Saturday, March 23, 2024

Solar Shades For Large Windows

Do Solar Shades Offer Privacy

Custom Solar Shades | Window Treatment Ideas

Yes and no. The higher the openness level , the better you can see through the fabric. But during the day, you have a little more privacyyou can see outside, but others cannot see into your home. When your lights are on at night, the effect is the opposite and outsiders can see inside. You might want to consider adding a liner to your solar shades, or for a more dramatic look, layer your shades with curtains.

Since solar shades on their own dont provide as much privacy as other shades, they work best in more public areas like , , , sunrooms and patios as opposed to bathrooms or bedrooms. You might also notice them in business offices, where they reduce glare on computer screens, or restaurants, where you can take in the surrounding views.

What Are The Best Indoor Shade Options For Large Windows

Large windows allow you to enjoy incredible vistas from the comfort of your couch, which is a terrific way to feel connected to your environment. They enhance your homes natural lighting as well. However, you might decide to cover them at some point. Below we have discussed the best indoor shade alternatives for large windows as listed below:

Blocking Window Sunlight Without Obstructing The View

Especially in offices, sometimes you really still want a clear look at the view outside your window. Maybe it overlooks your beautiful yard, and privacy is not really an issue. In cases like these, solar window shades are a perfect solution to block sunlight and heat without blocking your view. Allowing filtered sunlight boosts peoples moods, alertness and productivity, after all!

Graber Solar Shades

Solar shades are incredibly versatile due to their ability to have custom levels of transparency, so you can choose how much sunlight still comes through the window. That level of transparency is also directly proportional to the amount of UV rays blocked by the sturdy, modern material, hence the word solar its what theyre made for! For example, 10% openness translates to 90% of UV rays blocked, allowing you to find your perfect balance of natural light with protection for your space.

Privacy during the night is a consideration that may dictate where these are used, as they do allow a view at night into lit rooms, so its not a good choice for a bathroom unless there is no external line of sight. Graber provided a wonderful example of the difference in privacy during night and day:

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Why Solar Shades Workthe Science Behind The Fabrics

Solar shades are based on science. Solar Screen mesh shades control heat and light, allowing a lower percentage of both to enter the room. Fabric color and density determine the solar/optical/thermal performance of individual fabrics. No single fabric has the precise combination of thermal/optical properties to satisfy every application requirement. The combination of properties of each fabric allow for a perfect match for every application and aesthetic. Your dealer or the fabric expertise of Insolrolls customer service staff are available to help you make the perfect fabric choice for your needs. The Key Thermal/Optical Factors

  • Ts= Solar transmittance
  • SHGC=Solar Heat Gain Coefficient

How To Measure And Install Solar Shades

Dual Shades in one window. Yes we can do that! Blackout and Filtered ...

View our helpful online measuring guidebefore selecting your custom solar screen or solar shade.

We also have installation guides for all of our solar shades available on our help center.

If you need any assistance measuring, installing, or customizing your solar shades, dont hesitate to reach out to our in-house team of design experts over the phone or via email .

To review samples or discuss custom solutions for your home, you can also book a virtual one-on-one appointment with our virtual designer.

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Solar Shades And Color

One thing to keep in mind when choosing solar shades is the fabric color. Even if you compare fabrics with the same opacity level, lighter and darker colors work a bit differently. Lighter colors better reflect heat and illuminate a room, but the view might be a little hazy . So, if you have small windows or want to brighten a space, a lighter color may work best. Dark colors, on the other hand, are excellent at reducing glare and providing better view-through. A darker fabric is a great choice for larger windows that overlook an amazing outdoor setting.

Exterior Solar Window Screens

Solar screens can reduce solar heat gain, UV damage, and glare. They can be installed on the interior or exterior as roller shades or fixed panels, and they typically allow for a view out the window and light transmission. They look similar to regular insect screens but provide more efficiency benefits.

The openness factor on solar screens varies and affects the efficiency benefits greater openness reduces the protection against glare and solar heat gain but increases visibility and light transmission.

Read more about solar screens from the Efficient Window Coverings Collaborative.

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Why Choose Indoor Solar Shades

View our Solar Shades Buying Guide

Solar shades are the perfect choice for many rooms and styles. Here’s why:

  • Glare Protection: Solar shades significantly reduce glare from the sun and are ideal choices in media rooms and home theaters, or anywhere you spend time watching TV.
  • UV Blocking: Solar shades help to block harmful UV rays, protecting furniture and helping to cut down on heat buildup.
  • Keep Your View: Solar shades block rays but dont obstruct your view, allowing you to see outside.

Designer Quality Custom Blinds And Shades

Premier Modern Solar Screen from SelectBlinds.com

Whats your style? Contemporary minimalist? Modern millennial? Classic coastal? Trendy traditional? We have you covered! At SelectBlinds.com, youll find the perfect coverings for your windows and the designer blind stores look — without the designer price!

Buying blinds online at SelectBlinds.com is easy, convenient, and saves you time and money. No high-pressure sales. No time-consuming appointments. No waiting for weeks or months for your custom blinds and shades. Just friendly, knowledgeable window design experts dedicated to helping you select the right wood blinds, faux wood blinds, shutters, cellular shades, bamboo/woven woods, whatever window covering you want. With hundreds of styles, fabrics, patterns and colors to choose from, youll wish you had more windows to decorate!

You can even try before you buy online! Well send you up to 15 free samples at a time. And when youre ready to buy your custom-made blinds and shades, we deliver them to you for free, too! Whether you live here with us in Arizona, or youre in Texas, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, or Washington, we deliver for free anywhere in the entire contiguous United States. Some restrictions apply.

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Solar Shades What Are They

Solar Shades are the perfect solution for controlling direct sunlight, especially in large windows. Solar Shades are built like a traditional roller shade, so they are well suited for wide windows, as they are available in widths up to 120. They also roll up tightly, only using 4.5 of the windows opening when fully retracted.

The difference between traditional roller shades and Solar Shades is the material they are made of. Solar Shades are specially designed with a sun resistant woven fabric, which among other properties, blocks UV light. Since the UV spectrum is responsible for heat and doing damage to your room, Solar Shades can be the perfect solution for anyone looking to control the sun, but still allow ambient light into their space. Solar Shades are extremely popular in schools, office spaces, and living areas.

Energy Performance Ratings For Window Attachments

When choosing window attachments, look for products certified with the Attachments Energy Rating Council Energy Improvement rating for increased energy savings and added comfort.

The AERC energy rating indicates that the product has been certified according to strict standards set forth by the AERC. AERC is an independent, public interest, non-profit organization whose mission is to rate, label and certify the energy performance of window attachment products.

The AERC Certified Product Search allows you to browse through the current window attachment products that have received AERC certification. Get started in your search for the energy-efficient window attachment product thats right for you.

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How Do You Clean Solar Shades

Solar shades are some of the easiest window treatments to keep clean. You can use the brush attachment on your vacuum hose to lightly dust them. For dirt and grime, you can use a soft cloth and mild dish soap diluted in water. Do not submerge the solar shades in water as this can damage the mechanisms and void your warranty.

Do Solar Shades Really Block Heat

Cocoon Living Cut

Yes they do! In fact, the US Department of Energy has done studies on Energy Efficient Window Coverings found that about 76% of sunlight entering windows during the summer, becomes heat. They also found that a solar blocking shade can decrease solar heat by up to 80%!

Obviously, the openness of the shade, proper fit and installation affect these numbers, but the scientific studies are clear. Not only will solar shades help protect the interior of your home by blocking harmful UV light, they will also save you a considerable amount of money in cooling costs during summer months.

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Why You Should Go With Faux Woods

Fe fi faux FUN! Thats what you can have when you decorate with our beautifully affordable faux wood products. They look so much like real wood, youd never know they arent. Made from durable vinyl, you can customize these designer-look products for any room in your home with up to 15 colors to choose from. Optional valance upgrades and coordinated cloth tape binding are also available to create your own truly unique window dressing.

You cant fake the benefits of faux blinds. Moisture and humidity resistant, they make the perfect window treatments for bathrooms and kitchens. Theyre warp and fade resistant, too some with UV ratings as high as 500 so youll enjoy years of use from these versatile fake wood window coverings. But the biggest benefit? Getting the look of real wood for a whole lot less.

A top choice for low-cost window and door treatments, these luxe looking louvers wont break your budget while making a great design statement you can bank on!

Measuring And Installing Indoor Solar Shades

Our solar blinds are all customized and built to your specifications and can be installed by anyone going down the DIY route. However, you are not alone! Our guides on How to Measure and How to Install for Solar shades are full of the information you need to tackle the project yourself and be confident in your choices. In addition, we have in-house design consultants available to discuss your project and any questions you may have. They are only a phone call away at .

Not sure if you want to do it yourself? See if our Professional Measure and Install services are available in your area!

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Solar Shades For Sun Control And Energy Efficiency

Window coverings aren’t just for privacy anymore. And cordless solar shades prove that, especially with all their benefits, customizable options, and style possibilities. Not only do they look great, but they also offer a lot of benefits. Both the interior and exterior window shades are modern and functional. What more could you ask for?

Blocks Harmful UV Rays

Blocking up to 95% of harmful UV rays, they will keep your family healthy and strong, and keep your furniture from fading or being damaged by direct sunlight.

Increases Energy Efficiency

Solar roller shades help increase your homeâs energy efficiency by keeping your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. They provide an extra level of insulation to your windows, so you can have a comfortable home, no matter the season.

Because sun screens for windows increase your homeâs energy efficiency, they also help to decrease energy costs. Ultimately, they help you save money and use less energy.

Eliminates Glare

They’re also perfect for media rooms, offices, and home theaters because they eliminate glare on televisions, computer screens, and phones.

Retains Your Outside View

Depending on the exact shade you choose, you can keep them drawn and still see outside. With solar blinds, you donât have to give up your view in order to reduce glare, block UV rays, and decrease your energy costs. You can have it all.

Options and FeaturesCordlessMotorizedStyle Possibilities

Extra Thermal Control To Reduce Heat Gain With Cellular Shades

Roller & Solar Shades Explained by 3 Blind Mice Window Coverings San Diego

If heat is your biggest concern then cellular shades, also known as honeycomb shades, might be your perfect solution. Unlike the solar and roller shades, cellular shades arent flat. They are made of multiple layers that have pockets of air inside the cells that collapse when retracted for a flat but wider profile than roller or solar shades.

Graber Cellular Shades

Where their magic truly lies is in those cells, which come in a large variety of sizes and options. The Graber photo above shows double cell shades, which means theres two layers of cells, one on the front and the back. Single-cell means there is only a single layer of pockets making up the entire width of the shade. While double-cell is certainly preferable for controlling temperature, some people prefer the look of the larger cell, as well as the lower cost.

Both single- and double-cell shades can provide some natural light when closed, and both provide privacy at night as well.

Cell-size is another factor that makes these a unique choice when looking to really control your heat gain. Each individual cells pocket of air captures heat that otherwise would have entered your home. The more cells there are, the more energy efficient the shade is and the lower the temperature in your room, especially by the window.

They truly can be beautiful in many spaces, and are even a wonderful choice on large doors.

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Installing The Solar Shades

Then the challenge came the actual installation! With ceilings nearly two dozen feet tall, and nearly 35 feet wide, we needed to get the product to fit. The South wall needed a configuration of eight shades, while the West was done with four. The largest shades were 12 long, and 10 wide. Thats a LOT of material.

We keep a professional installer handy for jobs like this, and it added peace of mind not only to the project manager, but to the officers themselves. This was a job that needed to be done right the first time.

But WHAT a difference it made! These wall-to-wall shades completely transformed the room, and cut down the heat and glare in a major way. Solar Shades block up to 99% of harmful UV rays, and provide a fantastic layer of insulation as well. Plus, for commercial applications, they are available in fire retardant fabrics.

We even brought a few donuts to share with the officers on duty. Believe it not, that stereotype got completely squashed. No one took any. But they did love the shades!

So whether youre looking for a way to cut down the glare in your kitchen, or need to push the limits on what we can do, youve got it Made in the Shade!

Call David or AJ today to set up your free in-home consultation.

BEFORE: Ceilings more than 22 high were a particular challenge for this job.
Joe, our super-awesome installer, really put the professional touch on the job.

View Through A Sunscreen Fabric On A Sunny Day

Made from a vinyl and polyester mesh they provide the perfect solar control solution. This is achieved by weaving the materials together in an open weave which allows light through but blocks people seeing into your home.

Unfortunately not magic, the secret behind this type of blind is all about light source. During the day the light outside hits the screen and reflects away so that people outside cannot see in. From the inside you have an almost perfect view out making them ideal for bathrooms, offices and indeed any room where you want privacy and reduced glare making them ideal for windows next to computer screens as well. At night time the sunscreen blind still offers a good level of privacy as the artificial light within a home is generally not as bright.

Another great benefit of a sunscreen blind is that it offers UV protection for your belongings. Over time the sun can cause fading to light sensitive items such as sofas and soft furnishings, photographs and art pieces so these blinds are a great way to keep them looking bright and bold for as long as possible.

Our collection of sunscreen blinds offer three different grades of openness 1%, 3% and 5%. This refers to the tightness of the weave with the 1% weave being the tighter and thus allowing less light through.

Lovely blind, nice colour and the blackout is good. My son is sleeping longer with these installed!

Mr Pete Loweth

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Uv Protection And Energy Efficiency

Besides protecting your furnishings from damaging UV rays, Designer Screen Shades provide excellent energy efficiency, reducing the amount of heat that escapes in the winter and enters in the summer, so you stay comfortable all year long. And for more light control, you can combine two Designer Screen fabrics of varying opacities on the same shade.

Roller Shades For Large Windows

Block the Glare, Not the View

Roller shades can be made in extra wide widths and heights to accommodate the largest of windows. When window openings are extremely wide they usually consist of a number of sections with mullions in between them. These openings may be covered with individual shades that can be tied together with a common top treatment to create a unified, custom look.

For ease of operation, side by side wide roller shades can be coupled to allow the combined shades to be operated simultaneously. This can be a budget friendly option for motorized shades as only one motor would be required.

Todays roller shades are a modern twist on a classic design. Roller shades offer a sleek appearance and come in a wide range of fabrics that provide varying levels of light control and privacy.

Normans Soluna Roller Shades come in a choice of top treatments and lift systems including our award-winning PrecisionLift cordless system.

We also offer a selection of Soluna Solar Shades for the finest in UV protection while maintaining your view. The new 100% polyester fabrics are lighter, more fashionable and softer to the touch than traditional solar shades without sacrificing durability.

Whether your desire is for light control, privacy, fashion or all three, Norman® has a roller shade solution for your large windows. Learn more

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