Solar Shades are Great for Light Control

solar screen shades offer good protection against sun damage to flooring, artwork, woodwork, furniture and other furnishings

Solar Shades are Great for Light Control

via Install-Window-Blinds.com by blindsInstaller on 7/16/09

As this picture shows, solar shades can make a room more livable by reducing glare and radiant heat from a sunny window without blocking the view or making you feel like a cave dweller.

Click the photo to see a better quality image

Solar shades are made from open weave synthetic fabrics with numerous patterns and colors and levels of transparency to choose from.

• solar shades give a clean, modern look
• these shades offer good protection against sun damage to flooring, artwork, woodwork, furniture and other furnishings
• they are an excellent choice for high traffic areas that receive a lot of active use
• solar shades are easy to keep clean - just wipe with a damp cloth
• they stand up well to humid environments like spas and greenhouses
• the moving parts are uncomplicated, durable and reliable
• installation is easy

Here's another photo, this one has a lighter colored fabric.

Now for the down side - you knew there had to be one didn't you? In areas of the house where privacy is a concern, solar shades may not be your best choice. As these photos clearly show, unless you make them wider than the window and mount them on the outside, you will be able to see around them at the edges. At night, when the lights are on inside, you can see right in from the outside.

I live in the high desert of western Nevada. The sun here can be brutal. Most of the upscale residences and vacation homes in the nearby Lake Tahoe area have rooms full of windows situated so as to take advantage of spectacular mountain or lake views. Solar screens have proven to be a workable solution to the problem of how to protect from the high altitude sun without losing the high dollar views. I recommend them without hesitation.

By the way, the first picture was shared by a staff member from The Westside Local Restaurant and Beer Garden in Kansas City, MO. They just had their grand opening this past Tuesday so if you are in the Kansas City area be sure to stop in to check out their shades. While you're there you might as well have a cold one - have one for me too.