Services
Patio and carport shade screens
A-Affordable Screen builds sun-shade screen walls that close in the open side of a patio cover or carport awning, blocking the low afternoon sun that a roof alone misses. The shade fabric cuts heat and glare but still lets air through, and every job starts with a free on-site look and quote.
Updated · A-Affordable Screen, Sparks
The job in our photos
The before and after photos on this page show one of our jobs: an open carport awning beside a manufactured home, and then the same awning with a sun-shade screen wall installed along its open side. The roof was already there. What the screen wall adds is shade on the side where the sun comes in low.
Another set shows three windows under a covered patio before and after solar screens. On many homes the best fix is a combination: shade the covered space, and screen the windows that face into it.
Why a roof is not enough in the afternoon
A patio cover or awning blocks the sun when it is high overhead. By late afternoon the sun is low in the western sky and shines in under the roof edge, straight onto the chairs, the grill, the car or the wall of the house. That is when the space is hottest and least usable.
The U.S. Department of Energy notes that awnings shade both windows and outdoor living spaces, and it describes exterior shades as most effective at reducing solar heat gain. A screen wall extends that shade down the open side, where the low sun actually gets in.
The sun is also strong at this altitude. The EPA notes that UV rises about 2 percent for every 1,000 feet of elevation, and the Reno-Sparks valley sits near 4,400 feet. That UV is what fades cushions, rugs and painted surfaces on a patio, and it gets in under the cover on the same low angle as the heat. Our Reno sun data page has the local numbers.
Why shade fabric instead of a solid panel
Reno is windy in the afternoon. NOAA's hourly climate normals for the airport show average afternoon winds of about 13 miles per hour in the summer months, mostly from the west. A solid panel under an awning catches that wind like a sail. An open-weave shade fabric lets air pass through, which keeps the space ventilated and puts less load on the structure it is attached to.
- Blocks much of the direct sun and glare on the open side
- Lets breezes move through, so the space does not trap heat
- Keeps a view out, so the patio still feels open
- Adds some daytime privacy from the street or the neighbors
Where a screen wall fits
Patios and carports come in many shapes, but a few setups account for most of the calls we get. The table shows how the sun gets in on each one and what usually helps.
| Setup | Where the sun gets in | What usually helps | What we check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carport awning with one open side | Low afternoon sun under the roof edge | A shade screen wall on the sunny open side | What the screen can fasten to along the posts and beam |
| Covered patio facing west | Late-day sun straight under the cover | A screen wall on the west side, other sides left open for air | Post spacing, beam height and how you use the space |
| Covered patio with windows behind it | Sun angling onto the house wall and glass | Solar screens on those windows, with or without a screen wall | Which windows face into the patio |
| Covered patio facing east | Morning sun in the cooler hours | Often a partial screen, or none | When you actually use the patio |
| Open deck with no cover | Overhead and from every side | A screen wall needs a cover or frame to attach to first | Whether a cover is already planned |
Typical setups only. Every cover is looked at in person before anything is quoted.
Carports and parked cars
A carport roof keeps the midday sun off a car, but a car parked under an open-sided awning still takes the low sun of late afternoon through its side and rear glass. That is the sun that heats seats and steering wheels and slowly fades dashboards and upholstery.
A screen wall on the sunny side of the carport keeps the shade on the car for more of the day while air still moves through. It also hides some of the clutter that tends to collect in a carport from the street, which many homeowners like as much as the shade.
Will it work on my cover?
That depends on how your patio cover or carport is built and what the screen can be fastened to. We look at the structure, the direction of the afternoon sun and how you use the space during the free on-site visit, then quote a screen wall sized to the opening.
This is a shade screen, not a room addition. It does not turn a patio into an enclosed room, and it is not a replacement for walls, doors or a structural cover. If you rent, or live in a community with exterior rules, check whether you need approval before the work is scheduled.
We come to patios and carports across our area, from Sun Valley to South Reno. The steps are the same everywhere and are laid out on our how it works page.
Colors and fabric
Shade fabrics come in several colors and weaves. The tan panels in our carport photo blend with the home's siding. Tighter weaves give more shade and privacy, and more open ones keep more view and airflow. We bring samples to compare in your own light. Our guide to solar screen colors and privacy explains how color changes what you see from each side.
Signs a shade screen wall would help
- The patio is only comfortable before lunch because afternoon sun pours in under the cover
- The car in the carport still bakes in the late-day sun
- Glare off the patio bounces into the house through a slider or window
- Cushions and outdoor furniture are fading on the sunny side
- The street or a neighbor's yard looks straight into the patio
- An old shade panel is torn, faded or flapping
Before you call
- Watch the sun one afternoon. Note which side it comes in on and when the space gets too hot.
- Measure roughly. The width and height of the open side give us a starting point, and we confirm on site.
- Look over the structure. Loose posts, rot or a sagging beam need fixing before anything attaches.
- Check community rules. If you rent or have an HOA, ask whether exterior changes need approval.
- Send a photo. Text (775) 240-0418 a picture of the patio or carport and its sunny side.
How a shade screen job goes
- Call or text. Describe the cover and which side takes the sun.
- Free on-site look. We check the structure, measure the opening and bring shade fabric samples to compare in your light.
- Quote. You get a price for a screen wall sized to the opening, with any discount applied. Installation carries a lifetime warranty and solar screen material a 20-year warranty, see our warranty page.
- Build. Panels are made to the measured opening.
- Install and check. The screen is fastened to the cover, and we check that it sits tight across the opening.
Price
What affects the price
- Size of the opening. Wider and taller sides take more fabric and framing.
- Number of sides. One sunny side is a smaller job than wrapping two or three.
- Structure. What the screen fastens to, and how, varies from one cover to the next.
- Fabric. Weave and color change the shade, the view and the look.
- Windows too. Solar screens on windows facing the patio are quoted alongside if you want them.
- Access. Tight side yards, landscaping or a high beam take more time.
Every price is quoted after the free on-site look. Senior, military, referral and multi-window discounts are listed on our discounts page.
Reno-Sparks
Why afternoon shade matters here
NOAA's hourly climate normals for Reno-Tahoe International Airport show calm mornings, with early winds of about 2 to 4 miles per hour, and breezy afternoons averaging about 13 miles per hour from April through July, mostly from the west. The windiest hour comes in the late afternoon, about when the sun is lowest in the western sky.
Summer highs and lows differ by about 33 degrees on average, so a patio that is too hot at 5 pm can be pleasant by dusk. From 2016 to 2025 the airport also averaged about 45 days a year with a gust of 40 miles per hour or more, which is why screen walls use open fabric and solid fastening. Our Washoe Zephyr guide explains the wind pattern.
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (monthly and hourly) and GHCN-Daily 2016-2025, Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
Caring for a shade screen wall
- Hose off dust and pollen from the top down every few months
- Use a soft brush and mild soap for grime or bird droppings, then rinse
- After a big windstorm, look for a loose fastener or a corner pulling away
- Keep grills and fire pits a safe distance from the fabric
- Trim shrubs and vines so they do not rub against or climb the screen
- Clear heavy snow off the cover so it does not weigh on the structure the screen hangs from
Our work
Before and after
Reviews
What customers say
“Great Service and "Yes, it is affordable. E-Mailed Larry and he called me back within a short time, then came out to my home to review my plans for Custom Window screens for the patio.”
“We are very pleased with the quality of work that Affordable screens provided. Larry Ivy was a great communicator and a true professional.”
Questions
Straight answers
Does a shade screen wall keep out rain or snow?
No. The fabric is an open weave made to block sun and let air through, so rain and blowing snow can pass. It is a sun shade, not a weather wall.
How do I clean a shade screen wall?
Rinse it with a garden hose and, for heavier dust, a soft brush and mild soap. Skip the pressure washer, which can fray the fabric and loosen the edges.
Will a shade screen make my carport dark?
It makes the space shadier, which is the point, but the open weave still lets daylight and a view through. A more open fabric keeps it brighter if that matters to you.
Can I get solar screens on the windows under my patio cover too?
Yes. Solar screens on windows facing a covered patio are a common pairing, and one set of photos on this page shows exactly that.
Does the patio cover need to be in place first?
Yes. The shade screen wall attaches to an existing cover or awning, so the roof or structure needs to be in place and sound. If you have a different project in mind, call and describe it.
Can a shade screen go on more than one side?
Yes, if the structure allows it. Most people start with the side that takes the afternoon sun and leave the others open for airflow and the view.
Is a shade screen wall the same as a patio enclosure?
No. An enclosure turns a patio into a room with walls or glass. A shade screen wall is fabric that blocks sun and lets air through. Our guide to ways to block the sun compares the options.
Related
Related services
Patio & Carport Shade Screens across Reno-Sparks
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver: Energy Efficient Window Coverings (archived copy, January 2025) (opens in a new tab) · NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Reno-Tahoe International Airport) (opens in a new tab)
Since 1997 · Sparks, Nevada
Ready for a free quote?
Call or text us. Or leave your details and we call or text you back.
Monday-Friday 8:00 am-4:00 pm
We come to you anywhere in the Reno-Sparks area to measure and quote, at no charge.