Solar shades are slightly more expensive than roller shades, not because of additional bells and whistles on the shade itself, but the material used for the shade. Woven, screen-like material is the base of solar shades. The loose woven nature of the material allows for the screen to be somewhat transparent.
Solar shades can help reduce heat in a window, but they will not block cold. They reduce heat by blocking the amount of sunlight coming into a space, and making the windows more energy efficient. This heat reduction can help you save money on energy costs during the hot summer months.
Roller shades are made from a range of textiles, often woven light filtering fabric or vinyl, to control a room's light. Solar shades are made from a mesh material screen designed to combat the sun and block UV rays without entirely blocking the view.
A high openness factor (14%) of a solar screen results in the best visibility and significant glare reduction.
Solar shades have an open weave fabric that allows light and air to pass through. During the day you can see out but, passers-by can't see in. However, at night the effect is reversed. When the lights are on in your home at night, it makes the shades transparent.
Contra Vision® White 24/7 Concealed Vision™ is a one way window film that works at night. Most one-way vision films can only provide privacy during the daytime. At night the films become see-through if the inside is illuminated and blinds or curtains are needed.
While a solar shade provides privacy during the day, it will provide no privacy at night. So, in reality the answer is no, solar shades are not “magic” shades that provide privacy during both daytime and at night.
Each solar shade fabric has its own unique openness percentage. These percentages range from 1% to 14%. They tell you the percentage of UV rays that are allowed through the fabric. Fabrics with lower percentages feature a tighter weave, while fabrics with higher percentages have a more “open” weave.
Solar shades, sometimes called solar screens, dramatically reduce incoming UV rays, help reduce the radiant heat coming in through the windows and reduce glare, all while maintaining the view to the outside.
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.
Solar Blinds Cost
Including labor, solar blinds are usually between $160 and $340 per window. This price is higher than the cost to install blinds (non-solar), which is $80 per window. Solar blinds are more expensive than regular shades because the material is denser and more durable.
A key factor with screen roller shades is that they are see through. They will provide privacy during the day when it is lighter outside but when the interior is light and it is dark outside they can be seen through.
How Do Smart Solar Blinds Work? The solar powered blinds are photovoltaic systems, and just like rooftop solar panels and solar roof tiles, they convert solar energy into electricity. To do that, they harness the sun's rays and convert them into direct current (DC) electricity.
When solar screens are properly installed, you can expect them to last 10 years or more.
Solar screens block UV rays 65-90%, preventing the sun from heating up your windows and your home. But the screens only block visibility 15% – 40% depending on fabric selected, so you still get plenty of light inside your home to keep your plants happy and healthy.
Cellular Shades. Cellular shades, or honeycomb shades, are one of the most energy efficient window coverings you can buy. They use a series of honeycomb-like cell pockets to trap air around your windows, keeping your rooms warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
In cooling seasons, cellular shades can reduce unwanted solar heat through windows by up to 60%, reducing the total solar gain to 20% when installed with a tight fit.
Solar shades are made from an open weave material specifically designed to filter and manage solar heat gain, glare, and harmful UV rays. The open weave of a solar shade gives you light control, yet allows you to see through the shade and maintain your view to the outside while remaining cool and comfortable!
The percentages attached to each solar material (1,3,5,7 & 10%) indicate both the tightness of the material's weave, and how much protection from the sun it offers. Lower percentages mean tighter weaves, less transparency and more UV protection.
5% is the typical medium openness factor. These shades offer a balance between the benefits of low and high openness factors. They provide protection from the sun's UV rays without making the room too dark.
With a 10% openness, light is gently filtered while blocking 90% off the suns UV rays. These shades will protect your interior from much of the suns damaging rays and glare while preserving a soft view of the outdoors.
Sheer curtains offer little during the day and almost none at night. The moment the sun goes down and lights come on inside the house, sheer curtains can completely expose you to outsiders. Semi-sheers are less translucent and their weave is denser.
Yes, it is. Older windows benefit the most from tinting as they do not have a low-emissivity (Low-E) coating that comes standard with newer windows. By tinting older windows, you will increase your home's energy efficiency by keeping heat out during the warmer months and retaining more heat in during colder months.
SolarGaps blinds should cost between $480 to $890 per square meter of window, and they don't look the part of high-priced designer blinds.