A high quality patio privacy screen is a great way to introduce shade, block out light breezes, and bring both privacy and style to your patio. Privacy screens are multi-functional and can be used on patios, decks, balconies, roofs, or in carports. Whether your purpose is to provide more shade, prevent rain and snow from soaking your balcony, block out your neighbor’s ugly yard, or protect your privacy, a high-quality privacy screen will help you achieve the look and feel you want your outdoor space to accomplish. Privacy Screens come in many shapes, sizes, and materials. They can be made of wood, retractable in design, or even permanently installed along your existing fence or balcony railing.
While there are a range of designs and styles to choose from on the market, we far and away love the easy installation and versatility of the Tangkula Outdoor Patio Retractable Folding Side Screen. This privacy screen is incredibly well built, provides spectacular protection, and made to withstand the harshest of weather conditions.
Best Patio Privacy Screen – Tangkula Outdoor Patio Retractable Folding Side Screen
- Elegant and Practical: The double folding side awning can be used as a low shade, umbrella or divider to block out light breezes, low sun, blind sights, bringing both privacy and elegance to your...
- Retractable Privacy Screen: Easily opens and retracts by handle, retracting mechanism provides good flexibility for smooth and long-time operation; can be rolled back into the housing when not in use....
Made with commercial grade aluminum alloy, the Tangkula Outdoor Patio Retractable Folding Side Screen is our #1 pick. With a variety of colors to choose from, matching the screen to any patio color scheme is easy. It comes in a wide variety of sizes and its retractable feature really impressed us. We loved being able to remove the screen and enjoy the view while simultaneously having the ability to create a barrier between the patio and surrounding environment with ease. The Tangkula Outdoor Privacy Screen allows great breathability and allows enough light to ensure your patio doesn’t feel cramped or cave-like. You won’t be disappointed in the quality, or the customer service that Tangkula provides with this screen.
Patio Privacy Screens Buyers Guide
Like Patio Sunroom Kits, knowing where and how you want to use the patio privacy screen is important before you start shopping. You need to know what type of material you want to use, where it’s going, how you intend to use it, and what size is going to be needed for your patio area. In this section we want to explain what the differences between patio privacy screens are and answer questions that may arise during the buying process. We want you to go into the buying process with a clear understanding of what you are going to need for your outdoor space.
What are the difference in patio screen colors and materials?
Patio screens come in a wide variety of shapes, colors, and construction materials. For the most part, they are built using materials such as aluminum, wood, or polyurethane resin. These materials prevent premature degradation from UV rays, wind, rain, snow, and ensures a long life to your patio screen as it weathers mother nature. Screens also come in a variety of colors and designs which help you match the privacy screen to your paint theme, wood fence, or balcony railing. Some privacy screens even come in a faux ivy leaf design, if you’re looking for a natural look.
Another important factor in the differences in privacy screens is the breathability of the fabric or screen material. Patio privacy screen breathability is measured in GSM. Patio screens on the lower end of the scale, around 180 GSM, will allow more air and light through the fabric. This is important because lower GSM ratings will generally be more see-through than a privacy screen with a 480gsm rating. Finally, privacy screens come in a variety of colors, which help you match the privacy screen to your wood fence, or outside paint theme.
What size do I need?
Patio privacy screen size is going to be the biggest determiner for which screen you end up buying. While some screens come in rolls of precut lengths and widths, with grommets along the sides and ends others allow you to install a single unit that can be set up or retracted if you prefer to only use the privacy screen sometimes. Because there are varying lengths and designs, it’s important to measure the dimensions of the area you want to cover so you can buy the size that fits your area best. You don’t want to buy a privacy screen that is too narrow for your fence or balcony railing, or that isn’t installable because you don’t have a solid anchoring material. Buying the improper size could mean that your screen will not fit securely and will flap in the wind, or it could not provide the protection you are looking for. If you are going to be placing a privacy screen along a fence, it is also possible to buy multiple lengths that are the right width for your fence and install them side by side.
If you are going to be putting up a patio privacy screen in an area where you do not have a fence or balcony railing, or you want to be able to remove the privacy screen easily, your best option may be to consider a retractable privacy screen. However, they do not work for everyone’s patio and are in general more expensive than fixed patio screens.
How do I install a Privacy Screen?
Because of the difference in designs of privacy screens, installation is largely going to be dictated by your chosen screen. For instance, permanently installed screens such as the Alion Home Elegant Privacy Screen, will need to be installed on a permanent structure such as a railing or fence. Grommets are used to reinforce the privacy screen where it will be attached to the structure. While these screens can be quickly attached using zip-ties, a far more permanent and durable idea is to use screws and washers when installing your privacy screen.
If you decide to go with a retractable privacy screen, the main support beam will need to be permanently secured to the ground. This provides structure and allows the fabric to be retracted in to the main beam. When installing your retractable privacy screen, you will also need to measure the set distance that it will open to. You will also need to ensure that you are installing the screen on a durable, flat surface such as a concrete patio or wood deck. Some options also require installing to a vertical wall for support. Because of this, a retractable patio screen may not be the most suitable option for buyers who are renting, or do not wish to permanently install something in to their space.
Does a patio privacy screen offer any other sorts of protection?
The short answer is yes! Privacy screens can help you bring shade to your unbearably bright patio. They can reduce the amount of snow or rain that collects on your balcony, and they can even help to reduce glare when you are outside enjoying your patio. While privacy screens are a great option when you are trying to introduce a more secluded feel to your outdoor space, there are many reasons to buy a privacy screen. Some buyers purchase them to keep outsiders from looking in, while others purchase them to create a barrier between them and their neighbor’s yard. They can also be used to keep pets from barking at pedestrians or passing cars, or provide children a safe play area away from busy streets.
How long will my privacy screen last?
The question of durability is hard to predict. For instance, someone living in Arizona whose privacy screen see’s harsh sunlight all year long will fare far differently than someone who lives in a colder climate but has snow and wind to contend with. You can however, expect a life span of about 5 years for permanently installed screens. Retractable screens will fare far worse when compared to a permanent screen, so taking precautions to protect your screen is of the utmost importance.
There are many ways that owners can extend the life of their privacy screen. For instance, if you are not going to be using your patio in the winter months, your screen will fare far better if you take it down during this time. You can also protect your retractable privacy screen by properly drying it after a rainstorm or storing it inside when not in use. Typically, privacy screens tend to be low maintenance over the expected life of the product and can be considered very low-maintenance.
Best Patio Privacy Screen Detailed Reviews
Even though there are literally hundreds of options to choose from, we believe that our top three share a few very important details. Build quality, ease of use, aesthetic, and color variation were very important. Finally, our top three ranged in price dramatically. Across the board, retractable privacy screens were the most expensive option yet allowed the greatest freedom when deciding how and when to use the patio screen. Even though installation was more involved, often requiring the use of a power drill to drill into either the deck or concrete and required more assembly, they were easy to remove and store indoors when not in use. In contrast, we enjoyed the easy installation of permanently fixed privacy screens yet found the supplied zip-ties to be flimsy and opted for a couple of screws and some washers to fasten the screen in place.
#1 Tangkula Outdoor Patio Retractable Folding Side Screen
- Elegant and Practical: The double folding side awning can be used as a low shade, umbrella or divider to block out light breezes, low sun, blind sights, bringing both privacy and elegance to your...
- Retractable Privacy Screen: Easily opens and retracts by handle, retracting mechanism provides good flexibility for smooth and long-time operation; can be rolled back into the housing when not in use....
We loved the elegance and ease of use of the Tangkula Outdoor Patio Retractable Folding Side Screen. If offered use as a shade and blocked out light breezes and the intense afternoon sun, and left the patio with an inviting glow. Tangkula’s privacy screen comes in variety of sizes and we loved the options of beige or grey. It also has one of the longest extendable reaches, up to 20ft, of other retractable screens.
The Tangkula gives any patio a modern look and utilizes durable materials such as an aluminum alloy frame which is resistant to rust. The durable polyester fabric is breathable and waterproof and we found that it was very easy to clean with just soap and water. While it is incredibly breathable, with a 230 GSM rating, it offered incredible opacity and provided exceptional privacy when extended. The handle made extending the privacy screen easy while the auto retract function felt smooth and durable.
When not in use, the ability to store this privacy screen indoors is a huge bonus for us. This means that the life can be extended and is easy to remove. Installation is more difficult when compared to permanently installed privacy screens. If installing this screen onto a concrete patio, specialized masonry bits and an appropriate power drill will be needed to secure the support beams. The main beam will also need to be installed to a vertical wall, which may mean that installation in some outdoor patio configurations will be tricky. Finally, the lighter beige color collected dirt and appeared dirty if left out and allowed to get wet. This is easily remedied by a quick rinse, or protecting the screen from rain.
#2 Alion Home Elegance Privacy Screen
- VISIBILITY & UV BLOCKAGE UP TO 90% - Provides up to 90% visibility and harmful UV ray blockage depending on lighting conditions. Reduces gusty winds and can help keep your dog from barking at...
- DURABLE MATERIAL RESISTS TEARING & FRAYING - Privacy screens are knitted with 185+ GSM thick commercial grade quality, made with 100% virgin high density polyethylene in attractive colors that are...
Made with commercial grade HDPE, the Alio Home Elegant Privacy Screen is our #2 pick. With a variety of colors to choose from, matching the screen to any patio color scheme is easy. It comes in a wide variety of sizes and has enough grommets to make securing the screen incredibly easy. The Alion Home Privacy Screen allows great breathability and allows enough light to ensure your patio doesn’t feel cramped or cave-like. You won’t be disappointed in the quality, or the customer service that Alion provides in this screen.
The aluminum grommets of Alion Home’s screen provide a secure way to fasten it to already existing structures such as balcony railings, fence lines, car ports, or railings. With many different colors including beige, brown, and grey, it is easy to match to existing patio color schemes and comes in a variety of sizes up to 50 feet in length. This means longer fence lines along street lines or neighboring houses are easily protected. Installation was also easiest out of the top 3 patio screens. Alion Home’s screen comes with zip-ties for installing however a more permanent option, which is far more sturdy, is to use screws and washers to secure the screen.
The Alion Home screen is also one of the most breathable screen’s on the market, with a 180GSM rating. This breathability will be welcome in hotter environments and the lighter colors deflect sunlight and glare. However, this breathability comes at a cost, as the opacity of this privacy screen is rather translucent.
The UV treated HDPE material means that this privacy screen will have a long lifespan even when permanently installed and resists degrading from UV exposure. The knitted commercial grade fabric design means that the screen won’t lose its shape, stretch, or sag over time.
#3 Cross Land Outdoor Waterproof Patio Curtains
- ✅READY MADE - Curtain package includes 1 panel, each panel measures 54'wide x 96'drop, the depth measures from the grommet top. For proper fullness, panels should measure 1.5-2.7 times the width of...
- ✅TOP GROMMET - 8 sliver top chromes (external diameter is 6 cm,inner diameter 3.6 cm.) make the curtain panels ready to use, universal fit most of the curtain poles which diameter up to 3.7cm Easy...
The Cross Land Outdoor Waterproof Patio Curtains provide a unique, and elegant solution to protecting your patio’s privacy. Made from a high quality oxford shade fabric, Cross Land Outdoor’s curtains are an inviting addition to any outdoor patio that is looking to impress. These curtains provide a fun addition that can provide privacy, protect patio furniture and propane fire columns, and can be drawn back when not in use. Using a UV treated fabric, they are durably built and will withstand seasons of abuse.
If you want to enhance the look of your patio with a modern elegance. These curtains are the way to go and are a surefire way to stand out. While installation is very simple, they will require additional materials, including a support beam to hang them from as well as a curtain rod. Because of this, advanced planning and decision making in the design of your patio will be required before you decide to purchase these curtains. Given that these required additional installation concerns, they rank last on our list.
The high quality fabric is UV protected and can withstand the harshest of sunrays. The fabric is light and provides ample breathability even when the curtains or closed. However, in everything but the slightest of breezes, these curtains will flap about and could cause problems when you are enjoying your patio. The option to open the curtains up and enjoy the outdoors is an inviting addition to any patio however, and their style is sure to please. With many color options including Chocolate, Beige, Gray, and White, these will accent many patio spaces but may not be suited for those looking for discrete protection.
Out of all the privacy screens on this list, the Cross Land curtains are the most susceptible to rain and weather. Even though the protective coating on the fabric is water resistant, they will soak through in rainstorms. Finally, because of their design, harsh weather will degrade the curtains faster than the other patio screens on this list.
Summary
A visually stunning and durable patio screen is an easy way to improve the look of your patio. They are easy to install, multipurpose, and provide improved comfort when using your patio space. Of all the patio privacy screens that we have used and seen, none quite match the simplicity and versatility of Tangkula Outdoor’s Patio Retractable Privacy Screen. While it is on the pricier side, you get what you pay for. The retractable feature means you only need to use it when you want to and its elegant design means that it will look superb sitting next to any BBQ Island. Besides, any way you slice it, a little added shade and privacy will do nothing but impress your guests!
Now that you’ve got a bit of patio privacy, you might want to add an artificial palm tree to for a touch of the tropics. In addition a concrete fire pit can turn your private retreat into a luxury backyard getaway.
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