Question 1

What openness percentage should I choose?

Accepted Answer

The lower the number, the more heat and UV the shade blocks and the more privacy it gives during the day. The higher the number, the clearer the view. 1% is the call for media rooms, west-facing primary bedrooms, and anywhere screen glare is the priority. 3% is the most-requested choice for Draper great rooms with mountain views because it cuts the heat without taking the view away. 5% keeps the view almost completely while still trimming the worst of the afternoon glare. 10% is mostly for north and east windows where heat is not the issue. Ashley brings all four samples to the consultation so you compare them in your actual light.

Question 2

Do solar shades give privacy at night?

Accepted Answer

No, not on their own. Solar shades cut visibility from outside during the day because the light outside is brighter than the light inside. At night with interior lights on, the situation flips and silhouettes show through the fabric. One homeowner who lived with 3% shades in a bedroom for years described it on a design forum as "a warm glow from the windows and perhaps a shadow" visible from outside. For Draper rooms where full nighttime privacy matters, the standard fix is layering a solar shade with a blackout roller, blackout cellular, or drape behind it.

Question 3

White solar shades vs black or charcoal, which is better?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what matters more in the room. White and light fabrics reflect more sunlight back outside, stay cooler, and feel more private during the day, but the view through them looks slightly washed out. Black and charcoal fabrics absorb more heat and let in more glare at the same openness, but the view of what is outside reads crisp and clear. As a rough rule, a 5% white shade gives roughly the same outward visibility as a 3% black shade. For Draper west-facing great rooms where afternoon cooling is the priority, white or light fabric usually wins. For Suncrest homes where the Wasatch view is the reason you bought the house, charcoal or bronze gives a sharper read.

Question 4

What's the difference between solar shades and roller shades?

Accepted Answer

Solar shades are a type of roller shade. The hardware is the same: a fabric panel on a roller tube that lifts and lowers. The difference is the fabric. Standard roller shades use opaque or semi-opaque material that blocks the view when the shade is down. Solar shade fabric is a woven mesh that filters light and blocks UV while keeping outward visibility intact. If you want to keep the view, choose solar. If you want full light blockage, choose a roller shade with a tighter fabric or a blackout liner.

Question 5

Can solar shades be motorized or cordless?

Accepted Answer

Yes, both. Motorized solar shades are operated by remote, mobile app, timer, or smart-home system like Control 4. For Draper homes with kids or pets, cordless lift systems are also available and remove the pull cord entirely. Battery-powered motors retrofit cleanly into existing homes with no new wiring. Hardwired motors are the standard in new construction where low-voltage runs go to each window head during rough-in.

Question 6

Can solar shades cover two story windows?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Solar shade mesh fabric rolls up into a compact headrail and runs smoothly on long drops, which makes it one of the better answers for oversized windows. West Shade Co custom-measures and builds for non-standard sizes, including the 14- and 18-foot windows common in Suncrest and Corner Canyon great rooms. At that scale, motorized operation is almost always the right call because a 16-foot cord is not a daily-use option.

Question 7

What openness is best for an office or conference room with screens?

Accepted Answer

For rooms with presentation screens, monitors, or televisions, 1% or 3% openness is the standard call. The tighter weave cuts the bright spots that wash out screens and monitors during the day. For open offices and casual workstations where the priority is preserving daylight and the outdoor view, 5% to 10% is usually right. South-facing commercial rooms along the Draper office corridor typically lean toward 1% because the direct sun is the biggest problem.

Question 8

How much do solar shades cost in Draper?

Accepted Answer

There is too much variance to give a useful number online. Pricing depends on window size, openness percentage, fabric color and brand, manual versus motorized, motor type, control system, and how many windows are in the project. The free in-home consultation includes complete pricing for your specific home. Ashley measures every window, walks through fabric and openness options in your actual rooms, and gives a full quote on the spot.

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