Phantom Motorized Screens for Outdoor Spaces: FAQ
What is a Motorized Retractable Screen?
Motorized screens are designed to cover openings in your home to offer protection from the elements, keeping pesky bugs, harsh sunlight, and more at bay.
Unlike a stationary permanent screen, motorized screens automatically retract into their housing, allowing them to roll up out of view when not in use. The screen’s motor is controlled with a remote, allowing one to be able to operate their screens from a distance.
Advantages
Convenience and Aesthetics
Retractable screens offer several distinct advantages over a traditional permanent screen fixture. For one, they do not take away from one’s home appearance at all. Since they retract, they are virtually unnoticeable until they are utilized, so one can rest assured that their home’s style and aesthetic is not impacted the way it may be with a permanent screen fixture. When open, motorized screens can accent and enhance your outdoor space with their various color and mesh options to perfectly suit your home’s aesthetic. Secondly, retractable screens provide easier navigation in and out of your home than a traditional screen — since they are only utilized when needed, and retracted in their housing when not, one can easily enter and leave their home from any point of your enclosed area with the screen retracted.
Lifespan
Because the screen retracts into its aluminum housing when not used, it is naturally covered from any natural elements whenever there is less-than pleasant weather, contributing to the extended lifespan of the mesh. During a hurricane or storm, permanent screen fixtures are extremely susceptible to damage from stray objects and thrown debris, or to getting blown away by the strong winds. When a retractable screen is in its housing, it is naturally protected from anything mother nature may throw at it, extending its potential lifetime well beyond that of a normal screen.
Why Choose Motorized Over Manual Retractable Screens?
Motorized screens are retractable by nature, so they offer all the advantages a retractable screen provides, but they also carry some additional benefits over typical retractable screens as well. Primarily, their motor allows a motorized screen to be extended and retracted without any physical effort exerted from the owner. At the push of a button, the motor handles extending the screen out to exactly the length the owner desires. This is especially beneficial when considering outdoor patio screens or other larger screen openings, as the bulky nature of the screen could make it difficult or awkward to operate manually.
Phantom’s Motorized screens are operated with a remote that is included with the purchase of a motorized unit, so that our customers can extend or retract their screens from a distance. We offer the option to upgrade your screen’s connectivity so that you may operate it via a connected app or home assistant such as Google, Alexa, Siri, and more with the Somfy Tahoma switch. Phantom’s Executive Outdoor Screens can either be operated with a remote control, a wall switch, or via the Somfy MyLink app. Some motorized screens are even able to react dynamically to various environmental conditions, retracting and extending automatically depending on factors such as the temperature or level of wind. With several means of operating the screens, from simple wall switches to full home automation, we have the perfect fit for your needs. This variety of control methods and flexibility in operation is one of the major reasons one may be interested in a motorized screen.
How Long Do Motorized Screens Last?
It is difficult to truly answer how long a motorized retractable screen can last as their lifetime can be affected by environmental factors beyond anyone’s control. However, a well-made screen that is installed properly can potentially last a lifetime — or, at the very least, several decades with the occasional service and required maintenance and upkeep.
Many screen manufacturers will offer a warranty with any screen sold that covers a variety of components in the screen for a specific length of time. This length of time will let you know of the level of confidence the manufacturer has in their screen’s lifetime; a manufacturer who offers a longer warranty period typically expects their screens to last for a while, and can stand behind their warranty confidently. For example, Phantom Screens offers a limited lifetime warranty with every screen sold, reflecting their confidence in their screen’s lifetime.
How Much Do Motorized Retractable Screens Cost?
The price of a screen varies depending on the size, color, selected mesh type, installation type and location, and other factors. While we can provide a ballpark estimate based on the size of the screen if you contact our office, we would need to come out to your residence for a free consultation so we can provide an accurate price based on your needs. From there, we can explain all screening options and their potential effect on the final price of the screen, so you can better understand what to expect and why your specific cost may be what it is.
Since every screen is custom-made and must be cut to the exact dimensions of the opening, you can expect a larger opening to reflect a larger initial cost for the screen. The type of frame or mount required for the opening will also have an effect on the price; an opening with a curved archway, for example, will likely necessitate increased costs to fit the screen to the dimensions required. Opting for a recessed mount (so as to have the screen’s housing embedded in the building’s structure itself) can also increase the final cost to the customer as these types of installations require more time, care, and materials than a typical surface-mounted installation.
Additionally, selecting a thicker mesh fabric will likely cause the final price of the screen to increase as more material is needed for the mesh; similarly, opting for a wood grain or custom color finish will raise the final cost. All in all, whether they are functional improvements or stylistic upgrades, most optional features can incur a higher price.
How Big Can Motorized Retractable Screens Be?
Phantom’s Executive motorized screens for patios can have a maximum size width of 30” (25 feet) by height of 192” (16 feet) and a minimum size of 48” (4 feet) wide by 96” (8 feet) high. For openings larger than that, Phantom’s Oversized Executive line starts at 312” (26 feet) wide by 96” (8 feet) high and maxes at 480” (40 feet) wide by 132” (11 feet) high. However, keep in mind that several factors may influence the max size of screen for any given opening, such as the type of guide system or whether you opt for a fabric mesh or vinyl. We recommend checking with your local screen distributor to ensure that their outdoor screens can match the opening you wish to cover.
What Customization Options Do You Offer?
Retractable screens are designed to accentuate and seamlessly integrate into your home’s design. With multiple colors options for the frame and aluminum housing, one’s motorized retractable screen highlights and compliments their home’s style with a design that fits their personal aesthetic. Phantom’s outdoor screens come in 10 distinct colors and 15 different wood grain finishes, meaning that no matter the style of one’s home, the screen can fit right in.
If you’d like to know more about the types of mesh we offer, check out our “All You Need To Know” series, where we give an in-depth explanation of each mesh type and their respective uses. All screening material types; Insect Mesh, Solar Mesh, Privacy Mesh, and Vinyl are covered.
What Materials Are Motorized Retractable Screens Made Of?
Phantom’s Phifer fabric meshes are created with a combination of fiberglass and marine-grade PVC vinyl, with the vinyl acting as a protective coating to further reinforce the fiberglass material. This ensures maximum durability while still keeping the cost relatively low for both the manufacturer and the customer. Beyond the mesh, most retractable screens are also constructed with aluminum which is used for the frame and mesh housing.
If you’re interested in an outdoor screen for your home’s patio, lanai, or other outdoor space, contact us today for a free estimate! Our Phantom outdoor screens come in a wide variety of colors, and include professional installation as well as a limited lifetime warranty.
