There are 6 main categories of screen or mesh fabrics available for roller shutters and related products such as panel tracks, retractable doors, vertical and roman shades. They’re not the same, and being told their differences can be the reason between normal functioning and useless blindness, hence your personal satisfaction.
1. Solar screen
2. Privacy screen
3. Blackout screen
4. Woven Wood/Jade
5. Paper screen
6. Insect web
1. Solar screen
Solar screens are the most industrial of all options because they are manufactured with energy efficiency and durability in mind. While manufacturers have found ways to make shutters in a variety of designer colors, they are function-first products because they reduce glare, reflect the sun, and block UV rays and heat while still maintaining a certain level of light. Effective filtering passes.
Other features:
A sort of. Most solar screens provide privacy during the day.
b. Acts as an insect net, even for NoSeeUms.
C. Solar screens rarely contribute to the spread of fire due to the inherent flame retardancy of vinyl coatings.
Solar screens are mainly divided into three categories:
1a. Vinyl Coated Polyester:
Polyester yarn provides tinting to the shade, while vinyl coating acts as reflective properties and protects the tinting, allowing you to easily clean any stains without worrying about fading. The combination of polyester and PVC screens is the reason why solar screens are the most durable of all screen materials. Most manufacturers add other materials to their fabrics to improve performance.
1b. Vinyl Coated Fiberglass:
Similar to polyester-PVC, except that it is not favored by some due to its reliance on fiberglass, a rough, rough, and toxic material. Note that since fiberglass is coated with vinyl, this is not a problem unless there is a fire.
1c. Vinyl-coated polyester or fiberglass with aluminum backing:
Similar to the product above, except the material is coated with an aluminum backing. As a relatively new technology and currently very expensive, the aluminum backing provides additional reflective properties that increase energy efficiency.
2. Privacy Screen
Privacy screens are usually made of polyester, fiberglass, linen, cotton, or other materials. They offer similar solar protection compared to solar screens, but they lack the added durability of vinyl coatings. Privacy screens are often considered more decorative and have a softer look than solar screens, but are not easy to clean and maintain, and in many cases when a nasty stain gets on you simply can’t remove it, otherwise it will There is a risk of discoloration of the shade. Many privacy screens feature designs and patterns that you won’t find on solar screens.
3. Blackout screen
Most blackout screens are made of vinyl and offer 99% blackout because it’s a closed, nearly impenetrable fabric. Vinyl screens are very durable and easy to clean. Some manufacturers try to make their screens more decorative, taking decorative fabrics like suede or linen and backing them with vinyl to give the fabric a blackout effect. While these are certainly more pleasing to the eye, the price of the stylish element reduces durability.
4. Woven wood/YUTE
Yute, bamboo, and other materials are woven in a way that gives them elasticity and thickness to work on roller, roman, or panel track mechanisms. These are classic and highly decorative, but it’s important to note that they have the same drawbacks as privacy screens in that they are more difficult to maintain. In fact, depending on the weave and manufacturer, woven wood may not be as durable as most privacy screens because natural materials fade faster than synthetic materials.
5. Paper screen
Low-end acrylic, polyester, or cotton fabrics, some might classify them as privacy screens, but I’d more properly call them paper blinds because that’s exactly how they feel. This screen material is thin, can tear or puncture, and gets dirty easily. The upside is that paper-like materials are easy to print on, and many of these designs usually are. This is usually the material you find in low-end off-the-shelf shutters.
6. Insect web
Loosely woven fiberglass, wire mesh, or polyester-coated vinyl provides minimal sun control and privacy, yet repels insects. While all of the above screens, due to the tightness of their weave, provide the same functionality as insect nets – insect nets are generally more economical than any other screen type.
Note that you must purchase screenings based on insects in your area. Most flies and bugs will be stopped by most meshes, but small NoSeeUms require special, tighter meshes.