The sun sometimes comes out with a vengeance bringing with it sweltering heat and a blinding glare. Even when it is not summer, the sun can be damaging. It can reach the soft furnishings in a room and fade them and it can dry out house plants. There is also a rise in utility bills because air conditioners have to be kept on. Exterior sun shades are most useful in combating all of these negative effects.
Block Heat
They act as a blockade to the heat so that it never reaches a window, which keeps it out of a room. A shade is a simple, even panel of fabric. They are available in a myriad of patterns and colors so they are functional as well as protective. As they are attached to a roller, they do not interfere with how a house looks, either.
Different Styles
There is a choice of weaves ranging from narrow to wide which offer differing levels of protection in terms of how much light can pass through. Shades keep out 50 to 80 percent of the sun’s heat and glare. This is while maintaining visibility so that it is still possible to clearly see the outside.
Sun shields are particularly effective in rooms that face the sun directly (east in the morning, west in the evening). In such rooms, the best ones to put up are those made with a dark colored fabric. It will capture more heat making a room cooler and darker. The weave of the screen should also be taken into account. Fabrics that have broad weaves have more space in between them and they offer less shading. They are described as having a “low shade factor”.
Screens
Another factor to keep in mind is that shields of different shade factors are more suited to different rooms. For instance, the living room is the most frequently used room in the house so it should be kept as cool as possible. It also has a view so shades have a medium weave would be right. The kitchen is also frequently used but it should have as much light as possible. A shade with a low shade factor would be ideal. In the bedroom, light should be blocked out as much as possible especially in summer months when the sun is out early in the evening.
Light Filtering Shades
Screens have the limitation of allowing the room to be viewed from outside at night. This can easily be countered in one of two ways. One option is to go for a roller shade that also filters light. The other way to go is to combine the shade with additional window dressing. It can be used with drapes with the sun being rolled out of the way at night and the drapes being drawn.
Sun blinds are an improved version of standard roller shades. The latter did not allow views of the outside including the ones that were to keep out a low amount of heat. In addition to allowing outside glimpses, shades come in a variety of weave sizes, which means a little or a lot of heat can be blocked out.