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Zebra Solar Roller Shades
Our Zebra Solar Roller Shades combine beauty, versatility, and high performance to give you the ultimate modern light and privacy control. Featuring an innovative adjustable dual-band fabric, these shades alternate between gently filtering sheer bands...
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Product Information
Our Zebra Solar Roller Shades combine beauty, versatility, and high performance to give you the ultimate modern light and privacy control.
Featuring an innovative adjustable dual-band fabric, these shades alternate between gently filtering sheer bands and high-performance solar bands. This unique design allows you to effortlessly fine-tune the balance of natural light in your room while preserving your outside view, reducing heat, and eliminating harsh glare on TVs and computer screens.
Why Choose Zebra Solar Shades?
- Innovative Dual-Band Design: Simply roll the shade to align the alternating sheer and solar bands to your exact preference, offering unmatched flexibility for light management and privacy.
- 5% Openness Solar Bands: The primary bands feature a 5% open weave, allowing bright, comfortable daylight to enter while maintaining your connection to the outdoors and blocking 95% of UV rays.
- Sleek & Durable Hardware: Built with durable aluminum headrails and bottom bars, providing strength, stability, and a clean, finished look that complements any décor.
- Smooth & Flexible Operation: Standard shades feature a high-quality continuous loop cord control system for exact positioning. Cordless and motorized lift options are also available for ultimate convenience and enhanced child safety.
How do Zebra Shades Work?
Unlike standard roller shades, Zebra shades give you active control over your window's coverage. By pulling your control system, the fabric bands glide past each other to create different levels of openness.
- When Aligned (Open): The 5% solar bands line up with the sheer bands, offering a beautiful, softened view to the outside while managing heat and glare.
- When Offset (Closed): The solar bands overlap the sheer bands, creating a solid, cohesive look that provides a comfortable level of daytime privacy while still letting filtered light into the room.
- Versatile Styling: Choose from six versatile, modern colors designed to seamlessly complement your home's unique interior design.
Solar Shades vs. Light Filtering: Which is right for you?
While both options manage natural light, they serve very different functional purposes:
- Solar Shades (The "Sunglasses" View): Made with a mesh weave to preserve your view while blocking UV rays. Ideal for living areas and offices where you don't want to feel "boxed in."
- Light Filtering Shades (The "Soft Glow"): Made with solid, translucent fabric. They do not allow a view to the outside; instead, they diffuse sunlight into a soft, private glow throughout the room. Browse our range of light filtering shades here.
Comparison: Solar Shades vs. Light Filtering Shades
Use the table below to determine which window treatment best suits your room's light, privacy, and view requirements.
| Feature | Solar Shades | Light Filtering Shades |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Preserve view and block UV/Heat | Soften light and provide privacy |
| View to Outside | Excellent (like looking through sunglasses) | Blocked (translucent fabric) |
| Light Control | Filters natural light & reduces glare | Diffuses light into a soft, warm glow |
| Daytime Privacy | Moderate (varies by openness %) | High (blocks shapes and figures) |
| Nighttime Privacy | None (lights inside allow visibility) | Partial (only shadows/silhouettes visible) |
| Best For | Living rooms, sunrooms, and home offices | Dining rooms, entryways, and bathrooms |
Note: If you require 100% total privacy and darkness at night (for a bedroom or nursery), we recommend exploring our Blackout Roller Shades.
Custom Fit & Finishing Options
Tailor your Zebra Solar Shades to fit your exact functional and aesthetic needs with an easy, straightforward installation process (all necessary mounting hardware is included).
- Lift & Control Options: Choose the standard continuous loop system (available with a clear plastic chain), upgrade to a sleek cordless system for maximum child safety, or enjoy the modern convenience of a motorized lift operated via remote.
Important Note on Privacy
While the dual-band design offers great daytime privacy flexibility, solar fabrics are designed primarily for light and heat management and do not offer total nighttime privacy. When lights are on inside at night, there is inward visibility through the solar bands. For 24/7 total privacy, we recommend pairing these with drapery or a secondary window treatment.
Pro Tip: To truly feel the dual-band fabric and see how the 6 versatile colors look in your home's unique lighting, we highly recommend ordering free samples before you buy.
Product Specifications
Control Style Options & Compatibility for this product
| Control Type | Best For... | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Cordless | Child & Pet Safety |
|
| Continuous Cord Loop | Large / Heavy Windows |
|
| Motorwand | Large / Heavy Windows |
|
| Motorized |
|
|
Technical Specifications
| Technical Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Material / Fabric Composition | Polyester |
| Mounting types available | Inside mount, outside mount |
| Minimum Width | 12" |
| Maximum Width | 94" |
| Minimum Height | 12" |
| Maximum Height | 94" |
Mounting Depth Requirements
(for mounting brackets)
| Mounting Structure | Minimum Depth Requirement |
|---|---|
| Chain Drive with Standard Cassette | |
| Inside Mount | 1 7/8" |
| Inside Flush Mount | 2 1/2" |
| Chain Drive with Fabric Insert Cassette | |
| Inside Mount | 2 5/8" |
| Inside Flush Mount | 3 1/2" |
| Cordless with Standard Cassette | |
| Inside Mount | 1 7/8" |
| Inside Flush Mount | 2 1/2" |
| Motorwand & Motorized with Fabric Insert Cassette | |
| Inside Mount | 2 5/8" |
| Inside Flush Mount | 3 1/2" |
Fabric Deductions
- The fabric deduction makes space for the brackets, clutch or motorization components, ensuring a correct fit
- Please note that the fabric width of the shade will be less than the window measurement provided
- Change in tube sizing along with different clutch/idle end combinations influence these deductions as do other options such as your choice of valance
- The information below is approximate and for guidance only
| Mount Type | Fabric Deduction |
|---|---|
| Inside Mount | 1/8" |
| Outside Mount | 0" |
Important Notes & Product Restrictions
- Standard roll (no cassette valance) shades can be mounted to the top, side or rear.
- Shades with a cassette valance have concealed brackets and can be mounted to the top or rear of your window frame only.
- Motorized not available on widths less than 20"
- Reverse Roll is not available with a Cassette Valance
- Reverse roll must be top mounted (cannot be mounted back to the wall for outside mount).
How to Measure & Install
Taking accurate measurements is straightforward. Let us walk you through the process!
To ensure a perfect fit, keep these essential pointers in mind:
- Always use a metal measuring tape for the best accuracy; fabric tapes can stretch and lead to errors.
- If your width measurement falls on a 1/16" or 1/32" mark, round down to the nearest 1/8".
- If your height measurement lands on a 1/16" or 1/32" increment, round up to the closest 1/8".
- Always consult the Product Specifications for the product you are measuring for. If you have questions, we will be happy to help!
Instructions for Inside Mounted Roller Shades
Depth Requirements: For an inside mount, you'll need to make sure the window frame is deep enough to accommodate the roller shade. Refer to the Product Specifications for minimum depths depending on your chosen valance option.
Measuring the width
- The width measurement is found by measuring the inside of the window frame in three locations: the top, middle, and bottom.
- Choose the smallest of these measurements.
- If you get a 1/16" or 1/32" increment, round down to the nearest 1/8".
- That's your width for your roller shades.
Measuring the height
- The height measurement is found by measuring the inside of the window frame in three locations: the left, center, and right.
- Choose the largest of these measurements.
- If you get a 1/16" or 1/32" increment, round up to the nearest 1/8".
- That's your height for your roller shades.
Instructions for Outside Mounted Roller Shades
An outside mount sits outside of the window and the window frame. Because it is meant to cover the entire space of the window, you'll need to make some additions to the measurements to make sure you order the right size. Please follow the instructions below.
Measuring the width
- Measure the width of the area you want the shade to cover across the top.
- We suggest adding at least 4 inches to the width (2 inches per side) to minimize light gaps.
- That's your width for your roller shades.
Measuring the height
- Measure the height from where you want the headrail to sit down to the window sill or desired length.
- We suggest adding at least 4 inches to the height (2 inches top, 2 inches bottom).
- That's your height for your roller shades.
For detailed step-by-step instructions with videos, visit our Measuring Guide Hub.