SunTex & Screen Mesh Options in Scottsdale
Find your balance of sun control, natural light, and a view you still enjoy. Compare the fabric and frame before your screens are made.
Choose for the room,
not just the number.
A bright west-facing bedroom and a window with your favorite view do not necessarily need the same mesh. Start with how each room is used and when the sun becomes uncomfortable.
SunTex 80 offers a more open feel. SunTex 90 provides stronger sun filtering. Fabric color, lighting, and the viewing angle also influence how the finished screen looks from inside and outside.
Compare physical samples with your home’s exterior and your privacy needs in mind. The choice should suit the window, not simply be the densest available fabric.
Plan your residential solar screensSunTex 80 and 90,
side by side.
The numbers describe sun-control designations, not 80 or 90 percent openness. They are also not a promise that your electricity bill will fall by the same percentage.
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| Consideration | SunTex 80 | SunTex 90 |
|---|---|---|
| Sun filtering | The 80 designation offers a balance of shade and visibility. | The 90 designation offers stronger filtering of harsh sunlight. |
| View and light | A more open feel through the screen. | A denser screen with a stronger filtering effect. |
| Where to start | Consider windows where retaining the view is a priority. | Consider harsher exposures where glare and heat are the main concern. |
| Privacy | Daytime privacy varies with color and lighting. | Greater sun filtering does not guarantee nighttime privacy. |
| Final selection | Compare the fabric and frame together using physical samples. | Review the effect on daylight, visibility, and exterior appearance. |
Phifer describes SunTex 80/90 as blocking 80 to 90 percent of the sun’s heat and glare. Performance at a particular window depends on the fabric and installation conditions. Read Phifer’s SunTex product information ↗
Shade, insects, or pets?
Start with the job.
Arizona Screen Techs lists bug screen, TuffScreen, PetScreen, and Phifer SunTex 80/90. Those materials serve different priorities; their names do not replace a review of the complete opening and frame.
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| Material | Useful starting point | What to review |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary insect mesh | Fresh air and bug control at opening windows or doors. | Fit, edge gaps, visibility, airflow, and the condition of the frame. |
| TuffScreen | Heavier-duty insect screening for harder-use areas. | Frequent contact, assembly suitability, fabric appearance, and operating hardware. |
| PetScreen | Pet-resistant insect screening where claws and paws are a concern. | Pet behavior, contact points, durability needs, visibility, and the complete frame. |
| SunTex 80 / 90 | Exterior sun control, glare relief, and daytime privacy. | Exposure, view, light levels, color, mounting, and nighttime privacy needs. |
The mesh color.
The frame finish.
Fabric color and frame color are not the same selection. Compare both against your stucco, window trim, and glass for a finish that feels intentional.
Phifer lists these SunTex 80/90 fabric colors. Confirm the available combination for your order using physical samples. Digital images are not exact color references.
- Beige
- Black
- Brown
- Dark Bronze
- Grey
- Stucco
Check any HOA or property design requirements, and look at the samples in the light where the screens will be used. Frame finish availability is reviewed separately.
Exterior fabric.
Practical durability.
Phifer makes SunTex 80/90 from vinyl-coated polyester and describes it as pet resistant, mildew resistant, and fade resistant.
Pet resistance is a fabric characteristic, not a guarantee against damage or a safety barrier. The frame, hardware, and fit still matter to the complete screen.
Solar mesh is a sun-control choice. It should not be confused with security screening or selected as a substitute for a safety requirement.
Sun control
Filter harsh sunlight outside the glass. Actual cooling benefits vary with the window, exposure, and room.
Care
Phifer recommends occasional cleaning with mild soap and water.
Complete fit
Match the fabric to a suitable frame and attachment method for the opening.
Daytime shade.
Nighttime is different.
A screen can soften views into your home during the day without making the window opaque.
After dark, lights inside can make the room visible from outside. Keep interior shades or blinds for nighttime privacy rather than relying on solar mesh alone.
For an office or storefront, review outward visibility, displays, and signage as well as glare. A denser screen is not automatically the best choice for public-facing glass.
Explore commercial screen planningCare and coverage,
without the guesswork.
Know how the screen is fitted, how to care for it, and which written terms apply before the project goes ahead.
Clean the fabric gently
Use the manufacturer’s care guidance for the mesh and the complete framed screen. For SunTex fabric, Phifer recommends mild soap and water for occasional cleaning.
Understand removal and refitting
Confirm the clips or fasteners used before removing a screen. Do not force a fixed frame or assume every screen can be removed the same way. Discuss upper-floor access rather than attempting unsafe cleaning.
Separate the warranty terms
Fabric, frame, hardware, and installation may have different coverage. Ask for the applicable written terms, exclusions, and care requirements with your estimate.
Good questions.
A better screen choice.
The useful details behind SunTex mesh, privacy, colors, and care.
What do the 80 and 90 in SunTex mean?
They refer to the fabric’s sun-control designation. Phifer describes SunTex 80/90 as blocking 80 to 90 percent of the sun’s heat and glare. These numbers are not 80 or 90 percent openness, and they are not a promise of equivalent electricity-bill savings.
Should I choose SunTex 80 or SunTex 90?
Consider the room, sun exposure, view, and privacy together. SunTex 80 offers a more open feel; SunTex 90 gives stronger sun filtering. Compare physical samples rather than assuming one mesh should be used on every window.
Are solar screens private at night?
Daytime privacy depends on light and viewing conditions. A lit room can still be visible from outside after dark. Use interior shades or blinds when nighttime privacy is needed.
Which fabric and frame colors can I choose?
Phifer lists SunTex 80/90 fabric in Beige, Black, Brown, Dark Bronze, Grey, and Stucco. Fabric colors and frame finishes are separate choices. Confirm the available combination for your order using physical samples.
How do I clean SunTex solar screen fabric?
Phifer recommends occasional cleaning with mild soap and water. Follow the care instructions for the complete framed screen, and confirm its removal and refitting method before taking it off a window.
Is fabric warranty coverage the same as an installation warranty?
No. Fabric, frame, hardware, and installation can have different terms. Ask for the applicable written coverage, exclusions, and care requirements with your estimate.
What is TuffScreen used for?
Phifer describes TuffScreen as heavy-duty, vinyl-coated polyester insect screening. Discuss it for harder-use openings while reviewing the complete frame, fit, appearance, and operating hardware.
What is PetScreen used for?
Phifer describes PetScreen as pet-resistant insect screening designed to resist tearing and puncturing by most dogs and cats. Review suitability for the actual opening and pet contact; it is not a fall-protection or security barrier.
Can I choose mesh by strength alone?
No. Sun control, insect control, airflow, views, pet contact, frame suitability, and operating hardware have different requirements. Compare the complete assembly rather than treating one fabric as the answer for every opening.
Compare SunTex options during a free estimate
Tell us about your windows, then review mesh, finish, and fit together.