

Screens made from more durable mesh will cost more. Most solar screens by themselves range from $40 to $280 per window, or $160 on average, not including labor.

The costs for solar screen installation are broken down into materials and labor, with labor making up about 70% of the total price.
#EXTERIOR SOLAR WINDOW SCREENS INSTALL#
However, the more screens you install on your windows, the lower your per-square-foot costs.

#EXTERIOR SOLAR WINDOW SCREENS WINDOWS#
The cost of solar screens for windows is about $4 to $5 per square foot but could cost as much as $7.50 per square foot or more. This is because the base material for a high-end 14% screen is finer and higher-quality than that required for a functional, budget-friendly 1% screen. A basic 1% screen fabric costs up to 50% less than a fine, refined 12% fabric. The cost based on the openness factor is the reverse of solar blocking costs. A 5% openness value is popular because it offers a good compromise between light filtering and allows a homeowner to enjoy the view from their window. A 1% screen looks solid from the inside, while a 12% screen is super-fine, lets more light through, and hinders the view less. Unlike the solar blocking rating, the openness factor runs from 1% to 14%. The openness factor refers to the size of the holes in the mesh and the light filtering and privacy capabilities. A screen with 99% blocking capabilities can cost twice as much as one that only blocks 65% of the light and heat. The greater the percentage, the more material the screen uses, so the more it costs. You can get solar screen fabric as low as 65% or as high as 99%. However, it's favored in particularly hot climates. The other common option is 90% fabric, which is very effective at blocking heat and light, but some people find it too dark. This percentage is popular because it blocks enough heat to make most rooms tolerable without completely blocking light and the view from the window. In fact, 80% is the typical rating, meaning it blocks around 80% of the heat and glare that would normally make their way through the window. The higher the percentage, the more screen material there is, the smaller the holes in the mesh, and the more heat they block. Keep in mind that you'll see solar screen fabric with different percentages. The typical range is $2 to $8 per square foot, with lower-quality, thin, uncoated dark mesh priced at the lower end of this range and high-quality light, dense, PVC-coated mesh at the upper end of the range. Darker fabrics have a different aesthetic that some people love, but because they usually let more heat through, they cost less per square inch. In general, light screens reflect the most light and heat, making them more efficient and costly. The type and color of the material determine how much you'll pay for the screen fabric. An average window measuring 36 by 60 inches may cost as little as $55 for the materials, while a large window that’s 60 by 72 inches can cost $80 or more. The bigger your window type, the more solar screen material you need and the more you'll pay per window. Size is the other most influential cost factor. While installing a couple of screens can run you $100 per screen or more, having a whole home fitted can reduce the cost to between $50 and $70 per screen.

Many contractors have minimum job fees to make a call-out worth their time and to account for minimum labor hours, travel time, wear and tear on their vehicles and tools, and profit. Generally, the more windows you want screens installed on, the more you'll pay overall but the less you'll pay per screen. In colder climates and places with a higher cost of living, you could pay as much as $130 per screen due to a lack of competition, higher demand, and a higher cost of living. If you shop around, you'll find a better deal in states with more competition and a comparatively lower cost of living, with prices between $50 and $100 per screen. Where you live impacts the cost to install window screens. Several elements impact the cost to install solar screens, ranging from the size of your windows to the screening material you choose. Find hiring guides, material costs, expert advice, how-to's and more.
