Why Bamboo Shades Are an Excellent Window Covering
bwsit • May 29, 2017
When you move into a new home, one of the main decisions you have to make is your type of window treatments. With all the various window covering materials and styles, it can be confusing when trying to find the best ones for a home. However, you can’t go wrong with bamboo shades as they offer a wide range of benefits. Although bamboo shades have been around for many years, it’s only recently that they’ve surged in popularity. Here are some of the main benefits of bamboo shades, along with a few considerations and warnings.
Durability
These window shades are exceptionally sturdy as bamboo is one of the most durable raw materials you can find. Consider how bamboo is also used in making furniture and in building constructions. Furthermore, they do an excellent job of handling continual sunlight exposure, making them more durable than other products.
Privacy
One of the main reasons for the popularity of bamboo shades is their privacy feature, making them ideal for bathrooms and bedrooms where privacy is especially important. When you need to have maximum light control, choose shades that have a light darkening backing that is used for keeping a bedroom dark. This feature can be especially helpful when you’re sick or if you work at night and sleep during daytime.
Environmentally Friendliness
The eco-friendliness of bamboo shades is a huge perk. Being environmentally friendly is a desirable feature in all industries, but it’s even more needed for window coverings. This is because window coverings have the job of controlling light and heat coming into and out of a house.
Affordability
If you’re on a tight budget, keep in mind that bamboo shades are considerably more affordable than other custom products and materials. Unlike steel and hardwood, which are more expensive and less available, bamboo grows extremely fast, so there’s a bigger supply.
Other Advantages
- As bamboo shades have a delicate appearance, they can go with just about any type of design style.
- You can choose from various colors, ranging from light to dark shades. As a result, it’s easier to select just the right color that is best for any room in your house.
- Another significant benefit of bamboo shades is that they’re very easy to clean, so maintenance is simple.
- Bamboo shades can be installed anywhere in your home.
- Bamboo has the ability to enhance lighting in a house, which is something that ordinary shades cannot do.
- Because of their simplicity, roll-up bamboo shades do exceptionally well for windows with small panes. Just be sure you measure your windows so that you buy the correct size.
Lining Options
You can choose from four lining options.
- Privacy lining is sewn to a shade’s backside, giving you full privacy and uniform light.
- Blackout liner is a lining that’s sewn to the back of the shade that has the ability to block nearly all light that comes through the material.
- Duo shade lining features lining that’s white to the outside.
Considerations and Warnings
- Bamboo blinds come with several options, such as colored tape used for trimming the sides, privacy backings, motorized mechanisms and others. Before determining which options you need, think about how you plan to use them in a room as well as consider your lifestyle.
- When selecting your bamboo shades, chose ones that are also suited for outdoors as this can enhance a patio door or porch. Outdoor shades should have non-rusting metal components that can withstand outdoor conditions.
- If you live in a humid, rainy climate, don’t buy outdoor shades made of a natural fiber because they won’t be able to endure the weather.
- Choose colors that go with your décor. Besides coming in natural colors, there are also bamboo shades that are light brown, parchment, mahogany and honey-colored.
- Dark hues, such as olive or mahogany, are excellent choices for roll-up bamboo blinds, while cream-colored hues are better for letting in a lot of light.
Are you in the market for new window coverings? Visit the window covering specialists at Just Blinds. Please contact us and find out more about our wide selection of products.
Expert Advice by Just Blinds
Outdoor shades are wonderful additions to your home. Not only do they allow you to enjoy mornings and evenings on your porch or patio in comfort, but they also protect you from some of the harshest side effects of the sun, including excessive UV exposure , which can lead to serious health consequences over time. If you have exterior shades installed, one of the best ways to protect your investment and ensure that your outdoor shades stand the test of time, protecting you and your family over the long haul, is to institute a routine cleaning and maintenance plan. How Often Should You Clean And Maintain Your Exterior Shades? Because needs will always vary by season and climate, it's best to visually inspect your exterior shades once a month. If you see any buildup of dust or pollen, or any obvious maintenance issues, address them immediately. At least once per quarter, you should also schedule a thorough cleaning and maintenance check. Every three months, around the time the seasons change, schedule a day to clean and thoroughly check your blinds for any routine maintenance. Particularly if you live in the Southeast, we recommend scheduling thorough cleaning and maintenance in January, April, July, and October. 3 Steps to Cleaning Your Home's Exterior Shades First, start by thoroughly cleaning your exterior shades. Step 1: Gather your cleaning supplies. You will need the following: A bucket and a mild cleaning agent A hose and water supply A soft brush or broom A soft cloth When it comes to your cleaning agent, be sure to avoid any solutions with harsh chemicals. If you haven't received information on any manufacturer-specific suggestions, we recommend using a mild dish soap diluted in water. Step 2: Dust away dirt and debris. Using your soft brush or broom, gently remove all excess buildup of dust, dirt, and debris. Make note of any trouble spots that will need more extensive cleaning. Step 3: Thoroughly clean your exterior shades. Begin by testing your cleaning solution in a small, hidden area. If you see any strong reaction, including erosion or discoloration, stop immediately and seek more information. Only if your shades respond well should you proceed with a full cleaning. Start by using your hose to gently rinse your exterior shades from top to bottom. Next, using your soft cloth, clean the shades, removing all accumulations of dirt and grime. After a final rinse with the hose, allow the shades to air dry in the sun. If necessary, repeat this step until your shades are fully clean. What Routine Maintenance Issues Should You Check For As You Clean? As you clean your exterior shades, keep your eyes peeled for any routine maintenance issues that may need to be addressed. Trouble spots to watch out for include the following: Fading color. Though color fading in itself is not an emergency, it can show that your exterior shades are beginning to show wear and tear. Assess the extent of the damage and consult with Just Blinds to evaluate the projected longevity of your current shades. Sagging shades. Sagging shades don't necessarily need to be replaced, but they may need to be re-tensioned. Check the external hardware and see if anything needs to be tightened up or replaced. Rips, tears, gaps, or holes. No matter how small, these issues need to be addressed immediately. Addressing these issues early can prevent the damage from growing, preventing more costly repairs down the line. Buy a patch kit and follow the instructions for sealing up any trouble spots. Just Blinds Is Here to Help To hear more about how to maintain your exterior shades, or to learn more about how outdoor shades can add value to your home and help you better enjoy your outdoor living areas by reducing heat, offering increased privacy, and lowering your UV exposure, feel free to contact us . We look forward to serving you.
When the mercury soars, never underestimate the power of blinds, shades, and other window treatments to keep your living space cool. With the techniques that follow, you can limit demand on your air conditioner, lower your energy bill, and maintain stunning aesthetics both inside and out. 1. Go For the Layered Look If you don't want blackout blinds that completely block out light and heat, consider layering your window treatments for the summer months. This is a great way to add depth and texture to your rooms while still maintaining a tight home envelope and limiting solar heat gains. Use wood or faux wood blinds to create a solid base layer. Then, add sheers and custom curtains to finish the look. Layering creates levels of flexibility and adaptability that single window treatments cannot match. You can close all three layers for maximum heat blocking, slant your blinds and close your sheers to let limited sunlight in, or open your drapes and your blinds and use your sheers for light filtering. 2. Beat the Heat With Outdoor Window Treatments Some of the best window treatments for blocking heat and light during the summer months belong on the outside of your home. If you haven't done so already, consider investing in shutters. Shutters can vastly improve the efficiency of your home while providing excellent UV ray protection. This will keep your flooring and furnishings from fading while offering a fair amount of skin protection. In addition to tightening home envelopes, shutters provide excellent noise reduction and offer added protection against the natural elements. With your shutters standing guard as your home's first defense, you'll still have one or more window treatments at the interior of the building during the next big heat wave. Outdoor Shades Work, Too If shutters aren't the right look for you, opt for lightweight, retractable shades. Installing outdoor shades gives you yet another way to safeguard your home from solar heat gains whenever temperatures spike. You can use outdoor shades with layered indoor window treatments to create an airtight space and reduce stress on your AC during the hottest portion of the day. Once the sun sets, you can easily draw them open. 3. Optimize Airflow According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air can be up to five time more contaminated than outdoor air. Even though air conditioners and heat pumps filter the indoor air during operation, they don't extract volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other gaseous chemical contaminants. When the sun's out and you're running your air conditioner non-stop, all the contaminants introduced into your home by off-gassing building materials, cooking, room freshening sprays, and chemical-laden self-care products and cleaners remain trapped indoors. Blinds are great for optimizing airflow. When the sun sets, the mercury dives, and a cool breeze rolls in, you can turn your blind slats upwards to reflect light from the setting sun and slightly crack your windows. This technique works well for giving ACs an early evening break. It's also an excellent strategy for improving indoor air quality (IAQ). As natural light decreases, you can open your blind slats wider and let more fresh, outdoor air flow in. This easy air exchange will get your home and your IAQ ready for the challenges of the next sweltering day. 4. Keep Indoor Moisture in Check With Shades With a high-functioning air conditioner or heat pump, you'll get reliable humidity regulation whenever your cooling system is on. The right shades can support this by keeping outdoor moisture outside and preventing the buildup of condensation on your windows. Cellular shades are made for high-moisture areas, and they're the perfect addition to any other southern home. You can get similar benefits from faux wood blinds, vinyl blinds, and aluminum blinds. Moisture-resistant blinds or shades are an essential upgrade if you currently have heavy fabric drapes or multiple layers of sheers. Some materials capture and retain moisture. They're also prone to problems like mold and mildew and can lower IAQ as a result. 5. Go Motorized Don't worry about dragging your ladder out to draw your outdoor shades or running through your home to manually adjust your blinds. Shop for motorized window treatments that you can open, close, and adjust with just the touch of a button. This way, as lighting and temperatures change, you can quickly adapt your window treatments to reflect your most current needs. At Just Blinds, we're all about comfort. We want your window treatments to look amazing, but believe that you should feel amazing too. We offer a fantastic selection of blinds, shutters, shades, and custom draperies to help our clients beat the heat in the summer months . Let us help you stay cool in style. To speak with our design consultants, contact Just Blinds today!