Motorized retractable screens cover a wide price range, and most online figures don’t reflect what a professionally installed, guided-track system actually costs on a Milwaukee-area patio or porch.
The real number depends on four things: the size of your opening, the fabric you choose, the motor and control configuration, and whether any site-specific work is needed for mounting. This article breaks all of that down so you can build a realistic budget before you talk to anyone.
As the team behind Outdoor Oasis, with over 20 years of custom home construction experience, we’re the authorized Sunspace dealer serving the Greater Milwaukee area. Reach out to our team for a free consultation when you’re ready to get a number for your specific space.
For a full overview of how the system works and how the four fabric options compare, the complete guide to motorized retractable screens covers everything in one place.
Why Motorized Screen Costs Vary So Much
A motorized retractable screen isn’t a product you pull off a shelf. Every system is custom-built to your exact opening dimensions, in the fabric you select, with the motor and control configuration that fits your use case. That customization is why a single price doesn’t exist, and why any contractor who quotes a flat rate without seeing your space should raise a flag.
The main variables are straightforward once you understand them.
Variable 1: Opening Size
Size is the most direct cost driver. The Sunspace system handles openings from 24 inches wide to 276 inches wide and up to 168 inches tall. Price scales with the total screen area for two reasons: more fabric and more motor capacity are required for larger openings.
Here’s how to think about size categories:
- Single narrow bay (up to approximately 8 feet wide): The most accessible starting point. A standard porch opening or single pergola bay falls in this range.
- Standard wide bay (8 to 14 feet wide): The most common residential installation. Covers a typical patio edge or covered porch opening comfortably.
- Large opening (14 to 23 feet wide): Often requires a multi-section installation with two or more screen units side by side. Each additional unit adds to the total.
- Multi-bay installation (several openings): Multiple screens on a pergola, a wraparound porch, or a patio with openings on two or three sides. Total cost scales with the number of bays, though multi-unit projects sometimes benefit from reduced per-unit costs.
Variable 2: Fabric Selection
The four fabric options in the Sunspace lineup sit at different price points. The base fabric affects both the unit cost and the long-term value of the installation.
| Fabric | Primary Use Case | Relative Cost |
| TuffScreen | Insect protection, pets, water-adjacent properties | Base tier |
| SunTex 90 | UV and heat reduction, south/west-facing patios | Moderate step up |
| SunTex 95 | Maximum UV blocking, highest heat reduction | Moderate step up |
| Sheerweave | Daytime privacy with filtered light | Moderate step up |
| Soltis 502 | Wind-exposed, elevated, or commercial applications | Higher tier |
TuffScreen is typically the entry point for fabric pricing. SunTex, Sheerweave, and Soltis 502 each carry a premium that reflects their higher-performance engineering. For most standard residential applications in the Greater Milwaukee area, the fabric upgrade cost is modest relative to the total project price and worth specifying correctly from the start.
The No-See-Ums variant of TuffScreen carries a small additional cost over standard TuffScreen. For Milwaukee-area properties near water features or wooded lots, where standard mesh doesn’t stop the smaller biting insects, it’s a worthwhile addition.
Variable 3: Motor and Control Configuration
The Somfy motor is standard across all Sunspace retractable screen installations. Configuration choices within the motor system affect cost.
- Standard motorized system with remote: The base configuration. Includes a handheld remote for deployment and retraction.
- Wall-mounted switch addition: A modest add-on for homeowners who prefer a fixed switch location alongside or instead of the handheld remote.
- Smart home integration: Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home. Adds a small cost for the compatible motor or bridge device depending on your existing smart home setup.
- Intelligent obstacle detection: An optional upgrade that automatically stops or reverses the screen if it encounters unexpected resistance during retraction. Worthwhile for households with children, pets, or high foot-traffic patio areas. Adds a modest cost to the motor configuration.
For a single-bay standard installation, the difference between a base remote-only configuration and a fully integrated smart home system with obstacle detection is a meaningful but not dramatic cost difference. On a multi-bay project, that difference scales with each additional motor unit.
Variable 4: Site Conditions and Mounting Requirements
Most motorized retractable screens install on existing porch headers, pergola rafters, patio cover beams, or exterior wall framing without requiring structural changes. When existing framing is in good condition and the right dimensions, the installation is clean and straightforward.
Site conditions that can add cost:
- No existing overhead framing: If your patio has no pergola or porch roof, a header or mounting structure needs to be added before the cassette can be installed.
- Masonry or concrete mounting surfaces: These require specific fastener systems and take longer than wood framing. The additional labor is modest.
- Electrical access for motor power: The motor needs a power source. If an outdoor outlet is already positioned near the installation point, wiring is minimal. If new electrical needs to be run to the mounting location, that’s a separate cost to factor in.
- Permit requirements: Some municipalities in the Greater Milwaukee area require permits for motorized screen installations. Outdoor Oasis handles permit coordination, but permit fees are a real cost to include in your planning budget.
A Sample Cost Walkthrough
Here’s how the pricing logic works in practice for two common project types in the Greater Milwaukee area.
Project A: Single-bay west-facing pergola screen, standard width, SunTex 90 fabric, remote control only
This is a homeowner whose afternoon sun problem is the primary driver. Single opening, standard configuration, performance fabric for UV and heat reduction. Straightforward mounting on existing pergola posts.
- Single screen unit, standard width
- SunTex 90 fabric
- Somfy motor with remote
- Standard pergola post mounting
This sits at the accessible end of the residential price range for the Greater Milwaukee area.
Project B: Three-bay patio enclosure, TuffScreen No-See-Ums on two sides and Sheerweave on the street-facing side, smart home integration, obstacle detection
This is a homeowner solving multiple problems at once: insects on two sides, privacy on the street-facing side, and automation tied to their existing smart home system.
- Three screen units, two standard-width bays and one slightly wider street-facing bay
- TuffScreen No-See-Ums on two units, Sheerweave on one unit
- Somfy motors on all three units, smart home integration, obstacle detection
- Existing covered porch header mounting
This sits at the higher end of the residential range. Three motor units, mixed fabrics, and the smart home and obstacle detection upgrades all contribute.
What Pushes Cost Up vs. Down
| Pushes Cost Up | Keeps Cost Down |
| Multiple openings or bays | Single opening installation |
| Large or wide opening dimensions | Standard single-bay width |
| Soltis 502 or Sheerweave fabric | TuffScreen base fabric |
| Smart home integration and obstacle detection | Remote-only control |
| No existing overhead framing (header required) | Existing porch or pergola framing in good condition |
| New electrical run to mounting location | Existing outdoor outlet near installation point |
| Permit required by local municipality | No permit required |
How Motorized Screen Cost Compares to Other Solutions
Homeowners weighing motorized screens against other outdoor comfort options often wonder whether the cost is justified compared to simpler alternatives.
A seasonal canopy or outdoor curtain setup costs less upfront but requires manual setup and takedown, offers no motorized control, and provides limited wind resistance. A fixed screen enclosure is comparable in cost to a motorized screen installation for a similar area, but permanently removes the open-air option with no flexibility. A louvered pergola addresses overhead sun and rain but doesn’t provide side insect or privacy protection on its own.
For the combination of flexibility, insect protection, UV control, privacy, and smart home automation in a single system, motorized retractable screens sit at a price point that most homeowners find reasonable once the full scope of what they’re replacing or avoiding is clear.
What a Good Motorized Screen Quote Should Include
A thorough quote for a motorized retractable screen installation should cover all of the following in writing before any commitment is made:
- Fabric selection and color
- Frame color
- Number of units and opening dimensions
- Motor configuration and control options
- Mounting method and any required structural or electrical work
- Permit costs if applicable
- Labor and installation
- Warranty coverage on both product and labor
If a quote you receive doesn’t address all of these line items, ask for a revised version that does. Comparing quotes at this level of detail is the only accurate way to know you’re looking at the same scope of work across different contractors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a motorized retractable screen cost in Greater Milwaukee?
The total cost depends on the number of openings, the size of each opening, fabric selection, motor and control configuration, and site conditions. A single-bay standard residential installation is the most accessible entry point. Multi-bay projects with premium fabrics and smart home integration land at the higher end of the residential range. A free in-home consultation produces the only accurate number for your specific space.
Is the Somfy motor included in the price?
Yes. The Somfy motor is standard in every Sunspace motorized retractable screen installation. Control configuration, smart home integration, and obstacle detection are upgrades that add to the motor cost.
Does fabric choice significantly affect the total cost?
Yes, but the fabric upgrade is usually a modest portion of the total project cost. Choosing the right fabric for your use case from the start is far more valuable than choosing the cheapest fabric and being disappointed with the performance.
Are permits required for motorized screens in Greater Milwaukee?
Requirements vary by municipality. Outdoor Oasis handles permit coordination where required. Your consultant will confirm permit requirements for your specific location during the site visit.
Is the quote price final or an estimate?
Every quote from Outdoor Oasis is itemized and final. The price we quote is the price you pay, with no change orders or surprise additions after the contract is signed.
Does a multi-bay installation cost proportionally more than a single bay?
Yes, total cost scales with the number of units and total screen area. Multi-unit projects sometimes benefit from reduced per-unit costs compared to a single-bay installation, depending on scope and configuration.
What’s the best way to get an accurate price?
A free in-home consultation where we measure your openings, assess your site conditions, and walk through fabric and motor options is the only accurate path to a real number. Contact us to schedule yours.
Talk to Our Team
The only accurate way to get a real number for your space is a site visit. Opening dimensions, fabric selection, motor configuration, and site conditions all affect the final cost in ways that can’t be assessed from a conversation alone.
Outdoor Oasis is the authorized Sunspace dealer serving the Greater Milwaukee area. Reach out to our team for a free in-home consultation, and we’ll bring fabric samples, measure your openings, and produce a detailed, itemized quote at no charge.
