Everything You Need to Know About Solar Shades This Summer

With summer around the corner, people are looking for ways to prevent heat from their homes and maintain a stable temperature without paying huge utility bills. One ultimate solution is the solar shades. These shades surge in popularity all for the right reasons. But many of our clients ask how to block the sun without losing the window view? Can solar shades help insulate the windows? How to stop the shades from being blown around?   

In this blog, we’ve gathered up the most frequently asked solar shades questions to help our clients decide if solar shades are right for their homes.   

What are solar shades?  

Solar shades are almost similar to roller shades with one big difference in the material they are made of. Solar shades in New York City are made with a PVC or HDPE mesh while roller shades are made of typically vinyl or fabric. The perforations or holes allow people to see through their solar shades while blocking the harmful UV rays of the sun.  

Are solar shades see-through?  

Yes. Solar shades are available in various ranges, and also comes in see-through fabric. However, the amount you can see through them may vary depending on the fabric’s transparency percentage. The smaller the percentage, the less you can see through them and less amount of light will get allowed inside the room.   

Using solar shades, you can also see through them at night. If you have a light on inside and close to the shade, people standing outside may also see through your shades inside. Therefore, if privacy is the utmost concern for your home, it is advisable to choose a light-filtering or a blackout roller shade.   

Can solar shades prevent heat and cold?  

Solar shades help reduce the heatwave coming through the window, but may not block the coldness. It also reduces heat by blocking the amount of sunlight coming inside the room and makes the windows more energy efficient. This heat reduction can save you money on heat appliances during the hot summer months. However, the holes in the woven fabric do not allow shades to insulate against the cold. If you are looking for a window treatment that blocks draft and cold outside temperatures, we recommend cellular shades.   

Can solar shades prevent furniture from fading?  

UV rays can cause the fabric to bleach over time as it breaks down the chemical bond present in the dye. It can also cause textiles to become brittle and break. Solar shades protect your furniture from fading by reducing the UV rays entering from the window. In simple words, solar shades act as an SPF for your furniture.   

Can solar shades be ceiling mounted?  

Most of the solar shades are ceiling-mounted where the brackets get installed onto the ceiling instead of a wall of the window frame. The installation brackets are often considered universal, which means they can get installed in various ways by simply rotating the bracket or using a different screw hole in it.  

While planning for a ceiling mount, decide what kind of surface you wish to install the shade on. Wooded screws are automatically provided, but if you wish to install them on a surface, you will need to get your drywall anchors, metal, and masonry screws. Our professionals will guide you through the installation process before finalizing the order.   

How to prevent solar shades from blowing around?  

Solar shades hung over the door or an open window may flap around if not installed professionally. It can easily get fixed by installing hold-down brackets at the bottom of the window or door. These brackets are often a small piece of plastic or metal that hooks or latches into the bottom rail to anchor it. Many shades automatically include these brackets in the install package for outside mounted shades. Also, check your shade’s specifications before buying it.   

Can we install solar shades on doors?  

Yes. Solar shades and blinds for windows in NYC are a great option for French doors. It is recommendable to hold down a bracket at the bottom of the shade to stop it from swinging around each time the door gets open. This hold is usually made of metal or plastic clip that hooks into holes on each side of the solar shade’s bottom rail.  

For sliding glass doors or door walls, consider a solar sliding panel. These panels move side to side like a sliding glass door. These shades are easier to operate than a regular solar shade since you don’t have to raise them to pass through the door. However, when opened widely, they have a large stack width which blocks some of the portions of the window or door unless you order a wider product.   

Summary  

You can keep your home cool and sheltered as you lingered in winter and autumn a few months ago. Your home is the one safe hangout, which makes it a place to relax. If you are looking for more such window treatment solutions, connect with Stylish Window and browse through our product range to get the best window treatment product.   

Call us today.  

FAQs  

Can we install solar shades outdoor?  

There are mainly two types of solar shades – interior and exterior solar shades. Although they both function similarly, exterior shades are designed to protect you against the elements outdoors.   

How to clean solar shades?  

Solar shades are the window treatments that are easiest to maintain. You can use the brush attachment on the vacuum cleaner hose and lightly dust them to clean it. To release dirt and grime, you can use a soft cloth and mild dish soap diluted in water. However, avoid submerging the solar shades in water to prevent damaging the mechanisms or disrupting the warranty period.   

Do solar shades wear out?  

Window solar screens keep us comfortable during the hot summer weather, and they also protect us from harmful UV rays, but like any other product, they can get damaged and worn out with time. However, if properly installed, you can expect them to last more than 10 years.