The heat index is rising, the days are longer, the sunlight spills in the windows until 10:00pm. Your AC and fans are cranked to maximum. Summer is here!! The sweltering heat and humidity is something we all love this time of year… at the BEACH! When the heat and crazy glaring sun creeps into your home it can get downright uncomfortable.
Did you know that your windows are responsible for 25% of your annual heating and cooling costs and up to 40% in older homes? It’s no wonder everyone is pulling out all the stops to beat the heat! Tinfoil on the windows? The neighbourhood loves that… NOT! How about the classic black sheet hung over the windows with a thumbtack to keep the light out? All good until you pull the sheet off, the thumbtack goes flying, and you can’t find it until it’s wedged in your toe. We’ve even heard of some people using black spray paint on their windows to keep the light out. Um… WHAT?
The point is, we all have a reason to keep the summer heat and sunlight out. Shift work, newborn baby, kids thinking that because the sun is shining it’s playtime (even though it’s 9:30 at night!). The myth is that the world of custom window coverings is a scary place and not meant for the average home owner. Well, we are here to tell you that is not true! We can walk you through the steps necessary to get you what you need, without having to spend the kids’ college fund!
Not only do custom window coverings look fantastic and add style to your room, they can block light, keep the summer heat out (and the winter heat in!), reduce noise, create privacy, reduce UV rays from fading floors or furniture and keep the neighbours happy... and make them a bit jealous too!
Blinds, such as 2” wood blinds or standard aluminum blinds do a decent job at blocking some light, however, whenever there are slats or louvres there will always be a spot for the light and heat to escape through. Shades with a black-out liner or backing have a solid surface that will block more light and will create a barrier to prevent light and heat transfer.
Shades come in many different styles, such as Roller Shades, Cellular (honeycomb) Shades and Roman Shades. Because each shade is constructed differently and uses different types of materials and fabrics, the price points vary. A plain vinyl roller shade, for example, would block light and heat and is a very economical solution. Cellular shades have quite a few different options to choose from. There are many different operating mechanisms such as cordless, continuous cord, and top-down/bottom-up. These shades come in both black-out and light filtering and both options will create an insulating barrier for heat gain and loss. Roman shades with black-out liners are scaled somewhere on the higher end. With various price points on the fabrics, the operating mechanisms, and the liners, Roman Shades are a beautiful investment and will always add elegance and personality to your home.
Drapery is probably the most effective option to keeping light and heat out. When choosing drapery fabric, there are many (many, many…) options. Simple cottons and linens can be economical choices while embroidered silks and wools are more for a healthier budget. The key here is in the liner. A drapery liner is a heavyweight, tightly woven fabric that is attached to the back of the drapery fabric. It can be multilayer or interlined for extra protection. All liners will help protect your home against UV rays that cause fading, however, there are specific liners that can be used for thermal and black-out effect. Some liners can reduce light by 99% (which is typically what you see in hotel rooms). Hanging drapery as close to the ceiling and floor as possible, with a minimum of 6” overlap on either side of the window, will give you maximum protection against light and heat leakage.
If you can't decide on a shade, blind or drapery option, try going for the combo! Blackout shades in the window with stationary drapery panels on either side will give you both the function and the fashion. The combinations are endless! And we guarantee none of the combinations will include thumbtacks, tinfoil or anything else that will harm you or make your neighbours cringe!
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