Keep the patio. Add the comfort.
Adding motorized screens to an existing patio
Enjoy the covered patio you already love with fewer bugs, less glare, or more privacy. EDG designs custom retractable screens around your porch, patio, or pergola, with a clean installation and an opening that feels open again when the screens rise.
Often, the cover you have is the starting point
Many existing covered patios can accept motorized screens without rebuilding the entire space. The important question is how the screen will attach, travel, and disappear into its housing. EDG reviews the structure and finishes together, then recommends the mounting detail that suits your home.
01
A clean fit at every opening
EDG measures between the posts or walls and checks width, height, squareness, and attachment surfaces. Side tracks need a continuous path, and the bottom bar needs a clear landing. Uneven stone, decorative trim, and changes in floor level are details to solve before fabrication.
02
Housing that belongs with the patio
An existing patio usually calls for a surface-mounted housing above the opening. EDG aligns the housing, tracks, and finish with the beams and columns so they look intentional. A recessed installation needs room within the structure and accessible service space; it is not simply a cover over the motor.
03
Room for everyday movement
The layout should work with doors, steps, furniture, and the route to the yard. EDG plans which openings operate separately and where you will walk when the screens are down. A screen should add comfort without making the patio awkward to use.
04
Power now, service access later
Motorized screens need a planned power connection. EDG coordinates the cable route and control location before installation, keeping visible wiring tidy and the motor accessible. Choose a remote, wall control, or compatible app setup around how you will actually use the space.
Choose the mesh by what interrupts your patio time
Insect mesh suits evenings when bugs are the main issue and you still want air to move through the opening. Solar fabric is a different balance: more shade and glare control, with changes to the view, daylight, and airflow. Privacy also depends on the fabric and lighting on each side.
EDG helps compare samples around your patio’s orientation and seating. If cooler side winds matter more than summer airflow, consider retractable vinyl or compare screens with glass enclosures. Everyday comfort screens are not storm shutters; EDG explains the operating limits of your selected system.
See the opening return
EDG’s O’Hare project in Bartlett shows a Progressive Screens insect screen closed, partly raised, and open across a wide outbuilding opening. The white frame and dark mesh show how a motorized screen can serve an existing opening while clearing the space for open-air use. The same mounting and movement questions belong in a patio retrofit.
See the screen in motionMeasured, specified, and installed by EDG
Our local team takes the project from site review and custom specification through any needed permit coordination, installation, control setup, and owner training. We confirm the screen travel and explain care before the handoff. EDG serves homeowners in the Chicago–Milwaukee corridor and the Sanibel area.
Review screen pricing and installation cost driversA couple of planning questions
Can I add screens to a patio without a roof?
Side screens need a suitable structure for their housing and tracks. If the patio is uncovered, EDG can plan a pergola or cover and the screens together. Side screens alone do not provide overhead rain protection.
Do I need measurements before requesting a quote?
No. Start with your location and what you want to improve. Photos and rough measurements help if you have them; EDG confirms the dimensions and installation details before ordering custom screens.
Make more of the patio you already have.
Tell us where your patio is and what you want the screens to do. Photos and measurements are optional. EDG will help plan the next step.
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