How to Choose a Motorized Screen Company Near You in Atlanta

If you’ve searched “motorized screens near me,” you’ve seen how many Atlanta companies say they can screen in your patio. Most of them can install a screen. Fewer can tell you which track will hold up on a windy lakeside deck in Cumming, or which fabric will keep a west-facing porch in Marietta comfortable at 5 p.m. in July.

Motorized screens are a big purchase, and you’ll use them every day for years. The company you choose matters as much as the product. Here are nine questions to ask any Atlanta motorized screen installer before you sign a quote, plus what a good answer sounds like.

1. Who Will Actually Install My Screens?

Many outdoor-living companies sell the job and then hand it to a subcontractor you never meet. That isn’t always bad, but it makes accountability harder when a track is out of line or a motor needs to be reprogrammed six months later.

Ask whether the installers are employees or subcontractors. At Peachtree Blinds of Atlanta, all installation staff are full-time employees. Our rule is simple: if we measure it and install it, we fix it.

A good answer: A named crew, a clear point of contact, and one company responsible for measuring, installing and servicing.

2. How Much Outdoor Screen Experience Does Your Team Have?

Indoor shades and outdoor screens are different trades. Outdoor screens deal with wind, rain, pollen, temperature swings, and mounting into brick, stone, stucco or wood. A company that mostly sells blinds may treat screens as a side product.

Our outdoor screen work is led by Alan Cobb, who has more than two decades of experience with outdoor screen systems. When you call, ask for him by name.

A good answer: Years of outdoor-specific experience and local projects the company can show you, not just a product brochure.

3. Which Track System Do You Recommend, and Why?

The track system is what holds the screen in place, and it matters more than most homeowners expect. There are two common types:

• Zipper (side-retention) tracks lock the fabric edges into tracks on both sides. This keeps the screen taut, helps seal out insects, and holds up better in wind.

• Cable-guided systems use thin stainless steel cables instead of side tracks. They look minimal and work well for sun control on decks and patios where a tight bug seal isn’t the main goal.

Tracks can also be surface-mounted on your posts or recessed so they’re hidden from view. We offer both motorized patio screens and cable-guided motorized screens, and the right choice depends on how you’ll use the space.

A red flag: A company that offers only one track type and says it’s right for every porch.

4. What Fabric Is Best for My Patio?

Fabric choice decides how much sun, heat, bugs and privacy the screen handles. The key number is the openness factor, which is the percentage of open space in the weave. A lower openness factor blocks more sun and gives more daytime privacy, but you see out a little less clearly.

For example, Phifer lists SunTex 90 at about 10% openness with roughly 90% UV blockage. Phifer’s SunTex 95 has 5% openness and blocks 95% of UV rays.

We carry fabrics from Phifer, Twitchell (Textilene), Serge Ferrari (Soltis), Recasens and Dickson, plus clear vinyl from Sattler and Serge Ferrari. A good installer should bring real samples to your home so you can hold them up in your own light.

5. Will the Screens Handle Atlanta Wind and Storms?

Pop-up summer storms are part of life in Metro Atlanta. Ask how the system holds up in normal wind, and what happens when a strong gust comes through while you’re at work.

Sensors are the answer for many homeowners. Somfy’s Eolis wind sensors can automatically retract exterior solar screens and awnings when they detect wind. Sun sensors can lower screens when the afternoon heat hits. One honest point: even well-built screens should be raised during severe weather. A company that says otherwise is overselling.

A good answer: A clear explanation of wind limits, sensor options, and when to retract.

6. What Motor and Controls Come With the System?

The motor is the part you’ll notice most if it fails. Ask for the brand, the motor warranty, and the control options.

We use Somfy motors and controls, which carry a 5-year warranty against defects. You can run your screens with a wall switch, a handheld remote, or the Somfy myLink app. They also work with Amazon Alexa, so “Alexa, lower the porch screens” is a real option.

A red flag: A quote that says “motorized” with no motor brand listed.

7. What Does the Warranty Cover, and Who Handles Service?

Warranties come in layers: the fabric, the frame and tracks, the motor, and the labor. A long warranty from a manufacturer in another state doesn’t help much if the local company that installed your screens has moved on.

Peachtree Blinds products come with a lifetime warranty backed by the manufacturers, and our own team handles service. Ask every company you’re comparing to put each layer of the warranty in writing.

8. Can I See Your Products in Person?

Photos online can’t show you how smooth a screen runs or how a fabric looks in real light. A showroom visit tells you a lot about a company.

Our showroom is in the Midway Center Shopping Plaza at 4825 Atlanta Hwy 9 in Alpharetta, at the corner of Mullinax/Post and Highway 9. It’s open Monday through Friday from 9:30 to 4:30, and Saturdays by appointment. You can see our products in person and browse sample books.

9. Does Your Quote Include Everything?

Two quotes can look thousands of dollars apart until you compare what’s in them. Before you sign, make sure the quote lists:

1. Exact opening sizes and number of screens

2. Track type (zipper or cable) and mounting (surface or recessed)

3. Fabric name and color

4. Frame and housing color, including any custom color match

5. Motor brand, controls, and any sun or wind sensors

6. Electrical work and who is responsible for it

7. Warranty terms for each part and for labor

8. Estimated lead time and install date

If you’re still deciding whether screens are the right fit for your space, our guide to whether motorized retractable screens are worth it in Atlanta walks through the pros and cons.

Screens, Enclosures or Awnings?

A good company will also tell you when screens aren’t the best choice. If you want a covered porch you can use all winter, a porch enclosure with SunSpace windows may be a better fit. If your patio has no roof and you mainly need shade, a retractable awning can make more sense. For doorways, retractable screen doors let the breeze in without a full patio system.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find a good motorized screen company near me in Atlanta?

Look for a company that does outdoor screens as a core service, uses its own installers, offers more than one track and fabric option, names its motor brand, and has a showroom you can visit. Ask for local project photos and a detailed written quote.

Are motorized screens good for Atlanta’s climate?

Yes. They help with summer heat, mosquitoes and pollen. With clear vinyl, they also help block wind and rain in cooler months. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that exterior shades are the best option whenever possible for blocking heat before it reaches your windows.

What’s the difference between zipper-track and cable-guided screens?

Zipper tracks hold the fabric edges in side tracks for a tighter seal against bugs and better wind performance. Cable-guided screens use thin steel cables for a sleeker look and work best for sun control.

Do you install motorized screens outside Atlanta?

Yes. We serve Metro Atlanta and North Georgia, including Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, Johns Creek, Marietta, Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Woodstock, Canton, Cumming and Suwanee. We also install motorized screens in Chattanooga and Southeast Tennessee.

Can motorized screens be added to an existing covered patio?

In most cases, yes. Screens can be surface-mounted to existing posts and beams or recessed for a hidden look. They can mount into wood, brick, stucco, stone and concrete.

Talk to a Local Screen Specialist

The right motorized screen company will answer all nine questions without hesitating. Call Peachtree Blinds of Atlanta at (770) 664-0027 and ask for Alan Cobb, or schedule your in-home consultation. We’ll measure your openings, bring fabric samples, and give you a written quote with every detail listed.