A solar shade is a roller shade made from a woven screen fabric. Instead of blocking the window, it filters it: glare and heat come down, the view stays. On a west or south-facing window where the afternoon sun makes the room unusable or bleaches the furniture, it is often the single most useful thing you can fit.

What they actually do

The fabric is woven with tiny openings, so part of the light and heat passes through and part is reflected and absorbed. The practical effects:

Glare comes down enough to use a screen or sit at a table without squinting.
Solar heat gain is reduced on the glass that gets the worst of the sun.
Furniture, flooring and artwork fade more slowly.
You keep the view — the whole point of the product.

Openness: the number that decides everything

Solar fabrics are described by “openness” — the percentage of the fabric that is open weave. It is the only specification that really matters:

1–3% — the most screening, the most privacy in daylight, the least view.
5% — the usual middle, and the common choice for homes.
10%+ — the most view and light, the least screening and the least heat reduction.

More openness is not better or worse; it is a trade. We will show you the difference on your own window rather than ask you to imagine it.

What they do not do

Being straight about the limits matters more than a longer feature list:

They are not blackout. Not for bedrooms where you need darkness.
Daytime privacy only. In daylight the exterior is brighter and you cannot see in; at night, with a light on inside, it reverses. If evening privacy matters, we will suggest something else, or a dual roller that carries both.
They do not stop all heat. They reduce what comes through the glass; they do not air-condition a room.

Where they work best on PEI

West and south-facing living rooms, sunrooms and offices; windows over a desk or television; large glazing and sliding doors where you want light without the glare; and commercial spaces where the view matters. They also suit rooms where you want to keep the fabric to a minimum — a solar shade all but disappears when it is up.

Questions we’re asked most often

Can I still see out?

Yes, and it is why most people choose them. You lose some clarity and colour, especially with a tighter weave, but the view remains — unlike a blackout or a solid fabric.

Will they keep the room cooler?

They noticeably reduce the heat coming through the glass, and that is felt most on an exposed western window in summer. They are not a substitute for shade or ventilation.

Do they give privacy?

In daylight, yes. At night with the lights on, no. If you need both, say so and we will propose a dual roller instead.

Next step

Call +1 902-314-0877, email [email protected], or request a consultation and we will arrange a visit.

Serving Charlottetown, Stratford, Cornwall, Summerside and communities across Prince Edward Island.