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Most standard windows can accommodate solar screens, but specialty shapes or non-standard frames may require custom solutions. It’s important to consult with a professional to ensure compatibility and proper fit for unique window designs. Arched, bay, and fabricated windows often need fabricated screens, which can increase costs and lead time.

If your door has interchangeable inserts, you’ll likely want to swap the glass out for a screen during the summer months. The process to do so will vary by door, but you’ll follow these general steps: First, use a flathead screwdriver to pop out the retainer strips—the plastic strips running down both long (and sometimes all four) sides of the door. Then gently pull them out by hand. Carefully remove the glass insert from the door and replace it with the screen. Finally, push the plastic retainer strips back into place, working from top to bottom.

Awning windows can have screens, but it depends on your manufacturer. If your awning window does have a screen, it will be on the interior side so it doesn’t get in the way when you crank the window open. Having the screen on the inner part of the window also makes it easier to clean from inside your home.

Window seals don’t last forever, so they’ll inevitably fail for one reason or another. One of the most common reasons is the expansion and contraction of the glass. When the glass gets warm from sunlight, it expands and adds pressure to the seal; at night, as the glass cools, it contracts. This process, day in and day out, can eventually cause the seal to fail. Other common sources of failure include the house settling over time, chemicals that damage the seal when repainting windows, and incorrect window installation.