At the Guthrie Pet Hospital and Jaded Getaways (the B&B above the pet hospital) in Guthrie Oklahoma, a group of west facing windows combined with our Oklahoma 100+ degree days in summer convinced the owner it was time to look into new window treatments.
She settled on Solar Screen Shades, as the primary goal was to filter some heat out on the most intense times of day. Screen shades come in a variety of openness factors. The “openness” refers to the weave of the fabric and how much light and visibility is possible through the shade when it is lowered. The option’s range from 1% up to about 20% depending on the manufacturer. We chose 3% for this project.
Important consideration when using screen shades: When choosing screen shades it is important to note the openness of a screen shade works both directions, as much as you can see out during the day, other’s can see in at night when your light are on. Sometimes this makes them a less than desirable choice as a single window treatment for bedrooms, bathrooms or any room in which you need privacy. Do you have your heart set on a screen shade? There are options available that allow more than one fabric on a single shade (chose one for day, one for night that offers privacy), or consider a additional fabric treatment that can be pulled for privacy when necessary.
Screen shades were also a good choice for this project due to the durable materials in the fabric, many are rated for exterior use. As you can see from the before photo of the old blind below, moisture is an issue in the large window making a replacement wood blind not the most durable option for this application.
