V-Track Motorized Screens
V-Track Solar Screens
Solar mesh on the V-Track keder retention system — cooler spaces without losing the view.
Specifications
| UV blocked | Up to 97% |
|---|---|
| Surface temp drop | 15–25°F |
| Glare reduction | ~70% |
| Openness factors | 1–10% (95% openness most popular) |
| Wind capability | 100+ mph (manufacturer internal testing; not a hurricane rating) |
Fabric & mesh options
Perfect for
The mechanism
How it works
V-Track solar screens use a keder bead — a thermoplastic edge welded to the fabric — riding inside an extruded aluminum V-channel. The retention is continuous and mechanical along the full height, and wind pressure pushes the bead deeper into the channel rather than out of it.
The solar mesh itself is the product's other half. Openness factors from tight to open let you tune the balance between view, airflow, and heat rejection: a 95% openness mesh preserves the view while cutting glare, a tighter weave blocks more sun and more of the view.
For very wide openings, the RAD roller reinforcement carries single spans up to about 99 feet with no center posts — the reason V-Track exists alongside MagnaTrack in our lineup.
Why it's worth it
What this system gives you
VisionTex, Twitchell, and Serge Ferrari solar fabrics in twelve colors.
Measured reduction in surface temperature behind the mesh.
Screens make west-facing patios usable in the late afternoon.
RAD roller reinforcement removes the need for center posts.
Keder-in-channel retention increases its hold as pressure rises.
Remote, wall switch, and myLink app control with Alexa and Google Home.
Ownership
Care & maintenance
Motorized screens need very little upkeep. Twice a year, rinse the mesh with a garden hose and wipe the bottom bar and tracks with mild soap and water — pollen in spring and leaf debris in fall are the two things worth clearing.
Keep the track channels free of grit. A quick pass with a soft brush or a vacuum crevice tool prevents the bottom bar from riding over debris. Never lubricate the tracks with grease; a dry silicone spray is all that is ever needed, and usually not even that.
If a screen ever behaves oddly — hesitating, reversing, or stopping short — call us before forcing it. Motor limits and obstacle detection are adjustable, and most service calls are a five-minute programming fix rather than a part.
Local fit
Built for Virginia, Maryland & DC
Our climate asks a lot of an outdoor screen: pollen-heavy springs, humid summers in the nineties, derecho winds, and freeze-thaw cycles from November through March. Powder-coated aluminum extrusions and stainless fasteners handle that swing without corroding or warping the way steel or untreated aluminum does.
We install across Northern Virginia, suburban Maryland, and Washington, DC — roughly ninety miles around our Marshall, VA headquarters. That includes historic districts and HOA communities where color matching and low-profile hardware matter, which is why custom RAL frame finishes are worth asking about at your consultation.
Verified customers
What customers say about this
American Light Design was easy to work with when it came to ordering and designing our motorized deck screens. We appreciated that our sales representative, Michael, dialed into our HOA's Design Review Committee meeting to answer questions.…
— ARTHUR PADAMA · 2026-08-17
Very responsive, even more thorough. They did a retractable screen install and went out of their way to ensure it was done properly. High quality products, higher quality work. I will be using them again.
— Kevin Burger · 2026-08-04
Had two 6ft wide and one 12 foot screens installed on outdoor covered porch. Chose magna track after researching competing motorized retractable screens. Their design while most expensive seemed to be most robust and high quality. Give p…
— Barbara Juedes · 2026-08-01
Hello! We have to say first that the crew was spectacular! The crew installed professionally and cleaned up everything! Impeccable look and design on magnatrack screens. Operation seems flawless and made our patio a whole new room! Sun is o…
— Craig Smith · 2026-06-12
Seth, Max & Timo installed our 24 foot’ x 10’ screen today. They were polite, professional and very experienced. They cleaned the area afterward and showed us in detail how the motorized screen worked while answering all of our question…
— Anita B. · 2026-06-08
We had an excellent experience with American Light Design from start to finish. Nick did a fantastic job with the design process, helping us choose the right solution for our space and answering all of our questions along the way. The inst…
— Mariya Zholob · 2026-05-30
Knowledge base
Learn more about V-Track Solar Screens
Motorized Screen Cost in Northern Virginia (2026): Typical Prices and the Best Systems
Typical installed costs for motorized retractable screens in 2026, what drives the price, and which system fits your patio. Your firm quote is free.
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Can people see through my solar screens at night?
Daytime privacy is real, but the effect reverses after dark — what to plan if evening privacy matters.
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Inside the Roller: Tubular Motors and What Somfy, Gaposa, and Dooya Each Bring
The motor in a motorized screen or awning lives inside the roller tube itself. What that means, and how the motor brands we install differ on safety features and speed.
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How much cooler will solar screens actually make my patio?
Shaded surfaces run 15 to 25 degrees cooler, UV drops by up to 97 percent, and glare by about 70 percent.
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Your West-Facing Patio Doesn't Have to Be Unusable in July
Afternoon sun turns west-facing patios into ovens across the DC suburbs every summer. Solar mesh screens drop surface temperatures 15 to 25 degrees without giving up the view.
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What openness factor should I pick for a V-Track solar screen?
Fabrics run from 1 to 10 percent openness — how exposure direction picks the number, and why the 95 class is the crowd favorite.
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MagnaTrack or V-Track: Which Motorized Screen Is Right for Your Project?
We install both premium systems, so this comparison has no thumb on the scale — when the self-correcting magnetic track wins, when the keder giant-span system wins, and how we decide with you.
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Solar Mesh Science: Openness Factors, UV, and Heat, Explained
What the numbers on a solar screen spec sheet actually mean — openness factor, UV blockage, glare, and the one-way visibility effect — so you can choose fabric with confidence.
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The Keder Bead: How V-Track Screens Hold On Without Zippers or Cables
A welded thermoplastic bead riding in an aluminum V-channel gives V-Track screens continuous edge retention — and enables single spans approaching 99 feet.
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Can one V-Track screen span my whole patio without posts?
Single spans approaching 99 feet with RAD roller reinforcement — no center posts, no divided view.
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When Is the Best Time to Install Motorized Screens in Northern Virginia?
Lead times, weather windows, and why ordering in late winter beats calling in May. A practical timeline for Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William homeowners.
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How to Choose Mesh Openness for Your Solar Screens
A three-step decision guide to openness factor — matching fabric tightness to your patio's orientation, your priorities, and the view you want to keep.
View moreThe V-Track Motorized Screens line
Keder-bead retention that locks tighter as the wind blows
A thermoplastic keder bead welded to the fabric edge rides in extruded aluminum V-channels — continuous mechanical retention along the full track, no zippers and no cables. RAD roller reinforcement enables single spans up to ~99 feet with no center posts.
Recent motorized screen projects
292 completed motorized screen installations across 91 communities.