It has been said that solar roller shades are a marvel of modern science! Solar screen fabric is a mesh material which controls heat and light, allowing a lower percentage of both to enter the room.

Essentially, 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 requirement.  This means there is not a one size fits all solution.  And, why bargain hunting in the world of solar roller shades can leave you wanting.

However, by expertly applying the proper combination of properties of each fabric to each need one can achieve a near perfect match.  This is were understanding, with a depth of knowledge, how to pick the proper fabric combination from a selection of hundreds of options is invaluable.

To that end, a trained solar roller shade dealer can make all the difference, assuming they understand how to apply the Key Thermal/Optical Factors which include:

• Ts= Solar transmittance
• Rs=Solar reflectance
• As=Solar absorptance 
• Density= Openness factor
• VLT=Visible light transmittance
• SHGC=Solar Heat Gain Coefficient

So, bottom line, please kindly proceed with caution as purchasing solar roller shades may seem like a no brainer, but you really do get what you pay for in this product category.  Experience, training and knowledge are your friend when dealing with solar roller shades.

Of course, we would love to help you choose the proper fabric for your roller shade needs.  Also, be sure to check out our online roller shade calculator for a rough idea of what your project might cost.  Or, please use this contact form to describe your project with rough sizes, and we will gladly email you a rough estimate.

Translucent roller shades can transform the light in a room, filtering the light coming through the window as well as providing a subtle or even dramatic color wash. Our line of decorative, translucent fabrics offers many choices in color, texture and translucence, allowing creative expression in a room beyond a simple view.

One of the hottest sellers in our new Elements™ collection is Patina, a smooth translucent fabric with understated visual texture created by a sophisticated mix of crosswise thread color combinations, and also a subtle but luxurious sheen. So elegant! Rolls perfectly, and has just the right amount of body to hang perfectly flat and smooth. Available in 4 color patterns with gray, sand and charcoal tones: Bamboo, Birch, Jasper and Hazel.

The video below offers a beautiful example of a fully motorized application utilizing one of the Patina fabrics.

We would love to help you choose the proper fabric for your roller shade needs.  Also, be sure to check out our online roller shade calculator for a rough idea of what your project might cost.  Or, please use this contact form to describe your project with rough sizes, and we will gladly email you a rough estimate.

When selecting a fabric for your roller shade you must generally account for room function, sun exposure, view requirement, fabric color, etc.  However, for the purposes of this article we will focus solely on visual performance. There are three primary product categories for fabric type, and they include:

• Blackout fabrics which block all light, provide daytime and nighttime privacy, and are available in variety of colors and patterns.
• Translucent fabrics which allow light to flow into the space with no view out, provide daytime and nighttime privacy, and are available in variety of colors and patterns however the amount of light flow varies.
• Solar screen fabrics which maintain views and the open feeling to the outside while reducing heat and glare, provide daytime privacy only, and are woven to very specific standards to meet performance demand.

Understanding these basic fabric options are a great place to start as you shop for, or design for roller shades in your space.

We would love to help you choose the proper fabric for your roller shade needs.  Also, be sure to check out our online roller shade calculator for a rough idea of what your project might cost.  Or, please use this contact form to describe your project with rough sizes, and we will gladly email you a rough estimate.

We recently completed a project in a new Mad Greens Restaurant in downtown Phoenix, Arizona.  The restaurant had 4ea west facing windows that were making the restaurant very uncomfortable during the hot afternoon hours.

The fun part of this is that the solar roller shades actually enhanced the design aesthetic of this establishment.  These sorts of projects are very gratifying because they add a lot of value to our clients.

We would love to help you with your restaurant solar roller shade needs.  Also, be sure to check out our online roller shade calculator for a rough idea of what your project might cost.  Or, please use this contact form to describe your project with rough sizes, and we will gladly email you a rough estimate.

Many homes and businesses are lucky enough to have angled windows, generally in high windows, as an architectural feature.  These windows are for effect and light, but have no privacy issues and as such often go uncovered. 

The issue with leaving these windows uncovered arises as heat, glare and general discomfort flood the space.  In these cases, one option is an interior "fixed" solar shade. 

Solar screen shades in dark colors are almost invisible, yet they can block up to 99% of the unwanted glare. All of our solar screen fabrics can be made into fixed shades.  And, our SilverScreen fabric with a metalized backing reflects the most heat.

Fixed Specialty-shaped Solar Screen Shades can be made to fit any angle-topped window. Fixed trapezoid or triangular shades are made with a 1″ aluminum hem bar sealed into to fabric pocket at top and bottom of shade. Shades are mounted by screwing through the metal hem bar.  These shades do not roll up and down, but can be removed seasonally.

Fixed solar shades can also be made for windows with a square top and an angled bottom.

We would love to help you figure out what to do with your angled windows.  Also, be sure to check out our online roller shade calculator for a rough idea of what your project might cost.  Or, please use this contact form to describe your project with rough sizes, and we will gladly email you a rough estimate.