Shade Systems: What Are Your Window Covering Goals?

Shade Systems: What Are Your Window Covering Goals?

General Needs

Homeowners and interior designers alike who embark on purchasing window coverings need to determine their priorities when choosing window dressings. Below we have outlined many of the top reasons for smart window coverings:

Light control
The most common reason for window coverings is for daylight control. Whether you’re wanting to block light from a darkened room, or let light in during the day, window coverings will be a necessity.

Privacy/Blackout
Large windows can make a homeowner feel like they are living in a fishbowl. Privacy shades are a necessity for many reasons both in residential and commercial applications. Commercially, blackout shades are a must for healthcare and hospitality projects, while residential applications can provide privacy to homeowners with family members who sleep during the day or have young children.

Reducing Carbon Footprint
As we become more conscious of our footprint on this planet, we realize that making the most of daylight in our homes or commercial spaces simply makes sense. Window coverings also help to trap heat, thereby reducing your energy consumption.

Reducing HVAC costs
Another benefit to window coverings is the shade from the sun – and its heat. The sun can beat down on your windows, and heat up your house in the summer, causing air conditioning bills to rise.

Wake up naturally
The studies of circadian rhythms indicate that our bodies are synchronized with daylight.  Automated shades can be set as an “alarm” to have bedroom shades go up when you need to wake up.

Solar Exposure protection
Shades can provide protection to furniture, artwork and other valuables from fading or other damage from constant solar exposure.

Automation

We discuss the advantages and options available for automated shading systems, which can be controlled from your home system or hand-held device from practically anywhere.

The convenience of automated shades should not be overlooked. Not only can an occupant electronically raise and lower automated shades from a button on a wall or remote, but with the right system, they can also wirelessly control them from a mobile device, or even voice activation. There are many options for automated shading systems. Not only are there options for the shades themselves, but also for the keypads or remotes. A new favorite on the market for both residential and commercial projects is Lutron Electronic’s Palladiom Wallstations.

These unique illuminated keypads combine elegant design with intuitive operation. The wall stations allow the control of lights, shades/drapes and HVAC from one location, providing optimal user experience.

The more specific you can get about the actual needs for the space, the easier the specification process will be. It is crucial to reflect on how you live and work. Doing so will determine the proper solutions for your needs, be it commercial or residential.

POWERFULL PRO TIP: You can even connect a daylight sensor to your shading system to have your shades automatically raise and lower depending on the current daylight.

For more information and assistance in choosing the right window covering option for your project, call us at Powerfull Systems 310-836-9333

To download our Whitepaper “5 Crucial Tips: What You Need to Know Before Buying & Installing Window Coverings“, please click here.

Shade Systems: What Type of Window Covering?

Shade Systems: What Type of Window Covering?

There are a wide variety of kinds of window coverings, starting with either interior or exterior. We outline the various kinds and options available, from rollers to shutters to draperies and more (for interior), and rollers, awnings or solar screens (for exterior). (Letter callouts correspond to the image below).

Interior Solutions

A. Roller Shades Lutron roller shades create the perfect light for any space or activity with an offering of sheer, dim-out, and blackout fabrics. Choose a sheer to maintain view while diffusing UV rays that may damage furnishings. Dim-out fabrics provide privacy while blackout fabrics are 100% opaque to eliminate all daylight. B. Horizontal Sheer Blinds Beautiful fabric meets industry-leading technology in these window treatments, where the soft elegance of a sheer is paired with the precise control of a blind.

C. Drapery Systems Lutron drapery track systems electronically operate a variety of styles, including pinch pleat and ripplefold, in addition to the innovative Kirbé® Vertical Drapery System. Select a fabric from The Avant Collection™ for complete systems.

D. Pleated Shades The angular design of pleated shades adds a crisp, modern look to any space, and the wide array of colors and fabric options ensure a signature look.

E. Fashion Honeycomb Shades Fashion honeycomb shades add dimension to a space thanks to their cellular design, and their air pockets trap heat to provide superior insulation.

F. Roman Shades with CERUS® Safety Technology Roman shades lend an air of sophistication to any space while managing daylight. With over 100 fabrics and woven woods available in a variety of pleat styles, you are sure to find the perfect aesthetic match. CERUS (Cord-Eliminating Roman Uptake System) provides a safer, more reliable and better performing Roman shade.

G. Venetian Blinds with Independent Control of Lift and Tilt Venetian blinds are an attractive and effective way to ensure privacy while still allowing daylight to filter into a space. Independent Control of Lift and Tilt maintains uniform tilt and lift positions across blinds and combines smooth, quiet motion with independent control of lift and tilt. Lutron Venetian blinds feature presets to recall a predetermined position and tilt for the ultimate in performance and style.

H. Tensioned Shades Tensioned shades provide solutions for skylights, bottom-up, and angled windows. The innovative design keeps fabric panels taut and parallel to windows with minimal sag at a variety of slopes. Lutron tensioned shades reduce light gaps around fabric, and maximize the view when opened by eliminating cable guides that are typical in skylight shades. The frame may be surface mounted, inside mounted, or recessed while still allowing easy access to update the fabric.

I. Cable Guided Shades Cable guided shade systems can be used to achieve precise shading control in angled applications by keeping roller shades at the exact angle of the window. The system is also useful in areas of high velocity airflow to prevent unwanted shade motion.

Exterior Solutions

J. Rolling Shutters Rolling shutters provide piece of mind and and will enhance your lifestyle.

K. Retractable Awnings Enhance your outdoor living space with retractable awnings.

L. Solar Screens An exterior solar screen will provide shade from direct sunlight while allowing you to save on energy costs.

Once it has been decided what type of shade is needed, a decision will also have to be made for the mounting. A new trend both residentially and commercially is to build a pocket for the shades to disappear into. More traditional styles are available as well, such as a rod and finials. These are largely aesthetic choices, but these decisions need to be made early in the design process.

POWERFULL PRO TIP: Are you having a hard time deciding between blackout and sheer shades? Try a “double stack” of both. Sheer during the day so that you take advantage of daylight control without losing your outside view, and blackout shades for privacy, and sun control.
If you need assistance deciding what shading system is right for you and your project, please call us here at Powerfull Systems. To download our Whitepaper “5 Crucial Tips: What You Need to Know Before Buying & Installing Window Coverings“, please click here.
SeeLess

SeeLess

SeeLess Solutions Line Card

Architectural Bevel & Flush Fixtures

For those looking for a modern sleek design, Powerfull Systems offers gypsum-based in-wall mounts made by SeeLess Solutions. SeeLess mounts are designed to house a variety of wall and ceiling components flush and unobtrusive within a wall, ceiling, or other surface, providing an aesthetically pleasing finish for any smart-home installation.

Manufactured locally by SeeLess Solutions, these products are available in a wide variety of in-wall mounts designed to accommodate many different lines of receptacles, light switches, outlets, keypads, dimmers, thermostats, and smoke detectors offered by Nest, Honeywell, Lutron, Control4, and many others.

Made from gypsum with aluminum components, components are easily incorporated into new construction or part of a remodeling project. The fixtures can be painted and molded to become one with the surrounding surface. A variety of options are available, including rounded or sharp corners, recess depth, etc.

For more information, contact Powerfull Systems 310-836-9333

Shade Systems: Choosing the Right Fabric

Shade Systems: Choosing the Right Fabric

Living in Southern California, we love our views. We are proud to live in one of the most beautiful areas of the world, where we can experience ocean views, mountain views, and city scapes, possibly all from the same room. This means large, floor to ceiling windows. The only problem with this comes from glare and heat. Not only can the glare be hard on our eyes, but it can wreak havoc on furniture, textiles and artwork in your home. So what’s the solution?

Homeowners are turning to automated roller shades to solve the problem. Automated roller shades come with many advantages for homeowners, but the task of choosing the right fabric can seem daunting. In this article we will cover the main things to consider when purchasing automated roller shades for your home.

Openness factor

This simply means how tight the weaves of the fabric are woven. The tighter the weave, the less daylight can filter through. A “3% openness factor” means that 97% of the light rays have been blocked by the fabric. A “10% openness factor” blocks 90% of the daylight, and lets 10% into the space. Blackout fabrics consist of a 0% openness factor (all light is blocked out). The question is, how do you choose the right openness factor for the space?

Latitude and Orientation

Take note of the position of the windows in the space you’re wanting to add shades. As everyone knows, the sun rises in the east, and sets in the west.

Windows facing east will need considerable sun control. A tighter weave with an openness factor of 5% or less is recommended. Without the proper shading, there might not be much heat gain in the space, but the morning sun can be much too bright and can create glare.

In a Western facade, the sun has a chance to heat the room, making more daylight control required, so again, a 5% openness factor or less is recommended.

Northern facades are subject to indirect sun, so a homeowner can choose a fabric with a much greater openness factor, and still experience visual comfort while retaining their privacy.

Southern facing facades however, endure the heaviest sun exposure throughout the day, so a tight weave with a small openness factor will be essential to living in a glare-free home.

HOMEOWNER QUESTION: What if I have a room with windows that face more than one direction? Can I have multiple openness factors in the same room, or will that look funny?

POWERFULL ANSWER: As long as you choose a fabric in the same family, with the same color, the only difference you’ll notice is that one has a clearer view than the other. Other than that, they’ll look exactly the same.

Color

Besides openness factor playing a large roll in maintaining your view to the outside, the color of the sheer fabric can also play a major roll in maintaining your million dollar view.

Light colored fabrics reflect daylight, and do a great job at reducing heat in a space, the problem however, is that the homeowner will not be able to see their view through the shades as clearly as if they would have chosen a darker colored fabric. If maintaining your view is a priority, a darker colored fabric with a minimum of 5% openness factor will be required.

Sheer fabrics – or any fabric, can accomplish many things, but multi-tasking really isn’t one of them… No fabric can do it all. There isn’t a magic fabric out there that can maintain your view, but also give you privacy, such as in bathrooms. In cases where you want optimum view, but maintain privacy, the only real solution, is to use landscape lighting, and aim the light directly at your window. The light would reflect off of the fabric, washing out the view that you don’t want your neighbors to see.

If having a light directed at your window doesn’t seem like a feasible option for you, the only other option would be to do a “double stack.” This requires a deeper housing to hold two fabric rollers within the same housing, so that you can have sheers during the day, and blackout at night.

Battery Operated vs. Wired Shades

If in the process of building a home, wiring your shades into your home automation system is preferable. You’ll never have to change out the batteries, and your system will never encounter any interruptions. Battery powered shades are a perfect option for a homeowner who is looking to add shades to their existing home without interfering with the home’s current wiring. Typical battery life with normal use runs for an average of 1.8 years without needing to replace the batteries.

Control

There are many ways to control your automated shades. Wireless Pico remotes on pedestals can be placed on bedside tables, kitchen islands, etc, while seeTouch keypads, and Palladiom keypads are two of the most common in-wall controls.

Daylight Sensors

Daylight sensors are the perfect addition to your home for maximum convenience and optimum lighting control. The sensor (about the size of a quarter) wirelessly sends a signal to your shades to automatically raise and lower depending on the amount of daylight. These sensors give you the freedom to never have to worry about the level of shading in your space. It’s all done for you, without ever having to press a button.

In Conclusion

We know that the many options in automated roller shades can be overwhelming.  We’ve provided this information in the hope that this has helped you understand all of your options. When designed and installed correctly, roller shades can not only enhance a space aesthetically, but make it more functional, and efficient.

About Powerfull Systems

Powerfull Systems is a window coverings installer and smart home system integrator located in Los Angeles, California. Established in 1998, at the dawn of “smart technology,” Powerful Systems is one of only 10 systems integrators in the U.S. to achieve the status of Black Diamond Dealer for the smart home technology systems.

Servicing distinguished homeowners in the Los Angeles area, Powerfull Systems has built a reputation on integrity, innovation and expertise that is second to none. Plus they offer their “Peace of Mind. Every Time.” Guarantee to assure the job is done to your satisfaction. The Powerful Systems professional team can show you how to utilize your interior window shading system to save additional energy beyond routine use of shades- all at the touch of a button.

If you are a general contractor, architect, interior designer, lighting designer or homeowner that needs assistance with the design and installation of window coverings, please call our office at 310-836-9333

Better yet, make an appointment to see our showroom located at 5222 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA.

Call Us Now: 310-836-9333