Solar screens or mylar...view/glare windows

11 years ago

I cannot find a better glare screen than mylar for my view but have not had large samples of 10% solar screens. I have tried 3 and 5% but you can't see the view.

I hate to use old fashioned mylar....suggestions?

Does anyone here use 10% open solar screens and would they obscure this view. Mylar is like putting sunglasses on.

In the summer the sun is smack in the windows and only a 3% would make the room livable, but you really can't see the view. I'm planning to put fabric romans outside mount over the mylar to get rid of it during sunset hours.

I already have new, best low E glass windows.

Hollie

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Comments (6)

allison0704
11 years ago
We had Florida panhandle Gulf penthouse with south and west views - lots of windows on both floors. Nothing was better than roll-up mylar shades at the time - years ago. Is it still the way to go? Up to you. We only rolled ours down when the sun was setting and it was almost blinding, then raised when the was below the horizon.

Our cars have roll-up see through shades... but I can't find % spec on MB website. You can see through them, but they are hardly view worth.

As long as you don't have small children or dogs that will tear the mylar, it's one way to go.

Our home has large windows and we used a professional window sun protection for the sun/glare. There are various degrees of darkness and exterior looks (we did not want a mirrored exterior look, or one with a lot of exterior reflection). Helps a lot. I'm not home, so can't put my finger on the brand/specs. It does make the room darker, earlier, and the windows do look different at night, but we live in the woods (no exterior lights) so it's not even noticed by us now.
Fun2BHere
11 years ago
Try a large sample of 10% and 15% openness solar screens in black. The darker color doesn't obscure the view as much as the lighter colors do.
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Ermenta, we've had our blinds for about a year now. We ended up ordering Monterey 5% Cloud White N001 from Blinds.com. I am very happy with the 5% openness factor and glad that I didn't get 10%. The shade does a good job of balancing the view/glare when the sun is shining directly on the shade. It's not super clear, but it's clear enough for me to enjoy my view IMO. When the sun is not shining directly on the shade, the view becomes extremely crisp with just the slightest hint of highly transparent veil of white over it. If you order a darker color shade you will preserve your view even more. I like the way my white shades keeps my room light and bright even while cutting down on the glare. A darker shade may darken your interior, which may or may not be an issue for you. I use my shades mostly in winter when there are no leaves on the trees. In my northern climate I crave as much sunlight as possible, so I'm thrilled with my white shades. At 5% openness there is still some glare into the room, but it's not too bad. I think the glare might have been problematic with 10% openness. At 5% openness, I wouldn't want a TV or computer screen facing the window directly. My screens face away from the window, so screens are not a problem in this room. Another thing I discovered is that a shade layered over an insect screen will form a moire' pattern. This may or may not bother you. I don't really notice it so much with my white shades, but it might be more noticeable with a darker shade. I hope this helps.
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hollie_z9
Original Author
11 years ago
I can't find 15% open solar screen, I can find 10% at the Shade Store, Smith & Noble...do you know where I can get a sample? The company I'm working with on this can't seem to get a sample of 10% either. Maybe Monday I can call a solar screen place for a sample.

From what I read on mylar specs, there is about 10% visible light transference, I guess that equals the openness factor in woven solar shades?

I don't see how the 10 and 15% can cut glare when it is just an open weave. We used to have a really open weave over mylar.

Here in Santa Cruz there are rules against mirrored exterior window covering.

Thanks,

Hollie
chispa
11 years ago
I had a pergola awning made with the solar screen material. The store had a lot of samples and even bolts of the material as they fabricated some of it on site. You might look for an awning company in your area.
Fun2BHere
11 years ago
I'm sorry that I don't know where you can find samples online. I worked with a commercial window coverings guy in my area to do all of my window coverings and he provided all of the samples.
hollie_z9
Original Author
11 years ago
I got samples! From a local blind store. I have woven 5%,10%, 14% and 20% taped up on the window next to the mylar. There is no comparison...the mylar is so much better. I can see the people on the beach in detail where the wovens make detail difficult to see. And the wovens are not doing as much for glare either.

I talked to a rep. at North Solar Screens, they sell all wovens as well as mylar. She said the woven solars would not be as transparent as mylar and I wouldn't be able to see detail. She is sending me a sample of industrial grade mylar that they use for West views in airport towers, to see if I want it darker.

So my test is complete. If you have a view you want to see, mylar is the way to go.

Hollie

Solar screens or mylar...view/glare windows

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Solar screens or mylar...view/glare windows

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