Solar Screen Shades
Solar screen shades that keep the view and lose the glare
Solar screen shades cut glare, heat and UV while you still see the ocean, the Intracoastal or the fairway. Two choices decide whether you love them: the openness of the weave and the color of the fabric.
“Day and night, we control the light”
Made for homes on the water
Solar screen shades in South Florida are the treatment waterfront homeowners ask for first. You bought the home for the view, and then the first July afternoon arrives.
The glare off the water makes the television unwatchable, the sofa starts to fade and the room near the glass gets hot. A solar screen is a woven fabric with a measured amount of open space. It takes the edge off the sun and blocks most of the UV, and because it is woven rather than solid, you still see the horizon, boats and palms through it.
The fabric is the whole product, so we spend our time there. We bring samples to your home and hold them up at the hour your glare is worst, in the light where you will actually live with them.
- 1, 3, 5 and 10 percent openness
- Dark, neutral and light colors
- Dual shades for night privacy
- Motorized on sun schedules
Openness factor
The number that decides what you see
Openness factor is the percentage of the weave that is open space. A lower number blocks more sun, glare and UV. A higher number shows more of the view and lets in more light.
A widely used rule of thumb puts UV blocking at roughly 100 minus the openness, so a 3 percent fabric blocks about 97 percent of UV. Manufacturers publish exact figures for each fabric, and we check them for the specific product before you order. The full breakdown is in our solar shade openness factor guide.
Which openness
Match the weave to the room
1 percent
Strongest glare and heat control. For media rooms, home offices with monitors facing the glass and west windows in full afternoon sun. The view is softer but still there.
3 percent
Our default for living rooms, kitchens and great rooms. It handles bright light reflected off water and keeps a clear horizon. If we had to pick one fabric for a whole waterfront condo, this would be it.
5 percent
For rooms where the view matters more than maximum glare control, or east and south windows shaded by an overhang, a lanai roof or mature trees.
10 percent
Light and airy, for north-facing rooms and shaded spaces. It does less against direct sun, so we keep it away from western glass.
Color matters as much as openness
At the same openness, a dark fabric gives you a clearer view than a light one. Clients expect the opposite until they see the two side by side.
Dark yarns absorb light, so your eye passes through them to the scene outside. Light yarns catch the sun and glow, which washes out the view and can create glare of its own. Light fabrics do reflect more solar heat back out the window and make a room feel brighter from inside.
- Charcoal, black and bronze: the best view-through and glare control, our default for oceanfront condos and media rooms
- Gray and taupe: a middle ground that sits comfortably in most interiors
- White and linen: more heat reflection and a brighter room, with a hazier view
Some fabrics pair a dark face toward the room with a light face toward the glass, giving you the view of a dark fabric with more of the heat reflection of a light one. Ask about them for west-facing windows.
Daytime privacy, and a plan for night
Solar screens give good privacy when it is brighter outside than in. After sunset, with the lamps on, the effect reverses and people outside can see in.
For bedrooms, bathrooms and rooms facing the street or a neighbor, we add a second layer. A dual roller puts the screen and a room darkening or blackout fabric on one bracket. Screens can also sit behind motorized drapery or a sheer. With motorization, a sunset scene raises the screens so you see the sky, then closes the privacy layer twenty minutes later without anyone touching a button.
Recent installs
Screen shades on the coast
Let the sun run the shades
Glare moves around the house all day, and nobody wants to chase it with a remote.
Motorized screen shades follow the sun on a schedule. East rooms lower in the morning, west rooms in the late afternoon, and everything rises at dusk. On a Lutron system the shades share keypads and scenes with your lighting. With Hunter Douglas PowerView, the app and voice assistants handle it. Our motorized window treatments page explains power options for condos, existing homes and new construction.
For a covered lanai or pool house, the same openness and color logic applies to exterior screens that stop heat before it reaches the glass. See our outdoor shades.
Questions
Solar screen shade FAQs
What openness factor should I choose?
For most South Florida living rooms, kitchens and great rooms, 3 percent is the best balance of glare control and view. Choose 1 percent for media rooms, offices with screens and harsh west exposures, 5 percent where the view matters most, and 10 percent for shaded or north-facing rooms. Our openness factor guide covers each one in detail.
Why does a dark screen fabric give a better view than a white one?
Dark yarns absorb light, so your eye looks past them to the scene outside. Light yarns catch the sun and glow, which washes out the view. Light fabrics do reflect more heat back out the window, so we weigh view against heat for each room.
Can people see in through solar shades at night?
Yes. Screen shades give privacy during the day, when it is brighter outside than inside. After dark, with lights on inside, people outside can see in. Bedrooms and street-facing rooms need a second layer, such as a dual roller with a blackout fabric, drapery or a sheer.
Do solar screens block UV?
They block a large share of it. A common rule of thumb is that a screen blocks roughly 100 minus its openness, so a 3 percent fabric blocks about 97 percent of UV. Manufacturers publish exact figures for each fabric, and we confirm them before you order.
Are exterior solar screens better than interior ones?
Exterior screens stop heat before it reaches the glass, so they keep a room cooler. They are designed for lanais, patios and pool houses. Inside the home, interior screens are the practical choice for most windows, and they add no maintenance outdoors. See our outdoor shades page for exterior options.
We're proud of our work. Read our reviews.
We ordered our Hunter Douglas blinds from Solun for our previous home and the experience was so professional and fair that we only went to Joseph at Solun for our blinds at our new home we recently moved into. We needed to change the order for one of our rooms and Joseph graciously made the change for us. His installation crew is very professional, neat and accurately installed our blinds. They are very knowledgeable and explained the motorized operation in easy to understand terms. I highly recommend Solun
Great service from start to finish. Carlos the sales person was 100% professional. He LISTENED to myself and my wife. And help guide thru the whole process. The installers were on time. Quick and cleaned up after themselves. Courteous and professional. Overall. 5 stars plus.
Been wanting new blinds for a long time and finally did it. Came out even better than I expected. The whole thing was easy from measuring to install and they look awesome. Definitely worth it.
In writing, on every job
Our 4-Way Guarantee to you
Four promises that come with every Solun order, backed by Exciting Windows!, the national network of independent window covering specialists.
Why homeowners choose Solun-
100%
01 · Pricing
Competitive pricing you can trust
Find the same product and service for less within 30 days and we refund the full difference.
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10yr
02 · Performance
Ten years of performance assurance
Fabrics are covered against fading and deterioration for a decade, repaired or replaced with prorated credit. Motors carry their own coverage at wholesale pricing.
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30day
03 · Workmanship
Quality and workmanship
Every treatment meets our installation standard. Tell us about an issue within 30 days and we repair or replace it at no cost.
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$50
04 · Punctuality
On-time appointments
If we arrive after your scheduled window, you get a $50 gift certificate along with our apology.
