Lanai Screens part 2.
 

Thanks for all the great suggestions for companies that provide power shades. Being new to the villages I got a bit of sticker shock. Power screens cost more than a glass enclosure.

My second thought, has anyone simply replaced their current or original screen with the 1% or 3% solar screen?

If so, how do you like it? Is it too dark? Does it keep the rain out?

Thanks in advance for your replies. Bryan

Our birdcage has 75% sun reduction in the roof panels, send me a pm if you would like to see

Can acrylics (rather than glass) be added to the screens to keep the rain out ?

A house we rented in January near Disney, one end of the screen lanai, had a perfectly fitted very thin plexiglass covering the entire screen. Took a minute to figure out there were very strong magnets (livestock/cow magnets) inside and outside keeping the plexiglass in place. The look was similar to a enclosure.

Keeping the rain/wind out, kept the lanai toasty during cool weather then our guess was removing during warm conditions.

Second house we rented near Disney had aluminum decorative panels multi track barn door style, sliding open, partially, or closed. Stacked at either end when open, similar to the stacking lanai windows in TV. Giving complete privacy, keeping most of the rain out, with a very different look. Reminded us of panels used for trellis but much more detailed. Not sure who installed, we left a note for rental company, but got no response.

Lowes sells a product I think called 'florida glass' it is a clear vinyl with screen material imbedded, and it is waterproof. I installed a few panels in an area where we were constantly getting rain and irrigation water, and this solved the problem. NOTE you need to get the correct spline as this material is a lot thicker than conventional screening.
Also, I have almost a whole roll left over, will see for half price.

That's a great idea, thanks for sharing.

I forget how to DM but a pic of the 75% and the florida glass would be helpful. Thanks

Click on my name and select private message on the drop down menu, send me your email and I will send pictures, note you cannot send photos on this site in a PM. If I get a chance I will post an additional reply to this thread with the installed panels and the product from Lowe's.

Sticker shock indeed! We went down the middle- power shades would have equated to 8 motors- and the cost could not be justified for us. We didn’t want pull chains either- so we ordered from Budget Blinds they have a product they call a cordless lift. Touch the bottom of the screen when it’s pulled down and it will lift on its own, same concept lowering the shades. 1% =99% solar protection fabric. Less than half the cost of motorized.

Power Shades in Lanui
 

We got ours by Shade Masters off str 44 great deal power helps block sun but allows you to see our has strong winds up to 60 mile without damaging shades warrant is 20 yrs last a long time we already got the garage screen 5 yrs ago love it.

I don’t understand how a shade can rise and lower on its own with just a touch if it’s not motorized? I feel dumb, but want to understand because we need shades on our glassed-in lanai to block morning sun but so far all quotes have been ridiculous, plus we’d need four indoor shades with four remotes because lanai width is 38 ft.

Maybe similar to cord less window shades. To raise our blinds, I use both palm and push up, thumb and fingers to pull down. One drawback is sometimes it takes a second to make them perfectly straight. No effort to raise or lower. Our front bedroom window is the longest width @ 81”. My guess is same concept or maybe a spring action like the old roller shades.

Our lanai faces Northeast, so we were thinking shades for rain. Quote for outdoor motorized shades was $18,000, because of the expanse between pillars and 10’ walls.

They made it sound like you just touch it and it goes up on its own. Same with lowering. Maybe I misunderstood.

Our quote for motorized outdoor shades, and alternatively indoor shades was about the same. $6K-ish. It’s just a lot after spending $15K on glassing in the lanai, and another $8K or so on two minisplits. Especially since we don’t need the shades for privacy since we have a fenced-in yard. We just need to block the morning sun for temperature control during the hottest months. The sun heats up our lanai so much in the morning that the minisplits are working overtime the rest of the day to cool it back down.

Have you looked into a retractable awning, neighbors put one on the outside wall of their lanai. Has a remote control to open and close, height adjustment so you can walk under it, and vibration sensor to automatically close it during high wind.

Awnings are just as pricey as the motorized shades. We got a quote and were shocked. Nothing is cheap anymore, lol.