Advanced Shading, Inc

Window Tinting

admin — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:54:24 +0000

We often get phone calls asking if we do window tinting. Window tinting is an attractive option because it can filter out up to 99.9% of ultraviolet light even without the use of a shade. This can help reduce fading of valuable furniture in your home as well as keep costs of air conditioning down because it can reduce the heat generated through your windows by about 25%.

While our sunscreen fabrics can provide excellent results, there are times when adding a window covering to a window is just not practical. If you’ve got a skylight window that’s too difficult to reach, and there’s no option for powering a motorized shade, window tinting could be right for you. Some people prefer a combination of indoor window coverings and window tinting in their home or office to maximize protection.

There are many different types of window tinting available for different situations, depending on how much light you want to filter, if you want the window film to provide privacy or safety, and the type of windows you’d like the window film installed on.

Advanced Shading doesn’t do window tinting, but can recommend an expert in the field. Since 1986, Daystar has provided Bay Area home and business owners with window tinting services for all needs and situations. We’ve had the pleasure of working alongside Daystar on some jobs in the area and can recommend their services without hesitation.

You can call Daystar for a free window tinting quote and make sure you tell them you were referred by Advanced Shading to get the best price available. For more information, call 415-896-6444 or 510-749-7505. You can also visit their website at daystarwt.com

Lutron’s Website Facelift

admin — Wed, 19 May 2010 06:51:14 +0000

Without a lot of fanfare, Lutron have updated their website with a new look. It looks fantastic and the layout makes it easier to find what you need. At the time of this update, the applet to help you find a local dealer isn’t working, and neither is the search function, but it’s likely these features will be up soon enough.

Take a look at lutron.com

BTX Wins WCMA Award for Solar Powered Drapery

admin — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:01:12 +0000

BTX Window Automation was selected by the Window Covering Manufacturers Association as recipients of the Best Technical Innovation in Motorization. The product awarded the prestigous prize for their Tumo Eco-Line drapery track, which uses solar power to run a motorized system. The plug-and-play setup needs no wiring to get going and is very simple to use. The Eco-line panel is mounted on the inside of the window pane and uses RF control for ultimate convenience.

This system can pull up to 44 lbs. with a single motor, and it can also be hand-drawn. Simply plug this system into the slim-designed solar accumulator, then control up to six systems or six groups of systems by radio remote. No electrician is necessary, and installation is fast and easy. The solar accumulator is designed for maximum solar collection while cleverly hidden by the drapery. Like all BTX systems, the Tumo Xcel Eco-line features flexible control options, including switch, RF remote and network control through dry contact closure, making it ideal for many different applications.

Green Fabrics

admin — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 03:49:12 +0000

Last week’s Earth Day had many of us thinking of ways we can cut down on our ‘carbon footprint’, or at the very least wasting as little energy as possible. Besides the obvious benefits of shading systems cutting heat out of your home and saving on cooling costs, and even insulating in colder temperatures, there’s a lot of choice out there with todays shading fabrics with regards to how they’re made.

PVC-Free fabrics are the most common in the realm of ecologically responsible fabrics for shading. PVC stands for Polyvinyl Chloride and is used in making a lot of shades because it makes them much more durable. So durable, in fact, that they are hard to destroy, are in no way biodegradable. The additives used in creation of the fabrics off-gas resulting in an odor that many liken to the “new car smell”. This is not something you’d typically want used for shading in a baby nursery! PVC-Free fabrics do not contain these additives and don’t have the odor that goes along with them. The trade off is bit less in stiffness, durability, and the sizes with which the fabric can be cut without railroading. However, for shades in the home this is often not an issue.

Another choice is fabric made of 100% recyclable materials. These are made in wholly from materials containing reused, reconditioned, or remanufactured materials. The benefits here are doubled as there’s less material going into landfills, and less need for the original materials. This type of fabric is unfortunately all that common.

The Greenguard Environmental Institute has created a certification for fabrics to guarantee the textiles and materials used for furnishings contain a minimal or zero contaminants that may have a significant impact in air quality. Shade fabrics with Greengaurd certification will not off-gas. Greenguard tested over 75,000 toxins and chemicals in fabrics made all over the world. The certification is accepted by many environmental organizations in the US, including Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS), and Green Guide for Healthcare (GGHC). Many specifiers for jobs in schools and healthcare facilities will insist on Greenguard certified fabrics.

The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 is an indepenent and worldwide organization that with various tests certifies fabrics to be clear of any harmful concentrations of potentially dangerous chemicals. The substances have to be non-existent or at very minimal levels to be considered for this certification. The certification lasts 12 months, which means products issued the certification must ensure continuos compliance with the standard.

Advanced Shading can help specifiers of jobs find appropriate fabrics with the colors, styles, and properties they desire while still maintaining a high level of conformity to green building.

Hunter Douglas Bows Out of Online Sales

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:04:37 +0000

Hunter Douglas, the giant in the world of affordable window treatments has told it’s online retailers to cease internet sales as of all of their products in North America as of June 1st. This is an interesting move, as a quick google search for window shades will return results for plenty of online retailers specializing in their products. We can only speculate on the amount of sales they generate from selling online, but cutting this stream off has to be huge.

It’s not as if they’ll be in trouble from the lack of sales in this sector. Every year you hear of more and more companies being taken over by Hunter Douglas, as they seek to expand their market even further. This could possibly be an effort to reorganize, regroup, and strategize with so many more avenues for sales than they had when they first sold online. In our opinion, the result will be to bring the brand a higher level of esteem as sales will be made through exclusive brick and mortar retailers and possibly specialty contractors like ourselves.

What’s also interesting is that this Netherlands based firm seems to be going against the grain. More window covering manufacturers seem to be ramping up or joining in the internet market where it was a gray area before. For instance, Lutron Shading announced last year a new internet sales program for approved sales partners.

Window Covering Safety

admin — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 07:28:15 +0000

We’re sure everyone who needs to know by now does, but it’s always good to remind ourselves of safety issues. If you need help with a manual shade system with cords you think might be a problem, you can get your free retro fit kits for Roman shades or roll up blinds at windowcoverings.org or 1-800-506-4636.

If you’ve bought a manual shading system from us you think could be a problem, please call us at 510-487-4233.

Visit our YouTube Channel

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:36:17 +0000

For videos of products and projects, see our youtube channel!

Silent Gliss 2730: Innovative, Silent and Curved

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:30:36 +0000

Silent Gliss has released a brand new panel glide system, this time with tracks that can be curved. The system is known as the 2730 Flex and is now available.

Straight system Silent Gliss 2700 will be replacing the current Silent Gliss 2500 system; features are a smoother and more silent operation through newly designed carriers and tracks.

The system 2730 is the first of its kind in the world. Not only does it offer the same advantages as system 2700, it’s tracks are even bendable. With its calm and trendy design, this system can also be used as design element or room divider.

Click to view the Launch Brochure 2700 & 2730 Flex

How to Use the Automated Window Coverings of Your Choice in a Home Pre-Wired for Lutron

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:19:51 +0000

BTX Sent out a news release today:

In today’s economy, we all want a choice. Even more, we DESERVE choice. The days of only three television networks and two car manufacturers are long gone. The same goes for the window coverings and home automation industries. Choice of fabric treatment, choice of high definition video screen, choice of remote lighting control… the list goes on and on. Reality is that we want what suits us best, often not what people want to sell us. The catch is that we would like to fulfill those desires at a reasonable cost.

When it comes to network integration, BTX gives you that choice. Despite any obstacles, BTX offers a way to give you the flexibility you need to get the job done using the systems YOU want at a price you can afford.

If you find yourself in a situation where a house has been pre-wired, for Lutron for instance, but you prefer to use a customized automation solution from BTX for window coverings, simply check out the wiring diagrams on our website, and see how you can integrate these where many others can’t.

For a complete overview of our program or for any questions about our products, go to our website or call 1-800-422-8839 or 214-340-2800. We are here for you.

Coming soon from Lutron

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:42:26 +0000

Cable guided roller shade
Allows roller shades to operate in slightly angled applications and prevents unwanted shade movement in locations with strong airflow. Coming soon! Watch this space for any news.