5 Reasons Des Moines Homeowners Are Considering Upgraded Screens for Summer Daylight

July is typically the warmest month in Des Moines, with a normal daily high of 85.6°F, according to the National Weather Service. When heat and humidity keep the air conditioning running, windows may remain closed for much of the day. A conventional screen can still cover the glass and reduce incoming daylight, even when it is not needed for ventilation. High-transparency and retractable screens can help homeowners make better use of available summer daylight without leaving windows open during the hottest hours.

A fixed screen remains in front of the glass whether the window is open or closed. That can limit daylight during a hot Des Moines afternoon when the sash is shut and the air conditioning is running. A retractable screen moves out of the way when ventilation is not needed, leaving the glass more exposed to available light. This makes particular sense in rooms where homeowners open windows during cooler mornings but close them before outdoor temperatures climb.

Opening a window for fresh air should not require unnecessarily darkening the room. Compared with conventional fiberglass mesh, a high-transparency screen uses material designed to reduce the visual barrier across the opening. That can help in a Drake-area bungalow where double-hung windows may be a primary source of both ventilation and daylight. The screen provides insect protection while its finer mesh may allow more of the available light and view through the open sash.

Des Moines has a substantial urban forest, with the city’s Urban Forest Master Plan reporting approximately 29% tree canopy, based on the assessment used in the plan. Mature trees can reduce direct summer sun entering the room, but heavily shaded rooms may receive less daylight to begin with. On a tree-lined street in Union Park, dense or aging mesh can further darken a north-facing bedroom or home office. A more transparent screen may allow more of the daylight reaching the window to illuminate the room.

Tall windows are an important feature in many older Des Moines houses, especially homes where the original openings contribute to the interior proportions and exterior architecture. In a Sherman Hill home, dark screen mesh can visually divide or mute a window that was designed to bring light deep into a room. A less-visible screen can leave more of the glass visually open without reducing the original opening or changing its proportions. If the property is subject to historic review, homeowners should confirm local requirements before changing the window itself.

Not every side of a Des Moines home receives the same amount of daylight. A shaded bedroom window may benefit most from high-transparency mesh, while a window used for ventilation only occasionally may be a better candidate for a retractable screen. A large west-facing opening also needs separate consideration because brighter glass does not automatically mean better heat control. Screen visibility and Low-E glass with an appropriate solar heat gain coefficient should be evaluated together, because each can influence daylight flow, solar heat gain and overall window performance.

Pella offers several screen configurations for Des Moines homeowners looking for ways to support natural light and ventilation. Our current screen options include InView™ high-transparency screens, which allow 14% more light in than conventional fiberglass screens, and the Hidden Screen, which allows 44% more natural light in than a standard screen when the window is closed. Retractable screen options on compatible Pella windows provide ventilation and insect barrier when the sash is open, then move out of sight when the window closes. The Central Iowa team can match the screen technology, operating style and glass package to a shaded older home or a sun-exposed postwar ranch rather than applying the same recommendation to every opening.

If you own a home in Des Moines and are not certain whether conventional screens are limiting the natural light entering the home, a professional in-home assessment can help clarify the available options. Pella Windows & Doors of Central Iowa offers free consultations that evaluate the existing windows, room orientation and compatible screen options, with no obligation and no sales pressure. The local team serves Des Moines homeowners from its Urbandale showroom and can identify which openings are compatible with high-transparency or retractable screen options. Schedule a free consultation to prepare the home for brighter rooms during the next stretch of summer heat.