5 Reasons London, Ontario Homeowners Are Adding Retractable Screens to Their Outdoor Spaces

Your backyard patio should be a place you actually want to spend time. But for many London homeowners, bugs, heat, sun glare, and lack of privacy keep outdoor spaces underused, especially in the evening.

Retractable screen systems have become one of the most popular products we install at London Awnings, and it's not hard to understand why. Here are five reasons why more and more local homeowners are making the upgrade.

1. Say Goodbye to Bugs

Ontario summers are beautiful. The mosquitoes are not.

Our Phantom Executive Screen and Zip Shade Screen systems use a mesh that locks firmly into integrated side tracks, creating a sealed barrier that keeps insects out without blocking airflow or natural light. You get the breeze without the bites.

This is particularly popular for covered decks and screened-in porch conversions, where the goal is to feel like you're outdoors without actually being exposed to everything that comes with it.

2. Daytime Privacy Without Losing the View

High-density solar mesh provides one of the more underrated benefits of retractable screen systems: daytime privacy. From inside looking out, visibility is unobstructed. From outside looking in, the mesh creates a screen that prevents neighbours or passersby from seeing into your space.

For homeowners with patios close to neighbouring properties, or for ground-floor living spaces that face the street, this is a significant quality-of-life improvement.

A clean solution for tight lot lines or street-facing decks.

For evening privacy, solid acrylic fabric options are available that provide full visual coverage day and night.

3. They Disappear When You Don't Need Them

The 'retractable' part matters. Unlike a permanent screen enclosure, retractable screens integrate seamlessly into your home's exterior when stored. Many systems are barely visible when retracted: the housing blends into trim or posts, and there's no visual clutter.

When you want the screen, it's there in seconds. When you don't, it's gone. This is especially valuable for homeowners who want to enjoy an open patio in cooler months and a screened space in summer.

4. They Are Built to Your Exact Dimensions

One of the most common questions we hear: "Can this work on my large deck opening?"

Absolutely. Retractable screens are custom manufactured to fit your specific opening. There is no standard size you are locked into. Whether your space is narrow, wide, or an awkward shape, your screen is built to measure.

Whether you have a compact condo balcony or a sprawling backyard deck, there's a solution that fits.

5. They Add Real Value to Your Home

Outdoor living space is increasingly valued by homebuyers in London and across Southern Ontario. A well-designed screened outdoor area extends your usable square footage. It's essentially another room in your home for four to five months of the year.

Retractable screens, combined with a quality awning, transform a plain patio into a functional outdoor room. That's an upgrade buyers notice and value.

A retractable screen turns your patio into usable living space. Good for resale, better for summer.

Which Screen System Is Right for You?

The main decision would be whether you are looking for privacy and / or solar protection, or if you are looking for solar and / or insect protection. This then would determine whether a manual cable-guided system or a motorized track system would be suitable for your space.

Shade Screen

Operated manually or electrically and guided by cables , this system is suitable for spaces where a track cannot be mounted to the structure. Available in multiple mesh densities for sun and glare control, or solid acrylic for full privacy.

Phantom Executive Screen / Zip Shade Screen

Motorized systems where the mesh locks into integrated side tracks. Smoother operation, better wind resistance, and a cleaner retracted profile. Available in solar or insect mesh.

See Them in Person

Both are on display at our showroom at 2425 Oxford St W in London, Ontario, where you can compare mesh densities and hardware finishes in person.

Not sure which is the better fit for your space? Book a free consultation with our team. We'll assess your opening, discuss how you plan to use the space, and recommend the system that makes the most sense.