Front window solar screens, do we need them for all front windows?

When considering the exterior appearance of any home, I highly recommend that homeowners install solar screens on all windows, especially the front windows. Without these screens, the house can come across as lacking a polished finish, leaving a sense of incompleteness. Solar screens not only enhance the aesthetic appeal but also offer shading functionality by reducing glare and heat from the sun.

In this article, I share a range of compelling examples, showcasing various styles and colors of solar screens that can complement different architectural designs, making your home not only more energy-efficient but also visually appealing.

Home where the front window is missing a solar screen, but most other windows have them.

The installation process involved a recommendation for sun-shade screens on the homeowner's left-side windows. Initially, the homeowners were considering installing screens on just two of these windows, but after discussing the benefits, I encouraged them to cover all three. They agreed to install a screen on one of the left-side windows based on this advice.

However, they decided against adding a screen under the patio area next to the front door. It looks odd to me not to have that front window shaded. How about you, how does it look to you?

In the case of this same home, the homeowner made a deliberate choice to install sunshade screens only on two of the rear windows. I would have appreciated seeing solar screens added to the patio door and the large window next to it. Given the relatively low expense involved, the inclusion of these screens would not have posed a financial burden. Use my quick ballpark cost estimator to get an idea of cost. Instead, they could have significantly enhanced the aesthetic appeal of the home, creating a more cohesive and polished look while also providing additional comfort from the sun’s glare. Additionally, by choosing my solar screens, they could have effectively replaced the need for standard window screens, offering both functionality and style.

The right side of this home, facing west, features solar window screens installed on all three windows, effectively blocking 90% of the sun's intense rays. This strategic choice ensures optimal energy efficiency and creates a cool, comfortable environment inside, protecting the interior from the harsh afternoon light. Something interior shades will not do. Outdoor window shades keep the windows from getting hot.

See what it looks like to have front arched window solar screens missing.

Occasionally, homeowners express their lack of interest regarding the installation of solar screens on the front arched dormer windows. They tell me that the arched dormer windows do not need them because they do not feed into the living area. I feel the opposite. I feel like they need them for the front of the home to look good. To illustrate this point, I have provided two images here that effectively demonstrate the visual outcome of omitting these screens. I invite you to consider these images carefully. Do you perceive the overall appearance as incomplete? Do the facades of these homes exude a sense of cohesion, or do they seem lacking in a critical element that a complete solar screen installation would provide?

This was a weird one for me. The homeowner explicitly stated that they considered it unnecessary to cover the 1/2 circle arched windows, as they had installed shades directly behind them. However, I find this arrangement visually unappealing, as the stark contrast between the exposed arched windows and the windows covered with solar screens to be an imbalance in the overall appearance. I believe that proper coverage would have enhanced the aesthetic coherence of the front of this home.

Here are some examples of homes that lack solar screens on their front entrance windows.

This home is a fine example of what it looks like not to cover any of the windows around the front entrance.

The home below is quite beautiful, but it lacks shading on the windows above the front door. I would have preferred to see the windows on the second and third floors covered as well.

I don't know what to say about the next one. Why would you not put a sun window screen on that arch over the front door? Does it not look odd?

IDK, I have done apartment outside window solar shade installations where I would leave solar screens off of windows to the front entrance of the buildings, but those were hall-way entrances you couldn't see very well. Generally hidden behind stairwells. For single-family residential, the front of the home is very obvious.