Let the Sunshine In (But Only When You Want It To)

It’s all about the lighting; I’ve heard this said throughout the years and I definitely agree with it. No where is this statement more correct then when applied to your home’s décor. A little bit of lighting can make the drab and dreary seems bright and beautiful, or at least a little less drab and dreary. If you’re like me, a devoted lover of natural sunlight, then you know the beauty, comfort and joy that one, two, or even ten strategically placed skylights can provide for your home. There is nothing like natural sunlight to bring out the true spectrum of colors and textures that make up your décor. Unfortunately there is also nothing like natural sunlight that will fade and discolor so many surfaces. And there is also nothing like natural sunlight to overheat a room beyond the levels of toleration. So what is a skylight owner to do?

Whether you call them blinds, sunscreens, shades, or awnings; using an occasional barrier between the sun’s blaring rays and your living space will make you stop regretting your skylights and start enjoying them, as you should. Choosing that blind needs to be based on your specific needs; preventing light, cutting down on heat, manual or electrical operation, ease of installation, and last but never least, the look. With that in mind let us take a look at the various styles currently available, starting with the least expensive.

The Roller Shade – Just as the name entails, the roller shade is reminiscent of the pull-down vinyl shades that your grandmother most likely had covering her regular windows. Considered to be an economical sunscreening solution, the roller shade provides a little basic room darkening. Heat prevention is minimal, which may be preferable in cooler climates. A quality product to be sure; even as the most economical option.

The Venetian Blind – It is almost an absolute guarantee that right now at least one window in your house has a vinyl mini-blind covering it. If you’re like most homes, you probably have several. Continuing in that not necessarily grand tradition we have the Venetian Blind, a mini-blind for your skylight. It works in the exact same manor that you would expect. Still more useful as a means for controlling daylight, it does offer an increase of 12% better energy efficiency over the roller shade.

The Cellular Shade – This elegant looking soft shade is commonly called a Honeycomb shade due to the collapsible pockets stitched between the front and back fabrics. Unlike a roller shade which literally rolls up when opened, the "cells" of "honeycombs" of the cellular shade fold up tightly against each other. Because it is not an insulated fabric the shade is more of a light diffuser than a blocker. When you are not as interested in covering light but glare may be a problem, the cellular shade is a perfect solution. It will also allow light though while adding protection to your artwork and furniture from harmful UV fading. Energy efficiency increased a by 16% over the roller shade, 4% over the Venetian blind.

The Lightblock Shade – Converting day into night, excluding even the brightest sunlight, is what the Lightblock shade does best. This makes it perfect for rooms that require total darkening on occasion, like a TV/theater room or possibly a bedroom. Similar to a roller shade but with blackout qualities the Lightblock shade is the choice for maximum light blocking. Its energy efficiency is a full 20% increase over the roller shade, 8% more than the Venetian. The Lightblock shade also has the distinction of being available in a solar battery powered unit, a first and truly innovative offering. Operating via a remote control, the ever charging solar panel powered motor requires no electrical wiring. No wiring means no electric, and no electrician means no making holes in your wall, and more importantly no electrician bills. Best of all, the solar powered shade sells for the same price as an electrically powered shade yet installation is so simple that any homeowner should be able to do it. This has quickly become the most popular design for people who want an eclectically operated shade for their non-electric skylight. 

The Heatblock Awning – When heat is your primary concern the Heatblock Awning is going to be your wisest choice. Unlike traditional shades that all mount on the interior side of your skylight, the Heatblock Awning mounts outside, just above the top of the skylight. The net cloth that is used for the Heatblock Awning is the exact same material that you might see used to cover glass in a green house. When it is not in use it is not visible from inside the home. When it is in use it provides an unprecedented 40% reduction in heat gain. How’s that for energy efficiency? It is operated via remote control and it must be electrically wired for installation. It is the most expensive of the all the light / heat controlling options, yet can pay for itself many times over in the long run.

As you can see there are just about as many options for skylight shades as there are reasons for wanting or needing skylight shades. Which one is right for you?

Lawrence DePippa is the Internet Marketing Manager for Accent Building Products, the Internet’s leading direct distributor of Velux Skylights, Sun Tunnels (Tubular Skylights) and skylight accessories. Accent Building Products can be reached at 1-800-237-7470 or found online at: this website.