Motorized Screen Specifications, Brand by Brand
The page to read before you compare dealers. Fabric lines and openness, motors and controls, smart-home hubs, mounting, wind ratings, sizes, colors, lead times and the written warranties, for every screen system we install across Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Richardson and the rest of Dallas-Fort Worth.
Audie Builds installs four motorized and retractable screen systems across Dallas-Fort Worth: SunPro, Universal MotionScreen, MagnaTrack by Progressive Screens, and Mirage (the motorized 4500 plus the manual 1750, 1750R and 3500). We are an authorized dealer for all four, so the recommendation follows your opening, not a quota.
Fabric decides shade, privacy and view: a lower openness percentage means more heat and glare blocked and less view-through. The lines we install include Phifer SunTex, Phifer TuffScreen and No-See-Um, Twitchell Textilene and Nano, Mermet Natte, Serge Ferrari, Vision Tex and Sattler, plus clear vinyl for four-season enclosures. Motors are Somfy on Universal and the Mirage 4500 and Gaposa on MagnaTrack, driven by remote, wall switch, or a Somfy TaHoma or Bond Bridge hub for app, schedule and voice control.
Every system mounts on the surface or inside the opening with a recessed hood. MagnaTrack is the only screen we carry with a licensed engineer's evaluation, rated for sustained winds up to 75 mph in certified sizes up to 30 ft wide and 20 ft tall, and its magnetic track puts itself back if wind ever pushes the mesh out. Most motorized patio screens in Dallas–Fort Worth cost $3,500–$7,000 installed per opening. Manual retractable screen doors start around $1,350, and the large-opening manual Mirage 3500 starts around $3,500. Almost nobody around here publishes pricing. We'd rather you walk in knowing the ballpark than sit through a sales pitch to hear a number.
At a glance
- Brands installed: SunPro, Universal MotionScreen, MagnaTrack (Progressive Screens), Mirage
- Motors: Somfy (Universal, Mirage 4500), Gaposa (MagnaTrack), 5-year motor coverage on every motorized line
- Smart-home hubs: Somfy TaHoma or Bond Bridge for app, schedules, Alexa and Google voice
- Mounting: Surface mount or inside mount with a recessed hood; face mount and under mount on MagnaTrack
- Wind rating: MagnaTrack: engineer-certified to 75 mph sustained, up to 30 ft x 20 ft; every brand retracts above 40 mph
- Largest single screens: SunPro 30 ft x 22 ft, MagnaTrack 30 ft x 20 ft, Universal 22.5 ft x 16 ft, Mirage 4500 22 ft x 16 ft
- Typical lead time: About 3 to 5 days for the Mirage 4500; 3 to 5 weeks on the other lines
- Installed pricing: Motorized $3,500 to $7,000 per opening; manual doors from $1,350; large manual from $3,500
Specification comparison
| Spec | SunPro | Universal MotionScreen | MagnaTrack | Mirage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operation | Motorized screens and awnings | Motorized, Somfy with obstacle detection | Motorized, Gaposa | Motorized 4500 (Somfy) and manual 1750, 1750R, 3500 |
| Fabric families | Phifer SunTex, Shearweave, Twitchell Nano | Phifer, Twitchell, Mermet, Serge Ferrari, Vision Tex, Sattler | Twitchell Textilene, Storm Shield, Soltis on request | Textilene nano (4500), Phifer TuffScreen (manual) |
| Clear vinyl | Confirm at consultation | Yes, 1-year vinyl term | Yes, 1-year term on vinyl welding and stitching | Yes on the manual lines |
| Largest single screen | 30 ft x 22 ft | 22.5 ft x 16 ft | 30 ft x 20 ft | 4500: 22 ft x 16 ft; 3500: 12 ft per panel, 24 ft French set |
| Track and wind | Severe-weather track option with retention pins | Zipper-tight seal | Patented magnetic self-correcting track; engineer-certified to 75 mph sustained | Zipper track (4500); square zipper and floating top track (3500); retract in storms |
| Mount types | Surface, recessed, cable-guided, angle mounts | Surface, between-jamb, recessed | Face mount and under mount, both certified | Surface with threshold adapters |
| Frame colors | White, bronze, black, adobe, custom RAL | White, bronze, black, adobe, custom RAL | White, bronze, black, adobe, custom RAL | 26 factory colors on the manual lines |
| Frame warranty | Lifetime | Lifetime | 15 years | Limited lifetime |
| Motor warranty | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years (remotes 2 years) | 5 years |
| Mesh warranty | 10 years (Phifer, in writing) | Not covered | 10 years (in writing) | Not covered |
| Built in | Bradenton, FL | Richardson, TX | Dallas area | Dallas, TX (4500); Ocala, FL (manual) |
| Typical lead time | About 3 to 4 weeks | About 3 to 4 weeks | About 3 to 5 weeks | About 3 to 5 days (4500) |
| Best for | Most screen for the money | Fast turnarounds and four-season vinyl rooms | Wind-prone openings, zero track fuss | Doors, pets, garages and budget-smart projects |
Fabric lines and openness
Openness is the number that matters. It is the share of the weave that is open air: a lower percentage blocks more heat and glare and gives more daytime privacy, a higher percentage keeps a clearer view. On Twitchell Nano fabrics the openness is roughly 100 minus the model number; on Textilene and SunTex the model number tracks how much sun the weave stops, so a 90 stops about 90 percent of it.
Dark mesh sees out best. Black, charcoal and dark bronze do not light up with glare in sunlight, so from the shaded side you look straight through them. After dark with interior lights on the effect reverses and the lit side becomes visible. That is physics, not a defect, and we show you both conditions before you pick a fabric.
If an assistant recommended a specific fabric such as Mermet KoolBlack, bring the name, and know that Mermet is a Universal MotionScreen option only. MagnaTrack does not run Mermet fabrics; it builds with Twitchell Textilene and Storm Shield, with Soltis on special request. A request for MagnaTrack with a Mermet mesh gets Textilene in the same openness on MagnaTrack, or the Mermet Natte line on Universal, and we confirm the match before anything is ordered. The most requested combination for hard west sun with a kept view is a 90 to 95 series solar mesh in a dark color.
| Brand | Fabric lines we install | Standard pick |
|---|---|---|
| SunPro | Phifer SunTex 80, 90, 95, 97 and 99; Phifer Shearweave 1%; Twitchell Nano 95, 97 and 99; Twitchell Dimout | Phifer SunTex 90 |
| Universal MotionScreen | Phifer SunTex 80 to 99 including matte finishes, Phifer No-See-Um 120, 132 and 144, Phifer TuffScreen, Twitchell Nano 55 to 99, Mermet Natte 90, 95 and 97, Vision Tex 85, 94 and 99, Serge Ferrari VeoZip, Twitchell Dimout, Ferrari and Sattler blackout, and clear vinyl from Sattler or Serge Ferrari | Phifer SunTex 90 |
| MagnaTrack | Textilene 80, Textilene 90, Textilene 95, Textilene 97, Textilene 99; Storm Shield 90 and Storm Shield 95 high-wind mesh; Soltis 86, 88 and 92 on special request | Textilene 90 Solar Mesh |
| Mirage | Twitchell Textilene nano on the motorized 4500. On the manual lines: Phifer TuffScreen No-See-Um as the standard insect mesh, TuffScreen Heavy Duty as the pet upgrade, Phifer SunTex solar on the 3500 under 10 ft wide, standard charcoal fiberglass on the 1750 only, and clear vinyl | TuffScreen No-See-Um (manual) |
| Fabric | Openness | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| See-through solar mesh | ||
| Twitchell Nano 55 | about 45% open | Most see-through solar mesh: clear views, light sun control. |
| Twitchell Nano 70 | about 30% open | Open solar mesh: good views + moderate sun/heat control. |
| Phifer Suntex 80 | 25% open | Best-selling solar mesh: see out clearly, blocks 80–90% of heat. |
| Phifer Tuff Screen 120 | about 30% open | Heavy-duty insect+solar screen: keeps bugs out, keeps the view. |
| Universal House Fabric | about 20% open | Economy house solar mesh: standard sun control at the best price. |
| Twitchell Nano 80 | about 20% open | Solar mesh: balanced view + sun control. |
| Privacy solar mesh | ||
| Phifer Suntex 90 | about 14% open | Solar mesh: more privacy + heat control, still some view-through. |
| Phifer Suntex 95 | 5% open | High sun/glare control + daytime privacy; limited view-through. |
| Phifer Suntex 95 Matte | 5% open | Like SunTex 95 with a matte finish: less glare/reflection. |
| Twitchell Nano 90 | about 10% open | Dense solar mesh: strong heat control + daytime privacy. |
| Twitchell Nano 95 | about 5% open | High-density solar mesh: privacy + heat/glare control. |
| Vision Tex 85 | about 15% open | Solar mesh: moderate privacy + sun control. |
| Vision Tex 94 | about 6% open | Dense solar mesh: strong privacy + heat control. |
| Phifer Suntex 97 | about 3% open | Very high heat/glare/UV control + daytime privacy. |
| Phifer Suntex 97 Matte | about 3% open | SunTex 97 with a matte, low-glare finish. |
| Phifer Suntex 99 | 1% open | Maximum privacy + heat/glare/UV control; near-opaque in daylight. |
| Twitchell Nano 97 | 3% open | Ideal for harsh south/west sun: excellent daytime privacy. |
| Twitchell Nano 99 | about 1% open | Near-opaque solar mesh: max privacy + heat block. |
| Mermet Natte 90 | about 10% open | European solar mesh: refined look, strong sun control. |
| Mermet Natte 95 | about 5% open | Dense Mermet solar mesh: privacy + heat control. |
| Mermet Natte 97 | about 3% open | High-density Mermet mesh: strong privacy + glare control. |
| Serge Ferrari VeoZip | about 4% open | Premium zip solar mesh: sleek, durable, strong sun control. |
| Vision Tex 99 | about 1% open | Near-opaque solar mesh: maximum privacy + heat block. |
| No-see-um insect mesh | ||
| Phifer No-See-Um 120 | Solid (no openness) | Tight insect mesh: stops no-see-ums, gnats & sand flies; good privacy. |
| Phifer No-See-Um 132 | Solid (no openness) | Tighter no-see-um mesh: stronger bug-out + privacy. |
| Phifer No-See-Um 144 | Solid (no openness) | Tightest no-see-um mesh: max insect protection + privacy. |
| Phifer Tuffscreen 132 | Solid (no openness) | Heavy-duty insect screen: extra-durable, pet-resistant. |
| Room-darkening | ||
| Twitchell Dimout | 0% open | Heavy shade: darkens the space, near-blackout (not fully opaque). |
| Blackout | ||
| Ferrari Blackout | 0% open | Full light block: total privacy + room darkening. |
| Sattler Blackout | 0% open | Full blackout fabric: blocks all light + view. |
| Clear vinyl | ||
| Sattler Vinyl | 0% open | Clear vinyl panel: see-through weather/wind enclosure; great for cold months. |
| Serge Ferrari | 0% open | Premium clear vinyl: durable see-through enclosure for wind/rain/cold. |
| Mesh | Family | Tier | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Textilene 80 Solar Mesh | Textilene | Included in the system | The most open weave in the solar range. It cuts roughly 80% of the sun and its heat while keeping the clearest view out to the yard, and it still works as a full insect screen. |
| Textilene 90 Solar Mesh | Textilene | Included in the system | The standard patio solar mesh. It stops about 90% of the sun and the heat that comes with it, holds a clear view out during the day, and doubles as a full insect screen. |
| Textilene 95 Solar Mesh | Textilene | Included in the system | A denser weave for hard western and southern exposures. It blocks about 95% of the sun and its glare, trading a little view-through for noticeably cooler shade. |
| Textilene 97 Solar Mesh | Textilene | Premium option | A tight weave that stops roughly 97% of the sun, for patios that take direct afternoon heat. Strong daytime privacy with a softer, shaded view out. |
| Textilene 99 Solar Mesh | Textilene | Premium option | The densest solar weave, stopping about 99% of the sun. Near-total shade and daytime privacy, best where the goal is blocking heat and sightlines rather than keeping a view. |
| Storm Shield 90 High-Wind Mesh | Storm Shield | Premium option | A high-wind solar mesh woven with Kevlar strands. It stops about 90% of the sun and is built to stay deployed in gusty conditions that would force ordinary screens to retract. |
| Storm Shield 95 High-Wind Mesh | Storm Shield | Premium option | The denser Kevlar-reinforced weave. About 95% sun blockage with strong daytime privacy, engineered for exposed patios that take real wind. |
| Soltis 86 Performance Mesh | Soltis | Special request | A European precision-coated fabric from Serge Ferrari. The most open of the Soltis options, prized for its crisp view-through, dimensional stability, and designer color range. |
| Soltis 88 Performance Mesh | Soltis | Special request | Serge Ferrari's precision-coated performance fabric in a mid-density weave. Excellent shade and heat control with the smooth hand and color depth the Soltis line is known for. |
| Soltis 92 Performance Mesh | Soltis | Special request | The densest Soltis option: maximum heat and glare control with strong daytime privacy, in Serge Ferrari's precision-coated micro-perforated construction. |
Openness figures marked about are the fabric makers' published approximations. Bring a photo of your patio and its sun exposure and we bring physical fabric swatches to the consultation.
Motors, obstacle detection and controls
Every motorized line runs on a tube motor inside the housing, controlled by a handheld remote or a wall switch, with a 5-year motor warranty from the manufacturer. The brands differ in which motor they build on and which upgrades they offer.
Obstacle detection means the motor stops and reverses when the bottom bar meets something on the way down. It is part of the Somfy motor on Universal MotionScreen. If your spec list names a particular motor feature for another brand, we confirm it against that model's current motor at the consultation rather than guess.
Power: the motor needs an outlet near the housing. If one already exists in the soffit or ceiling we use it; if not, we plan the cleanest power path during the consultation and coordinate the electrical work as part of the project.
| Brand | Motor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Universal MotionScreen | Somfy tube motor with obstacle detection | Remote, wall switch or a smart-home hub. Auto-stop clutch available as an option. |
| Mirage 4500 | Somfy tube motor | Battery-powered handheld remotes. In a power outage the screen stays where it is and runs normally when power returns. |
| MagnaTrack | Gaposa tube motor | The system price covers the housing, roller, side tracks, screen, weight bar and gaposa motor. Optional Simu motor, 90 RPM high-speed motor, or Autonomo solar motor with panel. Under 35 in wide the screen ships as a manual crank unit. |
| SunPro | Motorized screens and awnings | One touch on the remote or wall switch raises, lowers or stops the screen. Motors, controls and electronics carry the 5-year term. |
Smart-home hubs and automation
Handheld remotes and wall keypads work on their own with no hub, no wiring and no WiFi. Add a hub and the same screens run from your phone, on schedules, or by voice.
- Somfy TaHoma or the Bond Bridge put the screens on a phone app with schedules and Alexa or Google voice control. Systems built on Somfy motors, which is Universal MotionScreen and the Mirage 4500, are the natural fit for TaHoma; Bond Bridge covers a wide range of motor radios. We confirm the pairing for your exact motor before you buy a hub.
- A sun sensor lowers the screens automatically against bright sun; a wind sensor retracts them when the wind picks up, protecting the mesh even when nobody is home.
- Multiple openings run from one remote on separate channels, numbered left to right the way the industry does it, so a group command drops the whole patio at once.
Inside mount, surface mount and recessed hoods
Surface mount is the default: the housing sits on the face of the header and the tracks on the face of the columns. An inside mount sets the tracks and housing flush inside the opening, between the columns and under the header, which is the cleanest look and the one most spec lists ask for. It needs a pocket deep enough for the housing.
Openings that are not square are normal on older DFW patios. On MagnaTrack a left-to-right height difference over 0.5 in is cut on a bias at the factory automatically; the cut stays clean up to about 2.5 in and 4 in is the most they will build. We measure the top, middle and bottom widths and the left, center and right heights, so a floor that dips or crowns is caught before the sale, not at install.
For an inside mount we measure the pocket for the housing, not the roller, and we bring the frame color samples so the tracks match your trim.
| Brand | Mount types | Hood or housing |
|---|---|---|
| SunPro | Surface side track (standard), recessed track, cable-guided, SA tracks; 1 x 2 or 2 x 2 angle mounts for offset or commercial framing | Standard surface hood or recessed |
| Universal MotionScreen | Surface, between-jamb with angle brackets, or recessed with U-channel; mixed surface and recess openings are possible | Standard hood or recessed; 4.5 in roller tube standard, 6 in for wide spans; 2 in weight bar standard, 3.5 in heavy option |
| MagnaTrack | Face mount and under mount, both covered by the engineering evaluation; U-channel side tracks for a recessed look | 6" housing on most openings, stepping to 7.5" and 8.5" on larger spans and taller drops |
| Mirage manual (1750, 1750R, 3500) | Surface mount on a flat surface on all four sides of the opening; a threshold adapter creates the fourth flat surface when the sill is not one | Cassette housing on one side; the 3500 adds a floating top track |
| Opening | Housing height | Roller tube | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 ft wide x 10 ft tall | 6" | 4" | A single patio opening |
| 16 ft wide x 12 ft tall | 6" | 4" | A wide covered-patio span |
| 20 ft wide x 12 ft tall | 7.5" | 5.75" | A long span at standard patio height |
| 24 ft wide x 14 ft tall | 7.5" | 5.75" | A large span with a tall drop |
| 30 ft wide x 16 ft tall | 8.5" | 6.5" | The largest openings |
Wind ratings and track retention
Wind is why the track matters in North Texas. MagnaTrack is the only screen we carry with a third-party structural evaluation by a licensed engineer (Engineering Express TER-22-52902 under the Florida Building Code and IBC): rated for sustained winds up to 75 mph in certified sizes up to 30 ft wide and 20 ft tall, with face-mount and under-mount assemblies both certified.
- MagnaTrack's patented magnetic side track self-corrects: if wind pushes the mesh out, run the screen up past the spot and back down and the magnets guide the edge home, from the remote, with no ladder and no service visit. On most other systems that same event means a service call.
- MagnaTrack also offers Storm Shield high-wind mesh: A high-wind solar mesh woven with Kevlar strands. It stops about 90% of the sun and is built to stay deployed in gusty conditions that would force ordinary screens to retract.
- SunPro offers a severe-weather track option with retention pins. Universal MotionScreen and the Mirage 4500 hold the mesh edge in a zipper track along its full height. The manual Mirage 3500 runs a bigger square-profile zipper that stays locked in on long spans, with a floating top track for openings that are not perfectly square.
- The honest fine print for every brand, MagnaTrack included: retract the screen when sustained winds pass 40 mph. No retractable screen is rated for named storms, hurricanes or flying debris, and a torn mesh voids the certification. The accurate term is engineered wind abatement; no screen is a storm barrier.
Read the MagnaTrack engineering evaluation (PDF)
Sizes: how wide and how tall one screen can go
Height matters as much as width. A tall two-story opening needs a heavier tube and motor than a short one of the same width, which is why the published price bands are quoted by width and height together. Openings past 30 ft are split across multiple tracks.
| Brand | Maximum single screen | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SunPro | 30 ft wide x 22 ft tall | Motorized screens and awnings |
| Universal MotionScreen | 22.5 ft wide x 16 ft tall | Wide spans use the 6 in roller tube with the cradle and large endcaps |
| MagnaTrack | 30 ft wide x 20 ft tall | The certified envelope; some very large systems need factory coordination before quoting |
| Mirage 4500 (motorized) | 22 ft wide x 16 ft tall | Built in Dallas |
| Mirage 3500 (manual) | 12 ft per panel, 24 ft as a French set | Two cassettes pull together and meet in the middle; wider on special order |
| Mirage 1750 and 1750R (manual doors) | 1750 up to 64 in wide; 1750R retained mesh up to 40 in | Wider door openings step up to the 3500 |
Frame and mesh colors
Frames are powder-coated aluminum. Mesh color is chosen separately, and the dark colors see out best.
| Line | Frame colors |
|---|---|
| Motorized lines (SunPro, Universal MotionScreen, MagnaTrack, Mirage 4500) | White, bronze, black, adobe or sandstone, and custom RAL colors |
| Mirage manual lines (1750, 1750R, 3500) | Standard stock: Midnight Black, Slate Grey, Linen Cream, Rideau Brown, Sandalwood, Tudor Brown, Polar White, Ex Pebble Grey. Designer colors: Ansi 49 Grey, Almond, Autumn Leaf, Burgundy, Charcoal, Dark Bronze Metallic, Evergreen, Furniture White, Gloss Brown, Hartford Green, Metro Brown, Mocha, Metallic Silver, Oyster Grey, Seal Beach Green, Sundried Tomato, Signal White, Wicker. Custom colors on request. |
| Fabric | Colors |
|---|---|
| Phifer SunTex 80 and 90 | Beige, black, brown, dark bronze, grey, stucco and white (80 only) |
| Phifer SunTex 95 | Alpaca, black, carbon, chestnut, dark bronze, mocha, sand, stucco, white and white grey |
| Twitchell Nano 95 | Granite, espresso texture, tobacco, charcoal, flat black, white, sable, bone, stone texture, shadow texture, desert sand, tumble weed, almond and cafe |
| Mirage manual mesh | Charcoal on the standard fiberglass and TuffScreen lines; black TuffScreen reads best for view-through |
Lead times, where each screen is built, and the install day
Every screen is custom-fabricated to your opening, so the order-to-install time depends on the brand and the season. These are the typical windows; your dates are confirmed in writing at the consultation.
The install itself is usually a single day, done by an owner-led crew, with power and controls tested before we leave. A 50 percent material deposit places the order; the balance is due when the install is complete and you have run the screens yourself.
| Brand | Typical lead time | Built in |
|---|---|---|
| Mirage Screen Systems (4500) | About 3 to 5 days | Dallas, TX; manual Mirage lines about 3 to 4 weeks from Ocala, FL |
| Universal Screens (MotionScreen) | About 3 to 4 weeks | Richardson, TX |
| SunPro | About 3 to 4 weeks | Bradenton, FL |
| MagnaTrack | About 3 to 5 weeks | Progressive Screens' 140,000 square foot plant in the Dallas area |
The written warranties
Real terms from the manufacturers' own documents, which we host so you can read every word. On top of them, every Audie Builds install carries our own 1-year workmanship warranty, and as your dealer we file any manufacturer claim for you.
Mesh is where the brands genuinely differ. SunPro and MagnaTrack put 10-year mesh coverage in the written warranty itself; the Universal and Mirage written warranties exclude the mesh, which is common in the industry, and we still pursue any mesh issue with the factory on your behalf. Lifetime terms apply to the original purchaser and are not transferable.
| Brand | Frame and extrusions | Motor | Mesh or fabric | Typical lead time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SunPro | Lifetime | 5 years | 10 years (Phifer, in writing) | About 3 to 4 weeks |
| Universal Screens (MotionScreen) | Lifetime | 5 years | Not covered | About 3 to 4 weeks |
| MagnaTrack | 15 years | 5 years (remotes 2 years) | 10 years (in writing) | About 3 to 5 weeks |
| Mirage Screen Systems | Limited lifetime | 5 years | Not covered | About 3 to 5 days (4500) |
SunPro warranty (PDF) · Universal MotionScreen warranty (PDF) · MagnaTrack warranty (PDF) · Mirage warranty (PDF)
What the systems cost installed
Most motorized patio screens in Dallas–Fort Worth cost $3,500–$7,000 installed per opening. Manual retractable screen doors start around $1,350, and the large-opening manual Mirage 3500 starts around $3,500. Almost nobody around here publishes pricing. We'd rather you walk in knowing the ballpark than sit through a sales pitch to hear a number.
Multi-opening enclosures, clear-vinyl four-season rooms, motorized shade packages, and restaurant & commercial buildouts are designed and quoted per project. Most land between $15,000 and $65,000+ depending on openings, materials, build-out, and site conditions.
Your exact fixed quote is free and on-site: Audie measures the opening, brings fabric and frame samples, and writes the number down.
| System | Installed price | What that covers |
|---|---|---|
| Manual retractable doors | from $1,350 | Mirage single & French-door retractables, installed |
| Manual · large openings | from $3,500 | Mirage 3500 large-opening manual screens for sliders & patios, installed |
| Motorized · single opening | $3,500–$6,000 | Up to ~10 ft wide × ~10 ft tall, a typical single patio opening |
| Motorized · covered-patio spans | $4,000–$7,000 | One screen spanning ~12–16 ft at standard patio height |
| Motorized · large & multi-screen | $6,000–$12,000+ | 16–24 ft wide, tall drops, multi-screen & four-season builds |
Read the full DFW motorized patio screen cost guide
Sending us a spec list
If you wrote your request with an AI assistant, send it as is. We answer it line by line: which brand builds what you described, the fabric and color that match, the motor and hub that fit, the mount that works on your columns, and an installed price range from the published bands before the free on-site visit.
- Include the opening width and height, whether you want the screen inside the columns or on their face, the sun direction, and any product names you were given. Photos of the opening help more than anything else.
- If your list names a fabric, motor feature or hub we do not carry, we say so and name the closest thing we install. We do not substitute quietly.
- Bring the same list to the consultation. Audie brings frame swatches, fabric samples and the warranty documents, and the quote is fixed in writing.
Frequently asked questions
Do you install MagnaTrack, and can you quote the exact brand I researched?
Yes. We are an authorized dealer and installer for MagnaTrack by Progressive Screens, SunPro, Universal MotionScreen and Mirage across Dallas-Fort Worth. Name the brand and the model in your request and the quote comes back for that system, with the closest alternatives noted only if something you asked for is not built on that line.
Which fabric openness should I choose for west sun if I still want to see the yard?
A 90 to 95 series solar mesh in a dark color is the usual answer: Twitchell Textilene 90 or 95 on MagnaTrack, Phifer SunTex 90 or 95 on SunPro, or the Mermet Natte 90 or 95 on Universal MotionScreen (Mermet is not offered on MagnaTrack). Lower openness blocks more heat and glare; dark colors keep the view because they do not glow in sunlight. We bring physical swatches so you can look through them on your own patio.
Is Mermet KoolBlack available?
Only on Universal MotionScreen, which lists the Mermet Natte 90, 95 and 97 lines; whether a specific Mermet technology such as KoolBlack is available on a given order is confirmed with the factory at the consultation. MagnaTrack does not run Mermet fabrics at all: it builds with Twitchell Textilene and Storm Shield, with Soltis on special request, so a MagnaTrack request that names Mermet gets Textilene in the same openness number. SunPro builds with Phifer SunTex.
Which motors do the screens use, and do they have obstacle detection?
Universal MotionScreen runs a Somfy tube motor with obstacle detection, which stops and reverses the screen if the bottom bar meets something. The Mirage 4500 runs a Somfy tube motor, and MagnaTrack runs a Gaposa tube motor with optional Simu, high-speed and solar motors. Every motorized line carries a 5-year motor warranty. If your spec list names a motor feature for a particular brand, we confirm it against that model's current motor rather than guess.
Can I run the screens from an app, on a schedule, or with Alexa or Google?
Yes, with a hub. Somfy TaHoma or the Bond Bridge put the screens on a phone app with schedules and voice control through Alexa or Google. Handheld remotes and wall keypads work without any hub, wiring or WiFi. Sun and wind sensors can lower and retract the screens automatically.
Can the tracks and housing mount inside the opening, flush with my columns and header?
Yes. Every brand offers an inside or recessed mount: recessed tracks and hoods on SunPro, between-jamb or recessed U-channel mounts on Universal MotionScreen, under-mount on MagnaTrack, which is covered by its engineering evaluation. The pocket has to be deep enough for the housing, which on MagnaTrack runs 6 in on most openings and 7.5 in or 8.5 in on large spans and tall drops.
How wide can a single motorized screen be?
Up to 30 ft wide on SunPro and MagnaTrack, 22.5 ft on Universal MotionScreen and 22 ft on the Mirage 4500, with heights up to 22 ft on SunPro, 20 ft on MagnaTrack and 16 ft on Universal and Mirage. Wider spaces are split across multiple tracks; a manual Mirage 3500 covers 12 ft per panel or 24 ft as a French set.
What wind rating do the screens actually have?
MagnaTrack is the only screen we carry with a licensed engineer's structural evaluation: rated for sustained winds up to 75 mph in certified sizes up to 30 ft wide and 20 ft tall. Every retractable screen, MagnaTrack included, should be retracted when sustained winds pass 40 mph, and none is rated for named storms or flying debris.
What happens if wind pushes the mesh out of the track?
On MagnaTrack the magnetic track re-captures the fabric edge on its own: run the screen up past the spot and back down, and it seats itself in seconds from the remote. On most other systems the zipper edge stays out until someone resets it, which is a service visit.
What frame colors can I get?
White, bronze, black and adobe or sandstone are standard on the motorized lines, with custom RAL colors available. The manual Mirage lines come in 26 factory colors plus custom. We bring frame swatches to the consultation so the tracks match your trim.
How long from order to install?
About 3 to 5 days for the motorized Mirage 4500, which is built in Dallas; about 3 to 4 weeks for SunPro and Universal MotionScreen; about 3 to 5 weeks for MagnaTrack. The install is usually one day. Exact dates are confirmed in writing at the consultation, since lead times move with the season.
What do motorized screens cost installed?
Most single motorized screens in Dallas-Fort Worth run $3,500 to $7,000 installed depending on the opening's width and height: a single opening up to about 10 ft by 10 ft lands $3,500 to $6,000, a 12 to 16 ft covered-patio span $4,000 to $7,000, and large, tall or multi-screen builds $6,000 to $12,000 and up. Manual retractable doors start around $1,350 and the manual Mirage 3500 around $3,500. Clear-vinyl rooms and multi-opening enclosures are quoted per project.
What do the warranties cover?
Frames: lifetime on SunPro, Universal and Mirage for the original purchaser, 15 years on MagnaTrack. Motors: 5 years on every motorized line. Mesh: 10 years in writing on SunPro and MagnaTrack; excluded in the Universal and Mirage documents. Every install adds our own 1-year workmanship warranty, and we file manufacturer claims for you.
Do I need an electrician before you can install?
No. The motor needs power near the housing, and if there is no outlet in the soffit or ceiling we plan the power path during the consultation and coordinate the electrical work as part of the project.
I wrote my request with ChatGPT and sent it to several contractors. Will you answer it as written?
Yes. Send the list exactly as it is. We reply line by line with which brand builds each item, the fabric and color that match, the motor and hub that fit, the mount that works on your opening, and an installed price range from our published bands, then the free on-site visit turns that into a fixed written quote.
Motorized screens in Dallas-Fort Worth · Commercial patio screens · Request a consultation