Walls that disappear.
Motorized screens turn an open structure into an enclosed room and back again, on a switch. Down, they hold out insects, sun and wind-driven rain. Up, they vanish into a concealed header and the space is open again.
We install motorized systems only. There is no manual or hand-crank option. If you are looking for a pull-down screen, we are not the right call, and we would rather you knew that now than after a phone call.
Screens are priced by the opening.
Each opening is its own unit: its own motor, its own track, measured and built for that span. So the project cost is simply how many sides you want to close.
Spans and wind exposure move the per-opening figure. A 24-foot run costs more than an 8-foot one.
Keder, not zipper.
Almost every retractable screen failure is the same failure: the screen comes out of its track. Zipper-edge systems are the common culprit. They jam, the teeth break, and in a gust the screen blows out.
A fabric zipper in an open channel. Cheaper to make, and the most common failure point in the category.
A polymer cord seated in a closed chamber, adapted from sailboat masts in 2007. It stays in under load.
We install Fenetex as an authorized installer, and the Keder track is the reason.
What the system is rated to.
- Five-year warranty on the motors. Quiet Spring drive, spring-balanced and close to silent.
- Obstacle detection. The motor halts downward travel if the screen meets resistance from a chair, a pet or a child.
- Blocks 90%+ of UV, which is what makes a west-facing space usable in the afternoon.
- Remote, app and smart-home control. Each opening is an independent unit with its own motor, so they run individually or together.
- Made in the USA, custom-built per opening. Nothing here is off-the-shelf sizing.
The track is the same. The mesh is the decision.
Every opening runs the same hardware. What changes is the mesh, chosen per opening. A west-facing side can take solar while the view side stays insect.
| Insect | Open weave. Maximum airflow and the clearest view. Keeps bugs out and nothing else. |
|---|---|
| Solar | Tighter weave that cuts glare and heat. The choice for a west or south exposure. |
| Privacy | Denser still. Screens the space from a neighbouring lot or a road. |
| Clear vinyl | Not mesh at all. Holds heat in, so the space works in March and November. |
Fenetex screens block 90%+ of UV. Which mesh suits which opening is part of what the site visit is for. Orientation and sightlines decide it, not a catalogue.
Screens are the third wall.
Paired with a roof, they turn a covered structure into a room you use in May and October, not just July.
- Louvered pergola sides. The most common pairing. Roof above, screens sideways. See louvered pergolas.
- Covered patios and pavilions. Enclosing a roofed space is the cheapest square footage you will ever add.
- Under-deck rooms. Pairs with under-deck waterproofing.
- Commercial and hospitality. Restaurant patios, where the spec runs to fire ratings and stamped calculations. See screens & enclosures for our commercial work.
Mounting needs solid structure at the header and both side tracks, which is a design-phase decision rather than an installation-day one.
What people ask us.
How much do motorized screens cost?
$5,000 to $7,000 per opening installed, moving with span and wind exposure. A typical three-to-six opening project lands between $15,000 and $45,000.
Do you offer manual screens?
No, motorized only. The Keder track and spring-balanced drive are what make the system reliable, and there is no hand-cranked version of it.
Will they survive a Chicago winter?
Yes. The residential screens are tested past 100 MPH and retract into a concealed header when not in use, which is where we recommend leaving them through winter.
Can they be added to a structure I already have?
Often, provided there is solid structure at the header and both sides to mount to. First thing we check.
Full pricing detail is in the retractable screen cost guide.
Send us the openings.
Rough width and height for each opening is enough to start. We will come back with what the system costs and what it needs to mount to, and you will hear from us directly rather than a call centre.
Book a Discovery CallRather just talk? Book a free 15-minute call, or call (630) 354-8887.
More in screens & enclosures: screens & enclosures · screen cost guide · louvered pergolas
Serving Naperville, Hinsdale, St. Charles and the western suburbs.
