Solar Shade Solutions

Simple Solutions to provide effective protection from sunlight and heat

The sun creates both problems and opportunities for the home owner. Virtually all of the homes and buildings in which people live and work have glass. We love the natural light that glass allows into our spaces, and the ability to see outside. However, we don't love the glare we get on a TV or Computer Screen, or the strain it causes, and we definitely don't love faded carpet or fabric, or the discomfort of excessive heat. The problem is how to obtain the benefits of natural sunlight, and outside views, without experiencing the problems caused by the sun.
Solar Solutions is a collection of window shading products designed to solve just this problem no matter what sort of challenge the particular window may pose. Whether your are dealing with a small standard window, a very large window, a greenhouse, a sloped glass surface or curved glass, or an overhead skylight, whether you need functional shading alone or functional shading with a designer look, when the sun is a problem Solar Solutions Sun Shades is the answer. Following is a step-by-step explanation of how to select our product without getting lost in the details of the hundreds of variations we offer at our Retail Store in Westchester, NY.
There are three main components that must be decided upon in selecting a Sun Shade, the fabric, the fabric-deployment-system, and the lifting system. The list below indicates the choices available in each of these three component groups. Following the list we added a brief explanation of the various components with reference to sections containing more detailed information.

Fabrics for our Solar Sun Screen Shades

Deployment Systems for our Window Shades

Lifting Systems

Fabrics for Solar Sun Screen Shades

The choice of a fabric depends entirely on what you want to accomplish. Do you want to screen the sun, but keep the view? Do you want privacy? Do you want to darken a room to be able to sleep or to use a projector of some kind? The following is a description of the various fabric types and what they can do. Further details of their specific characteristics can be obtained at our Retail Store

Solar Screen Fabrics

Solar Screen fabrics are designed to filter the sun rather than block it out. With a solar-screen shade fabric, it is possible to stop enough of the sunlight to eliminate discomfort from heat and glare, damage to carpet, furniture and drapery, while still being able to see through the fabric to the outside. Solar screen shade fabrics are available in a wide variety of colors and weaves, so that it is possible to work with any design solution scheme. The openness factor of a solar screen shade fabric, or the density of the weave, is what determines the amount of sunlight that will enter the room. Solar Screen Fabrics are available in many densities, allowing for a solution for window coverings or window shades to any problem the sun might create, or for exploiting any design opportunity it might offer.

Privacy Sun Shade Fabrics

Privacy Sun Shade Fabrics, as we have classified them, are translucent Sun Shade Fabrics that allow light into a room while at the same time ensuring privacy. Though they allow light to enter, it is not possible to see through them. Of course, fabrics that don't allow light through are also privacy shade fabrics, but are usually chosen for different reasons, and are classified accordingly and are explained as below.

Darkroom Sun Shade Fabrics

Darkroom fabrics are designed to make a room dark enough to be able to sleep comfortably even when a window is fully exposed to sunlight. Though these fabrics come close to stopping all light, they do allow some light leakage. From the perspective of cost-to-benefit this is good enough for most people. However, in those situations where a complete blackout fabric is required, you would want to make a selection from the next category, blackout Sun Shade Fabrics.

Blackout Shade Fabrics

Blackout Shade Fabrics, as the name implies, make it possible to present any light from entering a room. These kind of Shade Fabrics are useful for rooms in which video or slide show presentations are made, or for any situation where a complete absence of light is desired. However, to achieve complete darkness in a given room requires more than just the correct fabric. More details and explanations can be obtained at our Store from one of our Window Coverings Experts.

Decorative Shade Fabrics

Decorative fabrics are primarily used for the way they look and for decorative window coverings purpose. Though they share some of the characteristics of the other Sun Shades or Solar Shades fabrics types, in that they can be use as a Shade for privacy, or screen shade type shade fabrics, their primary value is to add a design element to a given situation. More about this kind of shades you can read at our new Roller Shade Page or just stop by our Store and look at the exciting Shade Fabrics we can offer you in combination with nice Draperies or Valance's, manufactured in our own Drapery and Upholstery Workroom.

Fabric Deployment Systems for our window shades

A fabric deployment system is simply the hardware assembly that draws the shade fabric you have chosen over the glass surface you wish to cover. The choice of a deployment system for your Window Shades depends on the type of window to be covered, the cost, and aesthetic considerations. The window type is the most fundamental consideration and will narrow your choices to two groups of fabric deployment systems; those that cover vertical glass, or regular windows types, and those that cover non vertical glass such as greenhouses and skylights. The following is a basic description of the many fabric deployment systems offered by Final Touch Interiors at our Retail Location in Westchester.

For Vertical Windows

Rollstar solar window shade

Rollstar, Rollease, or Designer Shades by Hunter Douglas is the product name for all of our sun screen shading that employ roll-shade technology to cover vertical window.

We do not get involved with cheap import imitations. Any of the Sun Shade fabric types can be used with these systems. The selected fabric is attached to a roller shade tube from which it can be drawn up or down using either a manual or a motorized or battery powered lifting system. The window shades are compact when drawn up, requiring little space in their open position (when shade is up). When the window shade is down, the deployed fabric is uncluttered by any structural elements (except in the case of certain very large window shades). When used with a solar screen shade fabric, this characteristic allows unobstructed visual access to any views that may be available through the covered window. The simple, uncluttered look of this product, its functional advantages, and its costs effectiveness, make it the most popular Sun Shade Window Covering Product. However , in those situations where the ratio of height to width of the glass to be covered is greater than 3 to 1, Solar Sun Shades may not be the right choice. Beyond this ratio, roll shades have a strong tendency to track from side to side as the roll up and down, an undesirable effect that can damage the shade and render it inoperable. When dealing with such a situation, see the Sunstar or Solar Roman Shade Product for an attractive solution. For more information stop by at our Store in Hawthorne, Westchester NY., and talk to our Window Coverings Experts.

Sunstar or Solar Roman Window Shade

The Solar Sunstar or Solar Roman Window Shade is a folding window coverings shade used to cover vertical window types.

This window shades are made up in Solar Screen fabrics. Lifting cords run from the bottom of the shade through a series of pulleys and cord guides (rings attached to the shade). The cords lift the shade from the bottom causing the shade to fold on itself as it rises. Both manual and motorized or battery powered lifting systems are available. This shade is usually selected for the way it looks. Structural battens running from side to side give the window shade and architectural look which is considered quite attractive, and which make the use of a the Sunstar or Solar Roman Shade desirable in those situations where some design detail is required. Outside views are fully visible when seen through a Sun Star Shade or Solar Roman Window Shade. When the window to be covered is very narrow in relation to its height, Sunstar or Solar Sun Screen Window Shades are often used as an alternative to the Rollstar, Roller shade or Designer Screen Shades.

Solar Window Shades for non vertical windows

Trackstar™ Solar window shades

Trackstar is a folding Sun Screen Shade use to cover non vertical sloped and curved glass surfaces such as those found in greenhouses, sloped windows, and barrel dome glass. This kind of Solar Screen Shade is lifted from the bottom, creating the folded stack that is characteristic of folding Solar Screen Shades, and is used in situations where the slope of the glass is sufficient to use gravity in bringing it down. The path of the shade is guided by track in which special carriers attached to the shade travel. Most Track star's are made up in solar screen window shade fabrics, but other fabrics can be used as well, including custom fabrics (C.O.M.). Both manual and motorized lifting systems are available. For more details call us at (914) 299-8160 for an appointment in your home or office, or simple just stop by at our Westchester Showroom so you can talk to one of expert trained Window Coverings Experts. We would be very happy to welcome you and giving you a presentation about our Window Coverings and Window Shades Products

Skystar or Skylight Solar Window Shades

Skystar or Skylight solar window shades is a group of fabric deployment systems designed to be used in situations where it is necessary to cover overhead window types, such as skylights, which do not have sufficient slope to be able to use gravity as an operating power source. Both manual and motorized operating systems are available. Darkroom Solar Screen Fabrics, Blackout Window Shade Fabrics, or standard Solar Screen Fabrics are widely used with this system. Privacy window screen fabrics and selected Decorative Window Shade Fabrics can be used as well. Once it is determined by our Window Experts at the Final Touch Interiors, that Skystar System or Skylight Window Shade can be used, the cost, appearance, choice of Shade Fabric, and functions will dictate what kind of system is the right choice.

Lifting Systems for window shades

Cord and Pulley lifting System

A cord and pulley system is a manually operated system used to lift folding window shades or so called Roman shades. When the operating cord is pulled by hand, the window shade rises. The advantages of the Cord and Pulley window coverings system are simplicity, reliability, and low cost. However, in certain size ranges, a given window coverings shade can become too heavy to lift with manual power alone. It cannot, therefore, be used for all window coverings shades. With this system the cord comes down as the window shade goes up. It is necessary to tie off the excess cord due to child safety. Your can read more about important child safety issues at 24/7talk Interior Design which is our blogging page. There under Child Safety for Window Shades you can read and learn how to take important steps in effective Child Safety.

Spring Roller

A spring roller for window covering shades is a semi manual system used to lift window roller shade of any kind. The system consists of a roller shade tube which contains a pre-loaded spring. When the bottom of the window coverings shade is pulled to release the window shade stop, the spring provides power that lifts the shad and wraps the fabric around the tube. The advantages of this system are simplicity, low cost and appearance. We do not use on our system Spring roller window shade, cheap components like used by many discount and mass merchandisers. The Spring Roller Shade is also perfectly suited to be used in a baby's or child's bedroom as there are no cords, which could endanger the child. Beyond a width of 96", Spring Roller Window Shades are not available.

Continuous chain for window shades

A continuous chain operator is a manually operated system used to lift folding window shades or window roller shades. When the drive chain at the side of the shade is pulled by hand, the window shade rises. The advantages of this system are its appearance and that it is not necessary to tie off the chain as you must do with the cord and pulley system. The chain is a continuous loop which remains the same length even as the shade rises. This is a competitively priced and very popular system.

Motors for window shades

Motorized lifting systems can be used to lift, pull either folding window shades, roller shades, skylights, or draperies any kind. The advantages of motorized window shade systems include ease of operation, child safety, being able to use switches, remote controls, or computerized controls to operate inaccessible window shades, to lift or pull very heavy shades or draperies like stage curtains, to operate large or small groups of shades, to operate window shades automatically by time of day, or in response to sun condition and more. Give us a call (914) 299-8160 or stop by at our Retail Location in Westchester.

Wand operators for window shades

A wand operator is a manually operated system used to draw a window shade or drapery across or away from skylight glass. The advantages of this system are simplicity, reliability and low cost. Beyond a certain shade size (84" wide by 120" long), wand operators are not a practical choice.