26 April 21 - May 4, 2007
Business
www.SanTanSun.com
Less heat, more security with Armadillo Sun Screens
by Sharon Schnakenburg
Most Arizona residents have been advised to protect
themselves from the sun via regular sunscreen use.
Now Southern Chandler resident and Armadillo Sun
Screens owner Mike Fulton is taking steps to make
sure residents’ houses follow suit, lowering indoor
summer temperatures, increasing security and adding
decorative flair.
“When you open your window, there’s that screen
that’s right there. All that does is keep bugs out,”
Fulton says. But sun screens, which are also fixed and
immovable within a window’s frame, are different.
“There’s denser screen material that has smaller
holes that won’t allow as much light into the house,
STSN photos by Gordon Murray
SUN BLOCK: Sun screens, such as these installed by Armadillo Sun Screens, help keep light and heat out of homes.
and the light source is where you get the heat going
inside your house. If you can eliminate the light your door so that you can open your other door ... so back up to put up the product, so I usually don’t put
source, you eliminate a lot of heat,” Fulton explains. you can allow for ventilation. But bugs don’t get in and my customers through that.”
The screens, which Armadillo offers in five colors, thugs don’t get in,” he adds. Fulton, who has also completed commercial
can also be decorative. Fulton, a former process engineer, launched the projects such as Firebird International Raceway’s roll
“Some people use them to change the look of business in 1999, two years before leaving a two- shades, gives price breaks to Sun Lakes residents by
a house. Maybe it’s an older house. They put sun decade stint at Motorola. He says starting a sun screen not charging them tax or installation fees. Armadillo
screens on it, give it a fresh new look.” company was a leap of faith. Sun Screens also matches other vendors’ prices.
Added security is another sun screen benefit, “I didn’t know anything about the industry or the “If you went to buy a Jeep Cherokee, and you went
according to Fulton. market when I started. I had some done on my house, to this store and they said they have it for $15,000,
“If the neighbors’ house is really close next door and I thought it was a decent product and the margin then you went to another store and the guy says it’s
and they don’t want them peeking in all the time, then seemed to be good. So I just started doing a little bit on $12,000. Then you go back to the other guy and say,
they can put them up,” he explains. the side,” he says. ‘Hey, I can get a Jeep Cherokee, same model, for
Armadillo also features roll shades. “Then once I had established enough clients, when $12,000, can you match it?’ I would do that, as long as
“A roll shade goes on the patio so you can shade I saw that I could leave Motorola and actually start we’re comparing apples to apples,” he concludes.
your patio and then roll it up when you want, when doing it full time, then I did,” says the Iowa native, who Armadillo Sun Screens is located at 12510 E. Via de
you don’t want it in the way,” explains Fulton, whose manufactures Armadillo Sun Screens’ own products Arboles in Chandler. Business hours are 8 a.m. to 8
family includes wife Rebecca, who’s expecting a baby himself. p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information,
girl the first week in June. One thing Fulton says makes his business different call 480-883-9255 or visit www.sunscreens-armadillo.
Other Armadillo offerings include screen doors, and from most other contractors is that he doesn’t require com.
the company is an authorized vendor of SunSetter deposits.
awnings and Titan security doors. “A deposit basically causes the customer to worry
Sharon Schnakenburg is a freelance reporter who can be
“A security door is a door that you put on in front of about where their money went until the guy shows
reached at Sharon@SanTanSun.com.
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