MOTORIZED PATIO SCREENS
Comfort starts with the right screen fabric.
Keep insects away from the dinner table, soften afternoon sun, or create a more private patio. Your fabric choice determines how your motorized screens work—and how your outdoor space feels.
Motorized screens in action
Real projects, with the screens moving from an open patio to a more sheltered space.
Motorized screen fabric options
FRESH AIR & EVERYDAY INSECTS
Standard bug screen
For patios where mosquitoes and flies are the main concern, an open insect mesh keeps the space connected to the outdoors. Choose this when airflow and the view matter more than strong shade or privacy.
Best fit: Breezy porches and covered patios with ordinary insect activity.
SHADE WITH A MORE OPEN FEEL
Textilene 80
Reduces solar glare and screens up to 80% of the sun’s rays, according to Twitchell. It suits patios where you want shade while keeping a more open view and good airflow.
Best fit: Everyday patio shade where the view remains a priority.
DENSE SHADE & DAYTIME PRIVACY
Textilene 95 / Nano 95
For stronger sun control and greater daytime privacy, consider the 95-grade fabric. Twitchell’s Nano 95 screens up to 95% of the sun’s harmful rays and uses a lighter, finer construction than original Textilene 95.
Best fit: Seating areas facing strong sun or nearby neighbors.
PRIVACY & REDUCED LIGHT
Textilene Dim Out
A tightly woven, canvas-like fabric that provides privacy without total darkness. Its water-resistant construction is useful where a more enclosed feel is preferred. Choose it when an open view through the screen is less important.
Best fit: Privacy-focused patio openings and spaces needing reduced light.
TINY INSECTS
Textilene Nano 70 · No-see-ums
A finer weave designed for very small insects, including no-see-ums. Nano 70 adds sun screening while retaining airflow and outward visibility. It is a useful starting point for patios near water where tiny biting insects are a concern.
Best fit: Outdoor dining and seating areas that need finer insect screening.
STRONGER SUN SCREENING
Textilene 90
Screens up to 90% of the sun’s rays, according to Twitchell. Choose it when direct sun and glare call for more coverage than Textilene 80. Expect a more screened-in feel with less airflow and openness.
Best fit: Exposed patio openings and afternoon glare.
A MORE ENCLOSED MESH OPTION
Textilene Nano 97
A denser option for substantial sun control and daytime privacy. Twitchell rates its airflow and outward transparency below Nano 95, making it a better fit when coverage matters more than an open, breezy feel.
Best fit: Patio openings where shade and screening are the main priorities.
WEATHER BARRIER WITH A CLEAR VIEW
Clear vinyl
A transparent enclosure material for preserving the view while helping shelter a covered patio from wind and rain. Unlike woven mesh, solid vinyl does not let a breeze pass through the panel and is not the first choice for shade or privacy.
Best fit: Seasonal patio shelter where a clear view matters.
La Costa Fabrics
Textilene 80/90
Textilene 95/97
La Costa Housing
More ways to enjoy your outdoor space
Seasonal patio comfort
Match your screens to the way you use your covered patio. Insect mesh welcomes fresh air during warm evenings, solar fabrics soften direct sun, and compatible clear-vinyl panels can add shelter during cooler, wetter weather.
Shade and weather shelter
Solar mesh helps reduce glare as the sun reaches your patio. When wind and rain are the bigger concern, discuss a compatible clear-vinyl enclosure. Protection depends on the material, installation, and the system’s operating limits.
Do the fabric numbers mean that much heat is blocked?
No. Fabric names and sun-screening percentages are not a promise of an equal reduction in patio temperature or heat. Color, weave, sun angle, and the opening’s exposure affect the result. Compare the specification for the exact fabric and color.
Can screens turn my patio into a four-season room?
Mesh offers insect protection and varying levels of shade and shelter. Clear vinyl can provide a stronger barrier against wind and rain, but neither option makes a patio an insulated, fully weatherproof room. The roof, panel edges, ventilation, and system’s operating limits still matter.
Privacy where you need it
Screen the opening facing a neighboring home or busy walkway. Dense mesh can improve daytime privacy while retaining a filtered view. For greater visual separation, compare Dim Out and check samples under your evening lighting.
Outdoor dining with fewer insects
Lower your screens around a covered dining or seating area when insects become a nuisance. Choose standard mesh for common insects or Nano 70 for no-see-ums, with attention to the fit at the sides and bottom.
Will mesh give me privacy at night?
Daytime privacy depends on lighting and fabric selection. When your patio is brighter than the outdoors, people may be able to look through mesh. For evening privacy, compare denser materials and samples under your actual lighting.
Does any mesh keep out every insect?
The weave must suit the insects you want to exclude. Small insects call for finer screening, and protection also depends on how the screen closes around its sides and bottom.
Find the right fabric for your patio.
Tell us which opening gets the most sun, when you use your patio, and whether insects or privacy are your biggest concern. AB Construction LLC can help you compare fabric options for your outdoor space.
Request a motorized screen consultation · (503) 830-7644