Page 10 - Designing Ways 250

TRADE
WINDS

Screen Roller Blinds

creen Roller Blinds are a beautiful
addition to dress your windows.
SThey provide a daytime view to the
outside while providing daytime privacy,
controlling heat and glare and are easily
cleaned by wiping them down.
They are often specified purely on the
aesthetics of the product; they do indeed
provide a beautiful neutral base around
which you can dress your window. What
is often ignored are the factors and choices Alternatively you may have a South It is sometimes difficult to tie in
that affect the function of the product and facing window that require little sun your aesthetics with the performance
can contribute to effectively controlling protection and you would like to requirements of your blind, it is however
heat and glare. maximise your view, In this instance you good to keep in mind these characteristics
There are two main factors that affect would select a 10% or even a 20% open of controlling heat, or if the quality of the
performance. They are the openness of fabric. view is your primary reason for selecting
the weave of the product and the colour It would be considered good practice to a blind.
of the screen. mix your weaves on the same project. Many In a recent innovation there are screen
of the popular colours are available in 3%, 5% fabrics that are specially woven to create
The Percentage openness of the weave and 10% open weaves, allowing you to select a two-sided fabric that is predominantly
Screen Roller Blinds are available in a the correct weave to suit the performance darker on the inside and lighter on the
variety of different weaves that allow for required in your specific window. outside. These fabrics give you the best of
a different openness. The most common both worlds with maximum reflectance
weave is a 5% open weave. This has been Colour to the outside with a darker face to the
found to be suitable for must windows and The second factor that affects inside to maximise your view and glare
is a good starting point. You may find that performance is colour. Darker colours control.
some of your windows may be exposed absorb more heat and can tend to make These innovative screen fabrics are
to the Western setting sun or may simply a room hotter. Lighter colours reflect key in environments where you need
require a higher performance due to the more of the sun’s energy and make a room maximum performance to create an
nature of the room or how you use it. In cooler. The colour also affects the clarity of all-day comfortable environment while
this instance it may be desirable to look at your view, Darker colours offer a crisper minimizing energy costs from air
a 1% or 3% open weave that will provide clearer view with minimal glare, while conditioning and artificial lighting. dw
more UV protection. The additional lighter colours in the same percentage
protection does come with the trade off, of open weave will provide a more diffused www.blinddesigns.co.za
a more diffused view to the outside. view to the outside.

10 Issue 250 • dw