Pros & Cons of Solar Shades

Installation

• Solar shades rest on the outside of windows in east-, south- and west-facing exposures. The shades need to rest slightly away from the window to provide the best protection from the sun entering the room. Installing the shade screens on second-floor windows involves using a ladder, which keeps some people from using solar shades altogether or on second-floor windows. The screens need to come down in the winter should the building's occupant want the natural light and heat from the sun coming through the windows. Storing the screens can be a challenge for people without garages or basements.

Fabric Types

• Woven solar shades are black, and knitted shades come in a wide variety of colors. The woven shades offer good protection from the sun, but some people object to the appearance of black shades. Woven shade screens unravel if a hole occurs in the fabric, while the knitted shade cloth does not unravel when cut or punctured. Woven shade screens last longer than knitted because the fabric is denser. All solar-shade material carries a percent rating as to the amount of light it blocks. Shade cloth with a denser weave blocks more sun.

Cleaning

• Solar shades can be challenging to clean, especially the woven screens. Dust collects in the fibers of the screens and given the density of the fabric, can be hard to thoroughly clean. Airborne dirt also shows on the black screens, since dust is typically brown or tan. The solar knitted screens show less accumulation of dust and dirt, although the amounts may be just as high as on woven screens.

Privacy

• Solar shades provide privacy from the street during the day, but at night, light filters out through the tiny holes in the screens. People need to close window blinds or curtains to keep others from seeing inside a lighted room. Some people find that it's easy to forget to close the window covers at night, letting others see into the home.