What Is Window Tinting
Window tinting is the process of bonding film usually composed of a transparent layer of polyester film with a thin layer of a tinting agent, such as dyes or carbonto a window pane. Adhesive is used to bond the tint to the windows. Window tints can be specialized to fit certain customer needs including: privacy, heat control, and security against shattering.
Pros of Window Tinting:
- Lowers Energy Costs: Window tinting prevents heat from penetrating your home and also retains heat during the winter months, reducing heat loss. This dual effect lowers electricity and fuel costs.
- Preserves Skin and Eye Health: Window tinting shades UV rays and excessive light from entering your home which protects your skin from sun damage. It also lowers the glare factor which can hurt your eyes.
- Furniture and Floor Protection: Window tinting is proven to prevent premature fading in your furniture and hardwood floors.
- House Plant Protection: Excess sunlight and glare can have adverse effects on your houseplants as well. Window tinting reduces glare and protects plants from light overdose .
- Shatter Safety: Tinted windows are more resilient than non-tinted windows. But if a window breaks, window tinting will prevent glass from splattering, which lowers the risk of personal injury.
- Window tinting has come a long way since it was first introduced to the residential market.
Cons of Window Tinting:
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
Can Solar Shades Be Installed On Doors
Yes, solar shades can be a great option for french doors. We recommend using a hold down bracket at the bottom of the shade to stop it from swinging around as the door is opened and closed. This hold down is usually a metal or plastic clip that hooks into holes on each side of a solar shade’s bottom rail.
Pictured: Blinds.com Solar Roller Shade in Majesty Pewter 5%.
For sliding glass doors or doorwalls, look for a Solar Sliding Panel. These panels move side to side, just like a sliding glass door. They are much easier to operate than a regular solar shade since you don’t have to fully raise them to pass through the door. However they have a large “stack width” when fully opened, meaning they will block some of your window or door unless ordered wider.
Consult with one of our designers for help ordering so that your stack width clears the window or door opening: 844-551-3769.
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Understanding Solar Shade Percentages
When it comes to choosing window treatments, you may notice that some solar shades may have different percentage options. These solar shade percentages represent the openness factor, or how much UV rays and light are filtered through the shades. A lower percentage number indicates a greater solar shade opacity.
For example, if you want a significant amount of light and UV protection, you should choose a solar shade with 1% -3% openness. For moderate light control and protection, 5% solar shades are a good choice. However, if you want to allow more light, you can choose solar shades with up to 10% openness.
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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Where To Buy Solar Blinds Uk Solar Shades Suppliers
With the advancements in solar panel technology and the support from public subsidies, the future of solar power in the UK seems to be very bright. In addition, solar blinds dont require rooftop space and help reduce the installation costs of solar panels. Therefore, if you are renting an apartment or your building doesnt have a suitable roof, then solar sunshades might be the perfect option for you.
If you would like to receive more information on solar blinds and how you can save money on your electricity bill, you can fill in our non-binding form and we will provide you with up to 4 quotes. This service is free of charge and it can only benefit you.
Extra Thermal Control To Reduce Heat Gain With Cellular Shades
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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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
Mrs Sam Watford
Miss Bennett
Mr Jonathan Wilkinson
Mrs Sarah Clayton
What Are The Advantages Of Solar Blinds Compared To Regular Solar Panels
Solar blinds are technically small solar panels that are installed on your windows instead of the rooftops and with this, they have their advantages over other photovoltaic systems:
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The Heat Blocking Bottom Line
Solar screen shades provide an additional protective layer inside the window glass, reflecting away more of the suns heat than the glass alone. The fabrics density and color together determine how much of the heat is reflected. Less open fabrics reflect away more heat, as do lighter colors, and high performance fabrics block heat equally well regardless of color.
What Are Solar Shades And Solar Blinds
Solar shades and solar blinds offer excellent sun- and light-blocking benefits. If excessive sunlight shines through your windows, then solar shades may be the ideal solution. Solar shades are an excellent window treatment option for windows in rooms that are exposed to the sun. Besides simply blocking the light, solar shades also reduce glare, protect against harmful UV rays, and prevent fading from the sun on carpets, furniture, and household surfaces.
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Blocking 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 shades are a perfect solution. 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:
Solar shades can also be installed externally!
If you have a patio, cabana or other outdoor area that requires a break from the sun, external solar shades are a wonderful solution. When retracted, they can go into top hardware to become almost invisible.
Finding The Right Solar Shades For Your Home
With Factory Direct Blinds, finding the right solar shades for your home is a breeze! We carry blinds and shades from leading manufacturers, and your satisfaction is always guaranteed. Whether you just have one window that lets in a bit too much light, or you are thinking about installing solar shades on all the windows throughout your home, we have you covered. Browse our website today to find stylish and affordable solar shades for your home.
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Do Solar Blinds Endure Different Weather Conditions
Solar powered blinds can operate under various weather conditions and temperature ranges. For example, they are suitable for geographic regions with temperature levels from -20ºC up to 60ºC with humidity of 20%, or from -10ºC up to 40ºC and humidity level of 80%.
The blinds can be installed both from the outside and the inside of the window. However, solar shades perform better when they are placed externally. Moreover, even though the blinds come with a storm protection mode, it is recommended the blinds to be fully retracted, when exposed to severe weather conditions.
Choose Solar Shades 2021’s Biggest Window Treatment Trend
A room that enjoys great daylight is highly desirable, but light from the sun can damage and discolor furniture and soft furnishings over time, spoiling the look of the room, and leaving you needing to replace the pieces you fell in love with.
Its also uncomfortable to sit in a room in a bright glare, and the quality of the light can force you to forgo a space like this until the weather or the seasons change.
The solution that will save your furniture and keep the light in the room soft? Solar shades. Theyre a new fave, says Mary Patton.
I’ve become more and more interested in solar shades, as they now come in stylish and beautiful options, Mary explains. These are great investment pieces for larger spaces such as a living room or bedroom. Preserving energy and protecting your furniture from the sun is a major plus.
Solar shades are made from woven material that blocks some of the light coming into the room to help preserve furniture and eliminate glare. The rule when youre specifying them? The tighter the weave of the fabric, the less light that will come into the room. In other words, its possible to tailor your solar window treatment to its location to get just the right level of light and furniture protection. Marys a fan of solar shades at Stoneside , which let you select from a range of openness factors to customize the treatment.
See: Window treatment ideas ways with curtains, blinds and shutters for every room
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Exterior Shutters And Shades
Exterior shutters and shades are usually made of a variety of materials, including fabric, wood, steel, aluminum, or vinyl. They are most effective at reducing solar heat gain.
Shades are typically fabric or vinyl and the material may have openings that allow some visibility through the window. The larger the openings, the less protection from solar gain. They are usually manually operated, though some can be opened or closed with a crank inside the home.
Roller shutters are usually mounted above the window and side channels guide them as they’re lowered and raised. When you lower these blinds completely, their slats meet and provide shade, privacy, security, and protection from storms. If partially raised, the blinds allow some air and daylight to enter through windows.
Most exterior shutter systems include a mechanical crank, rod, or motor to allow operation from indoors. This can help encourage daily use of the shutters, and may be required by local fire codes.
Learn more about exterior shutters and shades from the Efficient Window Coverings Collaborative.
Guide To Solar Shades
Solar Shades, also referred to as Screen Shades are window treatments that designed to control privacy, lighting, and block out solar UV rays that can negatively impact your furniture, artwork and décor. Not all solar shades are the same however, you can purchase them in different fabric colors and openness which offer different benefits.
Use this blog as a helpful guide to determine which fabric color and shade opacity is right for your project and needs.
Get a free quote:
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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.
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.
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Pick A More Formal Linen Blend
A photo posted by on
‘Window treatments can add a sense of softness to your space while still creating impact,’ says Mary Patton. ‘I love to use a linen blend, as it makes the dressiness of custom drapes feel a little more casual. Color and pattern should play an integral role in your window treatments. It should be an intentional choice to stay light and neutral or bring in pattern and color.’
How Do You Stop Solar Shades From Blowing Around
Solar shades that hang over a door may flap around if not secured. This can be easily fixed by installing hold down brackets at the bottom of the window or door. These brackets are usually a small piece of plastic or metal that hooks or latches into the bottom rail of a shade to anchor it. Many shades will automatically include these brackets in the install package for outside mounted shades. But always check your shade’s specifications before finalizing your order.
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