We refer to both our manual retracting and motorized roll-up screens as "Hide-Away" because they have the unique ability to be there when you need them and gone when you don't. In other words, the screen mesh discreetly rolls into and out of a stylish aluminum canister that blends in with the surrounding door frame. To truly appreciate these wonderful products, we encourage you to see for yourself how well they work.

There are many benefits to a Michele's Hide-Away Screen over a conventional screen, such as:

• Less Obtrusive: when not needed, our screen is almost completely out of sight and out of the way.
• More Space Efficient: the slim profile design of our screen enables it to fit and operate in the smallest of spaces, while a conventional screen needs clearance for the arc created when it is swung open.
• Less Wear & Tear: because it can 'disappear' out of the way, our screen experiences far less wear and tear, while a conventional screen requires movement every time you pass through your doorway.
• Greater Durability: our screen's ability to self-store into its own protective housing makes it less vulnerable to harmful elements, severe weather and dirt.
• Better Warranty: our screen frames are protected by a manufacturer's limited lifetime warranty and our Super Screen™ carries an unprecedented 15 year manufacturer's warranty.

With improved material technology and better building codes, today's doorways are less vulnerable to weather and annoying drafts, making storm doors somewhat obsolete. Some findings suggest that damage to door panels, door frames, door glass, and finishes may result from radiant heat buildup caused by storm doors.

In most cases, we do have a solution for you. We have a range of options available that we can discuss with you should you like to stop into our showroom or even send photos of the space you are looking to add a retractable screen to.

Considering the value of residential space (currently over $100 / square foot), it makes economic sense to create more "livable" areas out of garages, porches and lanais.

Since basements and multi-story homes are rare in the Sunshine State, the space in the garage offers the best option for a hobby shop, exercise area, or game room, etc. Our motorized roll-up screen can instantly make the garage more comfortable and pest-free, and extend its seasonal use.

We offer screen mesh that blocks 90% to a full dim out of the UV rays in our electronic roll-up units and complete sun blockage fabric for our retractable awnings. These solar rated meshes are ideal for shading applications as well. You can choose from a variety of solar mesh and fabric options for our electronic roll-up systems and awnings.

Retractable screens are designed primarily for ventilation and insect control. Because solar mesh has such a tight weave, air flow is too restrictive to achieve the desired ventilation.

We currently offer:

• 8 standard powder-coated frame colors for our Single or Double Retractable screen along with 17 non-stock frame colors
• 5 standard and 14 non-stock powder-coated frame colors for our Motorized units
• 4 standard powder-coated frame colors for our Retractable Awnings
• 4 standard wet-coat frame colors for our Lifestyle units
• 2 standard wet-coat frame colors for our Slider units

In addition to these color options, we also offer RAL color options for the powder-coated frames if you are unable to match one of the standard or non-stock colors that we offer.

Yes, we currently offer:

• Charcoal Fiberglass and Black or White Tuffscreen/Pet Mesh for our single or double retractable units
• Black Super Screen only for our retained single or double retractable units
• Charcoal Fiberglass, Black or White Super Screen and Black or White Solar Screen for our slider screens
• Black or White Super Screen for our Lifestyle units
• Standard Black or White Super Screen for our motorized units or we do have Solar Screen available in a variety of mesh thickness and colors
• Retractable Awnings are available in over 100 fabric color choices and styles

We proudly offer Super Screen™ in every product we sell because it is three times stronger than fiberglass and insect screen, it offers dramatically more ventilation than solar screen and is designed to last up to 10 years or more, reducing the need for repairs and replacements.

Fiberglass Screens are made from glass yarn that is woven together and then coated with a protective vinyl. These types of screens are most frequently found on home windows, birdcages and enclosures.

Super Screen is made of a polyester core and then coated with vinyl. This screen is designed to keep out those pesky mosquitoes, wasps and many more flying insects. Super Screen is 3x stronger and more durable than standard Fiberglass meshes.

Solar Screens are a combination of Super Screen and a mesh fabric. This means that there is a polyester weave with a layer of vinyl coating that is added for durability and to help block heat more effectively. The holes or “openness” of a Solar Screen are much smaller compared to Super Screen or Fiberglass which means you will receive less airflow while gaining a heat blocking effect.

We have a disappearing screen or retractable awning for virtually any door, window or architectural opening on your home. Please see product specific information under our Products pages.

Initially, for estimating purposes, we just need the basic dimensions and the shape of the opening you want to screen. To proceed with an order and ensure a perfect fit, we'll send a trained team member to take precise field measurements so that your unit is custom built to the proper specifications.

Because of quality control and manufacturer's warranty guidelines, our disappearing screens can only be purchased on an installed basis.

Summer – Fall
Typically, manual units can be installed as early as 2-4 weeks from order confirmation date. Our motorized and retractable awning systems can take approximately 4-6 weeks.

Winter – Spring
Due to this time frame being our busier season, our manual retractable screens can take 4-6 weeks from order confirmation, whereas our motorized units and retained screens can take anywhere from 6-8 weeks.

Note: Our Lead Times are approximate and will vary depending on the season as well as the type of unit and specifications you are looking for.

The normal installation times (including customer use & care training) are as follows:

• Single Retractable: up to 1 hour
• Double Retractable: approximately 90 minutes
• Motorized Roll-Up Screens: Varies from 90 minutes to 4 hours
• Excludes archway garage installations
• Retractable Awnings: Varies from 90 minutes to 4 hours
• Slider Screens: 3-4 hours
• Lifestyle Screens: 3-4 hours

Maintenance is usually limited to occasional cleaning and lubricating of the tracks. See our Screen Care & Helpful Tips for more information.

Keep the screen or fabric rolled up in its protective housing whenever the screen is not needed. Rule of Thumb: When the door is closed, your screen is no longer needed.

See Screen Care and Helpful Tips for more ways to keep your screen lasting for years.

Per gallon of warm water add a 1/3 cup of dish soap (suggested Dawn) then use a washcloth or soft bristle brush to scrub. Hose down and let your screen air dry. Do not press hard when scrubbing and DO NOT use a pressure washer to rinse or wash the screen.

For White Mesh, 1/3  – 3/4 cup of household bleach can be added to the water.

Our screens are very tough against accidental impact. However, you should carefully examine the mesh and frame for damage. If there are folds or creases in the mesh, immediately press them out by hand. For situations that require professional service, please submit a Request for Service or call our office at (352) 236-8869 to set up an appointment.

With the advent of underground utilities, it’s rare these days to experience an extended power outage of more than 10 minutes in most Central Florida communities. In the event there is an outage, our motorized units can be operated by simply plugging the power cord into a small “inverter” (750 Watts), which uses the DC current from an automotive (or golf cart) battery. This relatively inexpensive device can be purchased at many of the big box stores for $75 - $100. A portable generator can also be used.

To put it in perspective, Michele’s Hide-Away Screens has installed a few thousand motorized units over the last 25 years and have received less than 20 calls from customers that were inconvenienced by an extended outage.

For complete details of our products' Manufacturer's Warranties, please see our Warranty Page for warranty details of all our products. If you have any further questions, contact Michele's Hide-Away Screens by clicking here or giving our office a call at (352) 236-8869.

Initially, our screens can cost more than some low to medium grade conventional screens; but considering the low wear and tear, impact-resistance, higher durability, Manufacturer's Limited Lifetime Warranty and greater curb appeal, we believe our screens offer a much greater value to your home.

Due to the wide variety and custom-built options that we provide, pricing will depend upon your project size, features you select, and any additional options or extras that are chosen. If you would like to bring in the breeze as quickly as possible, please go to our Contact Us page for options to speak with one of our team members to get started.

Here at Michele's, we pride ourselves on being able to provide the best price for the best value, from the beginning. This means that we do not increase pricing, just to knock them down later. Since we do service many of the local 55+ communities, we build all discounts into our pricing when configuring product costs. This includes military personnel, first responders and seniors.

However, on occasion we will offer special incentives during events that we attend (i.e. The Villages Chili Cook-off or the Ocala Home and Garden Show) as well as in The Home Magazine around the holidays. Check out our Specials & Events page for the next event and stop by our table for more information.