishes can affect how the system is integrated.

Planning for screens during new construction generally gives the designer and installer more options.

Do motorized screens block mosquitoes?

Insect screen materials are specifically intended to provide a barrier against insects while maintaining airflow and visibility.

Performance depends on the complete installation, including the screen, tracks, surrounding structure and other openings.

Can motorized screens handle wind?

Outdoor motorized screen systems can be designed for wind exposure, but allowable conditions vary by system, material, opening size and manufacturer.

Homeowners should follow the specific operating and wind guidelines for the system installed on their property rather than assuming any retractable screen is universally windproof.

What's the difference between insect screen and solar screen?

Insect screening primarily focuses on keeping insects out while maintaining airflow.

Solar fabrics are selected to manage sunlight, glare and solar exposure and can also provide varying degrees of privacy.

The correct material depends on the problem the homeowner is trying to solve.

Can clear vinyl be used with a motorized screen system?

Certain retractable systems can incorporate clear vinyl materials intended to provide more separation from outdoor conditions while maintaining visibility.

Compatibility, operating conditions and temperature limitations depend on the particular system and material, so those specifications should be evaluated during product selection.

Should I install motorized screens when I build my covered patio?

If you already know you want them, integrating them during the original design is generally the best approach.

It allows the structure, openings, electrical, tracks, housings and finishes to be coordinated before construction.

Even if you're not ready to purchase the screens immediately, discussing future screens during design can make adding them later much easier.

Design the Outdoor Room for More Than Perfect Weather

It's easy to design an outdoor living space for the perfect Saturday afternoon.

The temperature is comfortable.

There are no mosquitoes.

The sun isn't in your eyes.

There's no wind.

Nothing is blowing across the patio.

But that's not every day in North Carolina.

The more useful question is:

How do we make the space work when conditions aren't perfect?

Motorized screens are one tool that can help.

Lower an insect screen when mosquitoes become a problem.

Use the appropriate solar material where sunlight and glare need to be managed.

Consider clear vinyl when the objective is greater separation from cooler or less favorable outdoor conditions.

Then raise the system when you want the outdoor room completely open again.

That's what makes motorized screens compelling.

They don't have to permanently change the character of the space.

They allow the space to change with you.

At Higher Ground Outdoor Living, we design outdoor spaces by first understanding how the homeowner wants to use them. If motorized screens solve a meaningful problem within that design, we'll help determine the appropriate system, material and integration for the project.

Ready to make your covered outdoor space more usable? Schedule a consultation with Higher Ground Outdoor Living.