how to insulate windows

Easy Green: 7 Cost Effective Ways for Windows Insulation

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energy efficient window treatment

Windows insulation is one of the quickest and most efficient ways to enhance energy savings. As an integral part of how you can keep the heat in during the winter, and the cold air from the air conditioner during the summer, insulation is the one area where not having it will make a tremendous difference. It can be very expensive when choosing which type of insulation that will work for you. In the meantime, here are a few ways you can provide insulation for your windows and doors by yourself:

  • Honeycomb shades

These shades are also known as cellular shades and create a vision of beauty while helping protect the home. Filled with fabric, honeycomb shades are available in a variety of customized colors.

how to insulate windows

  • Window film

Tinting your windows with window film is a good solution for reducing any heat that may be trapped, and is quick and easy to implement.

  • Under door blanket

Using a blanket under the room of any room can help keep the heat in. This solution is becoming popular and fashionable.

  • Layered window treatments

One of the best ways to prepare for changing seasons is through the use of multiple layers. Putting an insulating shade against the window, window tint, and curtains all work together to provide the right amount of sun to keep the area warm, or keep out the heat. Using green window treatments can help the environmental impact while getting the job done.

  • Storm doors

Although these may not be in the immediate budget, understanding the pros and cons of adding a storm door is key. You will be able to experience immediate costs savings, along with a different look and field.

  • Heavy curtains

Changing your curtain selection based on the season is a good way to have cost savings. Light and airy curtains work well for the spring, while the fall and winter seasons require a heavier curtain to keep heat in. Velvet and other heavy fabrics are an excellent way to maintain a beautiful appearance while enhancing cost savings.

  • Caulking/Weather stripping

The most popular way to experience cost savings for your space is by caulking any holes where there may be a draft. There are many areas where caulking can positively impact the energy savings throughout the home. Weather stripping mixed with the use of caulking can save time, money and will work to positively keep the effects of the elements where they belong.

Using energy efficient window treatments will help keep your expenses down. Green window treatments are a low-cost alternative and can be found in many stores and other businesses who specialize in window treatments. If you are experiencing high energy bills, it may be due to air being allowed to seep in and out. It is important to locate those areas where windows and doors may be having a detrimental effect on the energy bill. Knowing what you are facing prior to it happening makes all the difference in the world.

Working with an expert in this area can assist in creating the perfect energy efficient window treatments for your space. Arjay’s Window Fashions is a leader in window and door treatments and can give you in-depth advice on how to proceed. For more information on the different solutions available to you and how it can add to your cost savings, contact an associate at Arjay’s Window Fashions today!

Popular & Efficient Honeycomb Shades Carry a Few Precautions

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Remember the shades and blinds in your parents’ house when you were a kid?  You’d pull them down and they would jump up like a rocket, Sometimes, the goal would be to let light in, and they would wind up hanging below the window sill making you feel even more isolated. Thankfully, shades and blinds have come a long way over the years, and one popular option more people are choosing are honeycomb shades, also known as cellular shades.

While there are many benefits to choosing honeycomb shades over standard roll shades, there are potential drawbacks as well that you’ll need to be aware of if you decide to include these cellular shades in your home.

“Honeycombs” Trap the Heat of Cold

If you take a side view of cellular shades, you’ll see opening that resemble honeycombs. Normally, there are two rows of these pockets between where the shade is closest to the window and the outside surface of the shade. Whether you are dealing with summer heat or winter cold, much of the uncomfortable air gets trapped in those pockets and doesn’t reach the inside of your home. This not only ensures that you stay comfortable, but when your thermostat, furnace, and/or air conditioner doesn’t have to be at war with uncomfortable air seeping through the shades, the energy bills start to drop as well.

The catch of this feature is that when the air is very cold, ice can build up on your windows. This can be prevented by drawing up your shade each day, or by leaving several inches between the window glass and the shades so that the air is able to properly circulate.

Choose How to Handle Your Cords with Honeycomb Shades

Shade and blind cords have been a thorn in many people’s sides for a while. Their presence makes you worry about the kids or pets playing with the cords to the point where they don’t function very well. Honeycomb shades have features that take care of this problem. One of those options is to choose a cordless model of cellular shade that will allow you to pull the shade down manually and have them actually stay where you want them too. Many like the crisper look of the cordless model, and feel it is safer if there are young kids in the house that have been known to get tangled in traditional shade cords

But some people would just assume stick with cords to avoid touching the actual shade. They may also have some windows that go up higher than they can reach, so having a cord is more practical in these cases. The new cords are much more child safe than the cords you might remember in your own childhood home. The cords have a “breakaway feature” when the cord will break off if a child or pet get caught up in it, and will easily snap back into place. While this is nice for keeping kids safe, the cords have been known to “break away” with normal use, which many consider a trade off for keeping the kids safe.

Protect Your Privacy With Top Down or Bottom Up Feature

With traditional shades, once you start to pull them up, that room in your home becomes exposed to the neighbors who may have a habit of glancing into your living room. While you call pull your honeycomb shades this way, the can also come down from the top of the window, making life more difficult for would be peeping toms. Top down still let light in, and even allow you to look out without inviting the neighbors to look in.

Easy Installation

One thing these shades do have in common with standard shades is that they are easy to install. They snap right into place. If you choose to have cords, however, there are a lot of them — one on each side of each blind. This forces you to choose between no cord and many cords.

With both positive and negative aspects of honeycomb shades, you’ll need to consider carefully whether or not they are a fit for your home, or if some other option might serve you better.

Honeycomb Cellular Shades in Los Angeles

Single Cell Vs Double Cellular Shades – What is the difference?

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When researching the different types of window shades that you can use to enhance your décor, to different types consistently came to the forefront: single cell and double cell. There are distinct differences between the two, and which one you choose to better serve you are contingent on making a well-informed decision.

What is a cellular shade?

Before you decide which one works best, knowing what a cellular shade is can impact your decision. These are blinds that look like a honeycomb from the side. These blinds provide a higher level of insulation and are a more fashionable choice when offered.

Single cell blinds have each compartment stacked on top of each other, while a double cell blind are made with two cells put together.

What are some of the advantages of using these types of shades?

For one, they are very pretty. If having nice things is a priority, these shades are aesthetically flawless. Here are a few differences:

  • Single cell blinds concentrate on helping the décor of a room through varied sizes, while double cell blinds usually come in only one size.
  • The costs of double cell shades are usually higher than single cell shades.
  • Double cell shades provide sufficient insulation which helps those rooms that have quite a bit of direct sunlight.

Should I call an interior decorator?

Knowing the differences in these two types will help make better decisions in the future. Consulting a professional to show you the different options without compromising your style or taste is the key. For some, a double cell blind will appear to be more elegant, while some may think a single cell blind is the best option. An interior decorator will be able to relate your surroundings and provide ideas that will work for you.

Are these blinds customizable?

The answer is yes. Single cell or double cell blinds are enjoyable, and they change the entire aesthetic of a room. They are fully customizable and can be done is a variety of colors. With a little guidance, you will be able to select and arrange your décor exactly how you want it.

Arjay’s Window Fashions has been providing the utmost care and advice when it comes to window shades and cellular shades in Los Angeles for a number of years.  For more information on how they can help you in deciding what type of window shade will be best for your windows, contact an associate at the office today!

What Cell Size is Best? – Honeycomb Shades and Cellular Shades Sizes Explained

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Shopping for window shades can be a bit difficult if you aren’t sure what you are looking for. When it comes to cellular shades (also referred to as honeycomb shades) selecting the right cell size is imperative to the look and fit of your window covering. Often, cell size is determined by the size of the six-sided shaped made when the two fabric pieces of the window treatment come together. Here is a brief primer on different cell sizes to help get you started.

Small Cellular Shades

3/8-inch cellular shades are considered small window shades. They look best placed in a small window, both due to the restricted size requirement of the space and the proportionate petite size of the fabric pieces. Kitchen windows or those that are bathroom windows are great candidates for small honeycomb / cellular shades, as they can insulate while still adding style.

Mid-Size Cellular Shades

1/2-inch and 9/16-inch honeycomb / cellular shades are considered mid-size window shades. They are perfect for smaller-sized living room, bedroom, and office windows that would not be considered either large or small. In fact, mid-size shades with these cell sizes are the more commonly installed than small or large designs. Due to their popularity, mid-size cellular shades are often available with added features, such as light-blocking and UV filtering fabrics.

Large Cellular Shades

Large honeycomb shades are generally classified as anything around 3/4-inch in cell size. Most often, these shades are used for large picture windows and even in commercial settings. Due to the expansive look of this style of window covering, large cellular shades are often available in a wide range of patterns and designs for added pizzazz.

Of course, knowing the measurements of your window and talking to an expert prior to purchase is often the best way to understand if a cellular shade will be the perfect match for your window.

For more information on window shades, including honeycomb and cellular shades, please contact our team at Arjay’s Window Fashions today.