Sue - They've held up really well. They don't effect the views or light as they are out during our 3-4 months of sunny summer and then retracted for the remaining 8-9 months of overcast weather. Before they are put away at the end of summer they get scrubed down with a push broom, hose and soap and left to dry - pretty easy.

One needs to be careful that they are not left out in very windy weather (say over 20 MPH). We don't have those kinds of winds in the summer and the house and surrounding trees protect them pretty well in any case. One can install them on a motor with both a solar and wind guage so they automatically extend and retract in response to conditions. That's a much more elaborate installation than I have.

Thanks!

Rick