Honeycomb Shades - Beat the Heat
Summer is fully here now. Earlier this month we hit our first 100+ day. Needless to say… It’s hot. So how do we prevent ourselves from baking indoors like an oven? Well aside from a well-tuned-up HVAC, you can keep your home from heating up in the first place! How do you do that? Honeycomb shades, that’s how!
Honeycomb Shades
Honeycomb, or cellular, shades are the most energy-efficient window covering out there. That’s it, that’s the tweet! But we could go on.
So let’s!
Honeycomb shades are known for their ability to filter out sunlight, provide privacy, and most crucially their ability to insulate. They are, without a doubt, the most energy-efficient window covering you can get thanks to their constructions. The honeycomb-like cells (which lend the other name cellular shades) trap air around the windows, keeping the warm air from moving into your cool home (and keeps the warm air trapped inside in the winter!).
Honeycomb shades also have a varying level of insulation - some will do a better job than others. This is entirely related to their construction, specifically the number of cell layers and the size of pleats.
Number of Cells
Single Cell Shades
Shades that have a single layer of cells are an affordable option and they’re a great first step - one cell alone is better than just a set of blinds. These will work better in more moderate climates where the temperature difference isn’t so large.
If you’re going for a single layer, consider if you’re going to be adding any other features like a black out liner, motorized controls, or other extras. All of these can influence the level of insulation your shades are providing.
Double Cell Shades
Double cell shades are going to be the ‘mid-range’ option when it comes to honeycomb shades. They have an extra layer of cells that make the shade even more effective at slowing the transfer of heat. Double cell shades are also still available in a wide range of colors, fabrics, and potential upgrades.
Triple Cell Shades
It doesn’t get much stronger than this! Triple cell shades will have three layers of cells to trap the air pockets and prevent energy transfer. These are especially useful in climates with extreme needs such as those with extreme cold or extreme heat *cough*.
Pleat Sizes
Pleat sizes will also make a difference in the ability for the shades to insulate the room and affect the style of the window covering as well. Smaller pleats will look better in a smaller window, while larger pleats fit a wider window. When it comes to the insulation powers the larger the pleats the better! The larger pleats capture larger cells of hot air, making it even less likely that the heat will transfer through the window, through the fabric, through the large pocket of air, and then through fabric again to warm the home.
Honeycomb shades are the window covering solution to use when energy efficiency and deflecting the hot Arizona heat are your main goals. Because of that we make sure we offer a huge range of styles, fabrics, colors, upgrades, and more to get you the exact right window covering for your home and style.
Ready to insulate your home? Budget Blinds Scottsdale is here to help! No matter what challenge you’re facing, we know how to solve it all. Give us a call today and schedule your free consultation!
