From Materials to Mounting: The Benefits and Drawbacks of Different Window Shade Choices

Choosing the right window shades for your commercial spaces goes beyond aesthetics. Your choice of window shades also impacts occupant comfort and energy efficiency. Shades can help regulate light, reduce glare and enhance privacy while also playing a crucial role in insulation and lowering energy costs. However, not all shades are created equal.

Understanding the pros and cons of different window shade selections, including materials and mounting, is essential to finding the perfect balance of function and design. At Contexture, we specialize in helping architects, owners’ representatives and other professionals in design and development find the ideal solution for any commercial space. In this article, we’ll explore various window shade options, examining their benefits and drawbacks to help you make an informed choice.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Window Shade Materials

Pros and Cons of Color Choices

The color of window shade materials significantly impacts functionality and aesthetics and is often considered the most important choice when selecting material. White is sold the most, usually because it increases a room’s brightness or complements wall colors. However, some people choose white simply because they feel darker colors will make a room appear too dark.

Light Colors

Light colors, including white, reflect heat and offer a brighter appearance, enhancing daylight use and offering better privacy by diffusing light and limiting the view in and out. However, they may create more glare on computer screens and transmit higher levels of visible light, making it more difficult to manage brightness.

Dark Colors

Dark colors offer superior glare control and clearer outward views, reducing light reflection and allowing the eye to focus beyond the fabric. However, they can absorb more heat and darken the space, potentially increasing cooling loads and making commercial spaces feel less inviting.

Pros and Cons of Fabric Openness

Fabric openness and shading performance significantly affect glare control inside commercial spaces, with openness available at 1%, 3%, 5% and 10%. Fabrics with 1% and 3% openness are good for controlling light levels, while 5% fabrics do very little to stop direct sunlight, and fabrics at 10% openness are rarely sold.

• Pros of openness: Higher-openness fabrics allow more natural light and maintain outdoor views, creating a connection to exterior areas. It’s crucial to balance visibility and glare reduction, especially in areas where preserving the view and having more natural light are priorities.

• Cons of openness: Higher openness fabrics reduce privacy and may not block enough light in spaces with glare concerns.

Choosing the wrong openness percentage often leads to dissatisfaction, with some opting to replace more open fabrics when glare concerns persist. Proper selection based on the room’s needs is key to balancing light control, privacy and outdoor views. It also impacts your bottom line by avoiding costly replacement shortly after installation.

Pros and Cons of PVC-Coated Fabrics

PVC-coated fabrics offer excellent window shade performance in durability and maintenance but may not align with certain green building certifications, so it’s crucial to weigh these factors when selecting materials.

• Pros of PVC coating: PVC-coated fabrics are highly durable, easy to clean and resistant to mold, moisture and color fading, making them a practical choice for healthcare and hospitality spaces. Most, if not all, PVC fabrics pass GreenGuard Gold standards for VOC levels, aligning with sustainability goals.

• Cons of PVC coating: PVC doesn’t off-gas volatile organic compounds, but it does have a smell that dissipates over time, temporarily impacting indoor air quality. However, the biggest con is that PVC is listed on the Living Building Challenge Red List, as certain colors absorb more heat.

Motorized versus Hand-Operated Shades

The Department of Energy reports that 75% of residential window coverings remain in the same position every day. Manual window coverings in commercial facilities usually have the same problem. Studies have shown that manual shades typically don’t move day to day and aren’t properly adjusted throughout the day as the angles of the sun change. This is especially true of open-floor plan offices where people don’t feel ownership of a shared window.

When choosing motorized versus manual shades, remember that motorized shades can be automated with integrated daylighting sensors. These sensors allow your window shades to react to the sun’s intensity to maintain desired light penetration or fully retract if the day becomes overcast, preventing it from getting too dark in your commercial spaces.

Pros and Cons of Motorized Shades

Motorized shades offer unmatched convenience thanks to automation and remote control, supporting integration with building management systems for enhanced energy efficiency. They’re also ideal for tall or oversized windows where manual operation is challenging, and they contribute to a modern, streamlined aesthetic. Advanced systems can adjust shades throughout the day based on available sunshine, weather conditions and user preferences, optimizing daylight and energy use.

However, these shades require a higher initial investment and ongoing maintenance for motors and electronic components.

Pros and Cons of Manual Shades

Manual shades are budget-friendly for minimal upfront costs and don’t rely on electrical systems to operate, making them suitable for tight budgets, retrofits where electrical wiring isn't feasible or in spaces with infrequent use.

However, manual shades are less convenient for large spaces or hard-to-reach windows. Manual shades also lack integration with smart or automated systems and require tension hold-down devices for the bead chains, which can add visual clutter to your interiors.

Mounting Methods: Recessed vs Surface Mounting

Selecting the best mounting methods for window shades depends on balancing aesthetics, installation complexity and your project’s functional needs. When choosing window shades for commercial spaces, you must decide whether recessed or surface mounting is right for your application.

Pros and Cons of Recessed Mounting

Recessed mounting allows you to hide hardware within ceilings or walls and easily hide electoral wiring, offering a sleek, seamless appearance that enhances high-end aesthetics. This mounting type also improves light-blocking performance. However, it requires additional planning during the design phase, leading to higher installation costs and the need for careful coordination with multiple trades.

Pros and Cons of Surface Mounting

Surface mounting offers easier and more flexible installation, making it ideal for retrofits or projects with tight deadlines provided there’s adequate blocking above the ceiling. This mounting method works well with most window systems and minimizes upfront planning. However, surface mounting leaves exposed hardware that can detract from your design’s visual appeal and may reduce the ability to achieve complete light blockage.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Window Shade Selection

Selecting commercial shades based solely on color or design is a common error. It could cause you to overlook critical window shade performance considerations like glare reduction, light control and energy efficiency. For example, choosing a light-colored shade for aesthetics without considering its higher light transmission may lead to unwanted glare, while darker shades might absorb heat inappropriately within certain environments. Additionally, taking a one-size-fits-all approach ignores the varying shading needs of different spaces within a building, such as balancing privacy in offices with natural light in common areas.

Contexture’s Design-Assist addresses common pitfalls and other challenges early in the design phase. By evaluating shading needs holistically, Contexture helps ensure the right combination of materials, colors and mounting methods for energy-efficient window coverings that balance optimal performance and aesthetics. This collaborative process minimizes costly adjustments later and effectively delivers tailored solutions that meet diverse building requirements.

Informed Choices Lead to Better Outcomes

Understanding the pros and cons of different window shade selections ensures your shading solutions meet your specific needs. Selecting the right window shades is about more than style. You must balance occupant comfort, energy efficiency and functionality through multiple factors, including choices of materials, colors, openness and mounting methods, to find a winning combination that provides overall satisfaction.

Involving Contexture early in the design phase lets you benefit from expert insights and tailored recommendations that align with your project goals. Our Design-Assist team can help you navigate complex decisions to create spaces that perform beautifully. Contact Contexture today to explore custom shading solutions that bring your vision to life while ensuring long-term value and success for your commercial projects.