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[H1823]Hunter Douglas Cellular Shades

by Judith Persit, Jud

During the cooler nights of fall and spring, most people like to sit at home with the windows open and enjoy the freshness of the outside within the safety and confines of their beautiful homes. This sought after feeling of relaxation oftentimes is interrupted by the ?worldly? sounds of neighbors and nearby roadways which forces us to once again recluse ourselves in order to hopefully find the much desired peace of mind. Issue is also taken with the unwelcome brightness which is out of our control unless we have the proper window treatment which can help us regain the peaceful setting we deserve. These aforementioned conditions can be partially alleviated by the installation of cellular shades. Unique to cellular shades is the pocket of air within the cells which muffles outside sounds and with the advent of light blocking materials, light control can be added to the list of benefits cellular shades are able to provide.

The selection of the right cellular shade for a particular room in your home or office which requires meeting certain criteria according to specific requirements is complicated by the large quantity of materials available. One would think that the greater the selection the easier the process, but the opposite is the reality. There many styles and hundreds of colors to choose from. Many questions arise during this process - What is the best color? Do I need light/sun control? Should I choose single or double cell? Should the cellular shade be installed inside or outside of the window frame? One shade or two shades for double windows? Does the facing direction of the window make a difference? Is privacy an issue? We will try to cover most of these questions in this article as we move forward.

The collection of cellular shades will encompass a big range of dimensions and a full array of colors to choose from. If insulation is the main target for considering cellular shades, it is important to know that the number of cells (cavities) will increase the efficiency of the cellular shade against the heat from the exterior. Therefore, it is safe to assume that double-cell cellular shades will more effectively control said heat when compared to single-cell cellular shades. Also, the size of the individual cells or cavities will have a direct effect on the capability of the cellular shade.

As the popularity of cellular shades increases, the issue of light control seems to be of primary importance. There is more than one way to achieve the desired control. If complete blocking of light is the goal, blackout materials can be used as a liner to the shade. This blackout material can also be metalized when direct sunlight is the main issue. When the desire is to partially mitigate the incoming sunlight, many fabrics offer a varied degree of translucency thus accommodating the specific need. This varied degree of translucency is a by-product of the properties of the specific fabric material or its color. Another way to achieve light control is through the use of double-cell or honeycomb material which is the combination of two single cells as one.

As previously mentioned, the color of the cellular shade indeed affects its light control properties. The darker the color on the exterior facing side of the cllular shade, the greater its ability to decrease the incoming light. Conversely, the lighter the color, the more light will pass through the shade. This formula also applies to temperature control. A darker fabric will absorb and retain more heat that a light color fabric. These formulas can play an important role depending on the physical location of the home, i.e. Florida vs. Minnesota or also in the direction in which the window faces, i.e. north vs. west.

Additionally, cellular shades are available in so-called duplex styles whereas the exterior facing of the shade is of a certain color required to meet a certain mandatory municipal statute or homeowner association by-rule.

In summary, cellular shades are able to provide the end user with all the capabilities to meet most of the specific requirements regardless of the situation. If light control is of utmost importance, cellular shades allow you to control light at many different levels. If temperature control is the main reason for considering cellular shades, this situation can also be similarly remedied as well. If the functionality of cellular shades is at the forefront of your decision, you will find that cellular shades are a highly functional product which will bring years of comfort and aesthetically pleasing moments into your home or office.

When you begin to look around to pick the right cellular shades or pleated shades, you immediately tap into an endless variety and choices. In the next few paragraphs, let's take a few minutes together to blitz through cellular shades and pleated shades highlights to make your decision-making easier.

Both cellular shades (a.k.a. honeycomb shades) and pleated shades have been around for a while. The cellular shades represent the latest technology advances with their insulating-properties construction.

When picking the right window shades, consider their role. Do you want the shade to filter or diffuse the light? Or, do you want to have total privacy with added blackout liners (e.g. bedrooms)? If you still want to keep the view without compromising privacy, the following choice suggestions help you with how to do that. We'll come to them in a moment.

Next, you may want to ask for swatches (samples of colors and fabric) to assure the new window shades match your home décor and style.

Now, take a look at the windows. Are the cellular or pleated shades going to fit on the inside the window frame? There's a chance of mounting them on the outside if the depth of your windowsill is shallow. Windowpane dividers, also called “mullions”, often stick out from the glass into the windowsill, making it “shallower”. Consider them when measuring for the new cellular or pleated shades.

Next, you've guessed it. You need to measure. And you need to measure accurately. Before placing an order, measure at least twice and record once (to make sure). You can use a free guide about how to do that at myhomewindowblinds.com/category/measuring-for-blinds-shades/.

Let's compare pleated shades with cellular (honeycomb) shades now.

Pleated shades fold up into 1-inch pleats as the most common size. Larger and smaller pleat sizes are available. The array of fabrics, colors and textures makes it easier to choose that's right for you.

The insulating properties of pleated shades are poor because of the single layer of material. Adding a liner makes it better, but only slightly.

Cellular shades consist of single, double, or triple-celled material that resembles the makeup of a honeycomb. That's where the “honeycomb” name comes from. The major benefit they add to your home is energy efficiency for the windows. The cell pockets trap air within, forming an insulating layer. The more cells you have, the better insulating properties you get. On the other hand, don't expect cellular shades to solve your energy problems because of drafty windows. But you know that :).

Cellular shades are also available as cellular vertical shades.

Let's go through the choices that are available for both cellular shades and pleated shades. Here's a brief list.

1. Top down – Bottom up (to keep your view without compromising privacy)

2. Added privacy, light-blocking, heat-reflecting liners

3. Corded or cordless control (for a baby room)

4. Continuous loop control

5. Remote control – battery operated or hardwired (for hard-to-reach windows)

6. Dual fabric for top down – bottom up featuring both opaque and sheer fabric

7. Suitable for oddly shaped windows (for example: arch – half-moon, angle-top, skylights)

Both cellular shades and pleated shades fold up into a neat and compact size. It becomes important if you want to keep as much view as possible when the shades are up. Other blinds may take several inches away from the view when they stack up in the same window as an inside mount.

So, when your rechecked measurements are ready, place your order. You have the choices of ordering from your local hardware store, a specialized store, or you can place your order online with a specialized e-commerce site. It's a good idea to check around first. The price differences may shock you with an offline merchant and give you massive savings online with another – including free shipping.

For a blitz, we've focused on the window shades fairly closely. Now it's your turn. From what you know now, will you opt for cellular shades or pleated shades?

Article Source : How To Kill Your Family And Get Away With It

About Author

Both Judith Persit & Lu Smith are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Judith Persit has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family, Interior Design and Home Management. Judith Persit studied cellular shades and insulation for interior design and writes about . Learn more about. Judith Persit's top article generates over 368000 views. to your Favourites.

Lu Smith has sinced written about articles on various topics from Body Building, Bankruptcy Law and Audio Books. Lu offers you a free shortcut guide to help you avoid common mistakes when choosing the right or. Lu Smith's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.