A Screen Dilemma (DIY vs. MFR, LAMBERTIAN vs. REFLECTIVE)

It feels like I've spent hundreds of hours picking up a screen for my room. There's too much pros and cons for each variant. I haven't picked a projector yet because I think that screen choice should come first. I need your thoughts. I'll try to make my post as structured as possible. Here's my mini-theater-to-be/living room.







I have a place for a 84-86" diagonal screen. The main problem is that behind the curtains is a balcony and I'll be needing an easy access to it (1). The second problem is my ceiling and walls (2). Let's call (1) a form-factor problem and (2) a screen material problem.

So, to counter (1) I have several options:
Var.1a MFR (manufacturer) motorized tab-tensioned ceiling screen
"+" - very ergonomic, trigger-controlled by a projector
"-" - damn expensive, lack of sizes for my room, need to spoil my nice ceiling, possible wrinkles and waves

Var.1b MFR motorized floor-stander
"+" - cheap, very ergonomic, needn't to spoil the ceiling, trigger-controlled by a projector
"-" - higher possibility of wrinkles and waves, reliability

Var.1c MFR/DIY fixed frame screen
"+" - cheapest variant?, reliability, no wrinkles and waves
"=" - (if implemented) ergonomic, trigger-controlled by a projector
"-" - need to invent a mechanism to provide access to the balcony, need to implement it, cannot truly disappear, perhaps not-so-cheap?

I think that covers (1). Now as to (2) I have been researching the market and studying some basics regarding screens. I have a basic understanding of lambertian, angular-reflective and retro-reflective screens. So, now I have several options here:

Var.2a MFR high-gain angular-reflective screen (Supernova, ISIS, Skyline, Reflection)
"+" - best contrast possible, needn't to do anything about the ceiling (great ambient lighting resistance), high gain for bright 3D
"-" - stupidly expensive, narrows the choice of projectors (throw ratio of 1.5:1 or more is needed), difficult projector placement (needs to be mounted perpendicular within the boundaries of the screen), possible artifacts (brightness non-uniformity, hot spotting, sparkling)

Var.2b MFR 1.0 matt white screen
"+" - cheap, no artifacts (great brightness uniformity, no hot spotting, no sparkles), no restrictions in projector choice, great placement flexibility
"=" - possible brightness problems for 3D
"-" - contrast is totally dependent on room treatment, need to invent masking mechanism for ceiling, additional cloth may further deaden the acoustics of the room

Var.2c MFR+DIY matt white screen (buy a screen and improve it with SF 2.5 5.0 paint or similar)
"+" - same as Var.2b + high gain for bright 3D, better contrast?
"-" - same as Var.2b + I have little experience in DIY

Var.3 Complete DIY screen
"+" - ?
"=" - ?
"-" - I have little experience in DIY and have little confidence ATM in the possible outcome

Using pure logic, I would choose right now Var. 1b + 2c. But I'll be needing your help and advice anyways.

So, there you have it. Props to those who read and thanks to those who will help!

Nice. I was hoping you'd answer. Especially I liked the price on the screen. At this price point for motorized tab-tensioned you wouldn't even ask for reliability.
But there leaves the problems: possible wrinkles and waves, contrast is totally dependent on room treatment, need to invent masking mechanism for ceiling.

What can you say about waves and wrinkles on this screen? Especially when spray painted.
Edited by Elix - 1/31/13 at 6:10am

Thank you so much for this! Especially for this idea: And for this Now that I came home and measured the supposed screen position I can say, unfortunately, this is a dealbreaker. I will be sitting quite close to the screen most of the time and 17" for the top of the screen is unacceptable in my conditions. If only they had 30" drop...
You think this screen's tensioning system won't do for a spray paint? Actually I already have a plan for walls. I will use this speaker grill cloth with IKEA's Kvartal rail track system or similar.

I went and saw this screen with my own eyes. The screen seems to be made of very cheap PVC material, black borders are also PVC. The grain was pretty large and there were some vertical waves... I wonder if VApex makes their motorized tab-tensioned screens less that 92". I wrote them but got no answer.

Would mounting spots of L-brackets correspond to screen's center of mass? Otherwise I think it won't work.
I wonder if I should give up on tensioned screens... There goes a "-" I wrote about initially: "lack of sizes for my room".
Edited by Elix - 2/2/13 at 10:18am

The only screen I was able to find that would fit http://www.visualapex.com/Projector-Screens/Projector_Screen_Details.asp?chPartNumber=TE84HW2-E30