Shades · The view-keeping one
Solar shades, glare gone, view kept
A screen fabric with a deliberate open weave. It takes the heat and the glare out of a window without taking the outside away.
Why solar
The answer people did not know to ask for.
The most common complaint we hear is some version of "this room is unusable after two o'clock" — and the most common assumption is that the fix is a heavier fabric. It usually is not. Heavier fabric fixes the glare by removing the window, which is a poor trade in a room somebody chose for its outlook.
A solar shade is a screen: a tight open weave that blocks a specified proportion of solar heat and glare while remaining transparent enough to see through. You get the room back and keep the view. It is the single most satisfying recommendation we make, and it surprises people every time.
Openness
The number that decides everything.
Openness factor is the percentage of the fabric that is holes. Lower blocks more and sees less.
- 1–3% opennessMaximum glare control, most privacy, view reduced to a soft impression. The choice for a screen or a west-facing room where the sun is genuinely the enemy.
- 5% opennessThe sensible default. Cuts most of the heat and glare while keeping a clear, usable view of the garden. If you are not sure, this is the one, and it is what we bring first.
- 10% opennessMaximum view, least blocking. Good on a north elevation or where the view is spectacular and the sun is not really the problem.
- A note on night-timeSolar shades work by contrast. In daylight you can see out and nobody can see in. After dark with the lights on, that reverses. If a room needs evening privacy, a solar shade is the wrong tool on its own — pair it with a second treatment or choose something else.
Compare with
Other shades worth a look.
If night-time privacy matters, start here instead.
Questions
Asked and answered.
Can people see in through a solar shade?
Not in daylight — the brighter side is the side you cannot see into, so during the day you see out and passers-by do not see in. That reverses at night once your interior lights are on. It is the single most important thing to understand about them, and the reason we never put them alone in a bedroom.
Do solar shades actually reduce heat?
Yes, measurably — the fabric intercepts solar radiation before it becomes heat in the room. A low-openness screen on a west-facing window makes a real difference to how the room feels at four in the afternoon in August. It does not replace air conditioning; it stops it fighting a losing battle.
What colour should I choose?
Darker fabrics give better view-through and better glare control; lighter fabrics reflect more heat but wash out the view slightly. Most people are happiest with a charcoal or bronze. We bring both to hold against your window because the difference is genuinely hard to imagine.
Free & no-obligation
Roll credits on bare windows.
Tell us a little about your project and we'll call to set up your free in-home consultation — usually within one business day. Prefer to talk now? Call (610) 883-9063.
- Up to 30% off current promotions applied to your quote
- Professional measuring included
- Lifetime service warranty on every install
Windows still bare? The consultation is free and the coffee's on you.