Hiring a solar screen company: compare measuring, fit and support

Name the service before comparing the provider

If you already have screens, decide whether your concern is dirt, damaged mesh, a bent frame or the amount of shade. A cleaning proposal is not a replacement proposal, and a new mesh choice does not establish that an old frame or attachment is sound. For new screens, identify the rooms and openings rather than requesting an unexplained whole-house quantity. Ask each provider which parts of the work it performs and what it would refer elsewhere. That gives you a comparable starting point before evaluating samples or asking about installation timing.

Evaluate a physical sample

Ask every bidder to show a mesh sample or a sample panel from both sides of a problem window. Compare daylight, outward visibility, privacy after dark, color against the facade and whether the screen blocks an operable window. Ask for a product specification rather than a universal “blocks X percent of heat” slogan. Solar heat gain and visible transmission are different measures, and actual room comfort depends on the whole window and exposure.

Make installation details visible in the quote

• Which openings were measured, and what are the exact frame, mesh and color choices for each?
• How are the screens held in place, and can they be removed for window cleaning or repair?
• Who handles unusual shapes, French doors, sliding doors or windows behind landscaping?
• What material and workmanship warranties apply, and what is excluded for wind or handling damage?
• Does the quote include washing old screens, disposal, reinstallation or only fabrication of new units?

The current Texas Window Washing solar page says it offers washing, removal/reinstallation and custom fabrication/installation of solar screens. That is a company service claim. Ask any provider, including this one, to itemize which of those tasks will actually be performed at your home rather than treating all “solar screen work” as one package.

Ask for the named product behind a performance claim

If a bidder describes a heat-blocking or shade percentage, ask for the product specification and what that figure measures. Solar heat gain, visible light and an actual household bill are different things. San Antonio heat makes shade worth considering, but a citywide weather statistic cannot calculate your savings. The Department of Energy describes exterior shading as one approach to reducing solar heat gain; the benefit still depends on the existing windows and exposure. A useful installer identifies the material and explains the tradeoff instead of converting a mesh label into a guaranteed bill reduction.

Compare providers fairly

Use the same window list and priorities for each bid. The FTC recommends written estimates and critical review of references and ratings. Ask installers for recent local work with similar windows and for a sample that can be evaluated in your own room. If one proposal includes only mesh panels and another includes measuring, custom frames and removal of old units, the totals are not directly comparable.

Tie fabrication to an approved opening list

Ask for a labeled window schedule showing which openings will receive new units, which existing units remain, and any unusual shape or door. The installer should confirm the final measurements and identify the selected mesh, frame color and mounting approach. Ask what happens if a fabricated unit does not fit the approved opening. This is different from choosing the darkest sample: it establishes responsibility for delivering the measured product you ordered. If a window behind planting is not accessible for measurement, the proposal should acknowledge that uncertainty rather than silently treating it as a standard opening.

Demonstrate fit and removal at completion

Have the installer match each installed unit to the opening list and demonstrate the agreed release method on an accessible panel. Check any promised window operation and review the care instructions. Ask who handles a loose attachment, damaged frame or replacement mesh after the original visit, and keep product information with that contact. If someone else will later clean the windows, pass along the removal guidance. Support matters most when a panel needs attention after the sales visit, so compare that route while choosing a company rather than discovering it when an attachment becomes difficult to use.